Hot Rods Ford 390/406

Ah, the mystery of FE blocks.

Motor mounts. Up to '64 they all had two motor mount bosses. In '65 another one was added for trucks as this was its first use in pickups. In '66 yet another was added for fitting into the Fairlane/Comet and was also used in the '67 Mustang/Cougar. You can retrofit any newer block in place of an older one, but not always the other way around as a general rule.

Maximum overbores. From '58-60 (and maybe as late as early '62 for some motors) they weren't thinwall cast and there were credible reports of boring the 352 all the way out to the 406/428 size for a budget 428. You did have to check core shift and sonic testing was recommended, not every block was a good candidate for this. The 427 however was limited to .030" over.

A few more lesser-known differences...

'58-62 camshaft thrust control. These used a spring-loaded ****on to control thrust (similar to the SBC). Parts for this are NLA, but the block is easily converted to the later plate design by drilling/tapping two holes and using the newer plate/cam gear. These can be identified if unmolested by their stamped steel timing covers, although at this late date finding one that hasn't been converted is unlikely. All newer motors used a cast aluminum cover.

Generator/alternator blocks. When Ford finally switched to alternators in '65, they deleted the existing generator mounting boss in favor of a new one for the alternator. You can buy a kit for switching to an alternator on a generator block, you'll have to fab your own bracket to go the other way. You may find some blocks with both as Ford did install alternators on the '63-64 big Mercurys, two years before general use.

Last, intake manifolds. The '58-60 blocks have a dowl pin in the front end rail to positively locate the intake. This is why some listings for FE intakes shows '61-up. The newer manifold fits, you just need to remove the dowl pin. The older intakes will fit any newer block. Concurrent with this change, Ford also changed the size of the hose between the water pump and the intake. The '58-60 used a 11/16" ID hose (only available from Ford), they switched to the common 5/8" size in '61. If using a newer intake, make sure your water pump has the matching size.

 

For my next FE, I will use a 428 crank in a 390 block for 410 cubic inches. It’s a torque monster, and thus is the shiznit.