There is a machined boss on the side of the block in front of the motor mounts with stamped #'s that can be used to determine what the engine is. I don't remember what side.
all 66 up fe are cast 352 on the front of the block take piece of a wire and measure the stroke. pull the pan or head to measure the bore. 427,s have cross bolted mains. the crank flange is different on 410,s and 428,s and they are external balance.
If you can find casting numbers on the side of the block and post them here, I or someone else here should be able to identify it for you. They will be raised letters/numbers and will read something like this: C6AE-AA (this is not neccesarily a "good" number, just an example of the format) Also, you should be able to find a cast in date code something like this: 6 F 18 that would stand for 1966 june 18th Ron.
Some 406's were cross bolted also. I've also seen a lot of weird stuff with FE blocks like using the back 427 SO pattern (with the bosses for side oiling) used on standard blocks and 352's with unmachined cross bolt bosses in them and standard caps. Measuring is the best way. KRH
I'm not the most knowlegable but the bore is checked only by knowing the piston diameter (pulling the head) But the stroke can be 1/2 way determined if you see the flywheel flange on the crank. A 3.5 stroke crank is different than a 3.78 by a cut out shape. The 3.98 stroke is only id'd by the piston stroke measurement or if the block has a C or A scratch in the rear flywheel blulkhead (bellhousing area) it's a good chance it's a 428 block. MeneGene. Tomp64 and FrozenMerc will probably respond as well. Movin/on
where would you look for casting numbers and date codes? would they be on the lower rear of the block? top front? i need an idea where to look. thanks.
I know that The 428 has a huge "A" welded into the back of the block, near where the rear mail seal is. It's hidden if the transmission bellhousing is in place.
If the original ID tag is still bolted on by the coil, and it hasn't been messed with, it will tell you the year and CID. Early blocks could be pretty well ID'd by casting numbers, after '64 not so much- and the C6ME and C7ME blocks could be most anything but a 427. The "regular" blocks with undrilled cross-bolt provisions were mostly '64 390's. There are ID numbers cast into the counterweights of most later cranks like 2U for 390, 1U, 1UA or 1UB for 428, and C(x)AE numbers on most pre-'65 cranks. Best thing is the bore & stroke, need to get the pan off. The "A" and "C" on the back of most 428 blocks is a scratch hand-made in the casting sand, not a weld. Later "regular" blocks usually have three reinforcing webs on the mains instead of two on the early blocks. The "352" cast in the front became the "reverse 105" on the latest blocks. Date codes moved to just behind the oil filter adapter on later blocks Post whatever codes you can find on the block, pictures help
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