Quick way to tell if it's an FE or 385 series is the intake manifold. On the FE, the top rail for the valve cover mounting is part of the intake manifold, in other words the intake manifold forms part of the cylinder head, the 385 series has a conventional intake manifold like a SBC. FE's ran from 58-76 with displacements from 332 up to the 428CJ.
-- Edited by oldkoot on Sunday 24th of February 2013 08:22:04 PM
I'm working a possible trade on the 64 catalina other car that has a Ford 428 or 429 FE engine he thinks??? From what I'm reading on google search the only marking is on rr. side of engine near back & gives a casting # only that will give you the yr of block. 1 tip was to pull a S/plug & put wood dowel w piston on TDC then rotate to BDC & measure stroke?? Don't think owner would like me doing this!! He didn't build it & knows nothing about the car,other than 'it's not what he wanted from a previous "DEAL" I've been told that the number of V/cover bolts will give you the family but thats it, other than a tear down & crank #'s etc. This seems pretty wierd to me being a GM person!!! Any other tips??? Pete
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Did a little googling and didn't come up with much help. The 429 was a 385 series block not an FE. There is a 410 inch FE that has the same stroke as the 428, so even the dowel trick can't be positive. Split valve cover rails on the FE engine. Half on the head, half on the intake manifold for a quick visual ID.
More than one site said.. " You generally CANNOT tell what CID an FE engine is simply by looking at the casting numbers"
and.... "Measuring bore and stroke is the best way to confirm the actual engine displacement."
Not much Ford knowledge in my head, but I read it on the internet, so...
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Thanks Don for that picture!! I was trying to visualize what those sites were saying about being part of Cyl. head & r/cover. That helps greatly. Hoping to go see this car on tues. & have printed off some reference stuff for date codes. I'm not a ford guy, but what the hell, I want a change & theres no Buyers out there but a few wanting trades [maybe in the same situation]Will have to go over this one carefully, as it's strange he made a deal in the fall & it's not what he wanted ????? You never know,maybe didn't think it through enough!! Pete
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I can only please one person a day, Today is not your day!!Tomorrow doesn't look good either !!!!
