Is there an external difference between the 390 blocks and the 406 blocks (i.e. do they share the same motor mount design and will the blocks interchange in the frame using the same mounts?). Thanks for your help.
I believe some high performance 406 engines had cross bolted mains, those bolt heads are evident externally.
All the blocks have the earlier bosses on them, so all will work.... If you're going from a later style block that used the later bosses to an earlier one, it might not work (later blocks have early and late bosses). But 90% use the early bosses, so all blocks will work that way...sorry, got a few beers down, hope that made sense.
That is not the case on 406. That is a 427 only motor. The 427 is still an FE motor casting and will bolt in the same place as the 390-406 motors but no 4 bolt main is not found on the 390-406 units.
My 406 has all the boss's for crossbolts, just not drilled. I also have a early 390 HP solid cam only block that has boss's cast in too. I have caps that I can make either a crossbolt block, but don't think I will bother. Early blocks are 2 bolt motor mounts, starting in 65 they went to 4 bolt motor mounts.
The main difference in the 390s and the 406 was the diameter of the bore! 4.050vs 4.130. Cylinder wall thickness comes in to play , here. Various FE blocks, while identical on the out side( save the engine mounts) were different on the inside! Sometimes even the same cubic inch engines were different on the wall thickness! One of the biggest “ problems “ with building an FE! And the FE was known as a thin wall casting engine! Bones
Older pre 64 blocks might not are thin walls. This is just a rumor. I know for personal experiment that 64 352 is a thin wall casting.
This guy named Pat Ganahl thinks some 406 engines had cross bolted main caps, but hey, what does he know? And how do you prove a negative?
I knew of a Pat Ganahl and he did a lot of writing and a lot of research. However, there isn't any Long Distance service long enough to reach him so I can ask him where he got the info he printed. I'm sure he got it from a reliable source however our incoming President often says the same thing and I don't always agree with him either. I'm still waiting on my return call from Trump. If you or anyone else can find a crossbolt main 406 I'd pay to take a look at it with its pants down.
As an old FE fan, think since 1959, I am a member of sevral FE forums. A lot of information is now at hand on the net. Many current FE gurus warn about misinformation in some of the older books. Back in the day, when I was building FEs , these books where about to only information available, other than a persons own experiences. There is more information and parts available, now, than when the FE was still in production! I still have all my old books on FEs, but in today’s world, there is more current information available! Bones
Hello, A friend bought a new 1963.5 Ford Galaxie with a 406 motor. It was supposed to be the Ford equivalent motor power to compete with the Chevy 409 motors. It came close in some semi-factory cars with big name drivers/builders, but for most on the street, it was close, but not faster than the Chevy 409 sedans. A similar look, low mean sounding and somewhat fast. Our friend purchased it at the local Mel Burns Ford dealership. The newly purchased Ford Galaxie looked great, all black, with black rims and a small set of center hubcaps. The motor sound healthy and had power. The 4 speed was nice, too. In the summers, when it got hot the 4 widows got rolled down for cooling and now, the exhaust/+ motor sound were amplified to the point of little conversations at low tones. Ha! but, at least we were cool in more ways than one. YRMV The owner just happen to have a new 18 foot Howard Speed Boat being built with another 406 Ford motor with a set of fancy chrome headers and a single 4 barrel for reliability. It was his stepping forward for his hobby of water skiing. It was certainly fun to put the "metal to the pedal." The Parker Dam location for our water ski adventures was on smooth waters and it was a fast, glassy run each time out on the water. Jnaki The sedan was fast with the new motor. It was Ford’s step in the right direction in the “more power” game of factory stock class cars. But, in comparison to our friend’s 409 Biscayne, there was no comparison. The 409 had more definite power and thrust upon full acceleration. So, any comparison and competition at the local drags was not a future with the 406 motor set up. Unless you were Les Ritchey or Gas Ronda and the full factory backing for “stuff.” Note: Within a year or so, the step in the right direction was taken by the Ford Motor Company. The 427…YRMV
I've heard all kinds of stories about how much you can and can't bore an FE. Can anyone set me straight on that?
Some claim the FT truck versions have thicker walls than the equivalent FE car engines. There are some things to address, though, if using the FT block, like the distributor hole is larger so it has to be bushed. The cranks are steel forgings instead of castings, but the snout is larger and has to be turned down to work with a car damper.
When in doubt do a sonic test after cutting .030. We used to be able to get .060 pistons for 390's and never have a problem. I had a 427 block that was a worn .040 over and was used up. Do some homework before you start cutting. Best insurance policy you can buy.
I bought a 1958 332 interceptor block that sonic tested .23" walls and has the bosses for cross bolt mains. I also had a 1962 406 engine I. My 1962 galaxies that was a side oil blck. Had the bosses for cross bolt mains
Yes I can! Sonic test the block you intend to bore and let that guide you! The only true way to be safe! Bones
The Ford FE engine is a great engine that FoMoCo came out with in 1958, it continued till the seventies. During this time various cubic inch engines could be bought, from 332 to 428. The blocks have very similar outward appearance, but through the years the blocks were cast differently and with different features. They were also cast in different foundries. This is why it is difficult to give one answer about the FE. Then throw in the FT, a very similar engine used in trucks. It lasted longer than the FE, with Ford building them for U-Haul, long after Ford quit building FEs. But in the FE world, it is considered to bore the very least amount that will clean up the bore. Also Sonic check every block, before the bore job. There are some blocks that are considered stronger than other block. There are certain variations in some series that are considered stronger than more desirable. There are also different versions of what is generally considered the same cubic inch engines. There are some rare and experimental blocks out there. To me this just makes the FE more interesting, to others, it indicates an engine to avoid. I built a lot of FEs back in my prime, while never thinking I was an expert, I considered myself, at least knowledgeable . Later as there became a revival of the FE and info on the internet, I’m not sure I could have considered myself at the “ knowledgeable “ level. But with all the gurus sharing their knowledge, information is just a key tap away! Bones
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