Thread: how to find a good used 390/428 block

Tweet

Robin, First welcome. You want to become familer with the casting numbers and date codes for the FE/FT series. This way you will know what your looking at when the time comes. Most blocks, heads, cranks, rods etc.... will have a casting number. This is the number Ford used to ID the components used in their engines. Check out this site www.dscmotorsport.com You can get a good idea how much things are if you need to buy them seperately. I see good 390's for $200 all the time complete but needing a rebuild. I'd also recommend looking for a replacement S code while your at it but if you find a good used core get it. DSC is a good source for parts and blocks and such. Dennis has very good prices. Not cheap but fairly priced and sells quality parts. He also sells heads intakes etc...ready to go as well as everyting else you need. He has all the odd stuff others do not. The only 68 mustangs that came with the 428 were the 68 1/2 CJ mustangs. But a 428 would be what I'd recommend if the budget allows. It's more than the stocker 390 but will have a higher resale value than a junkyard 390 not to mention the kick. The original S code would help resale as well and fetch a bit more than the 428 because it's "correct" to those that this matters to but will need to be correct date coded as well which can be a PIA. Sounds like you want this for a driver though so see what you can find. Some good books to get for reading are Steve Christ's "how to rebuild big block ford engines" and George Reid's "ford engine parts interchange" Both of these will disscuss the differences of the FE blocks and parts and explain the casting numbers and date codes and how to read and rebuild them. There are too many guy's out there waiting for your hard earned cash to sell you crap parts and tell you it's a SUPER COBRA JET HIGH PERFORMANCE HIGH NICKLE CONTENT LEMANS 427 HIGHRISER TUNNELRAM POLICE INTERCEPTOR etc.....you get the idea. Ask qusetions as you go and try to find the books I've listed. Perhaps some members might have some links for you also to check out. I have a few and will find them for you. You will want to learn about stock cyl bores, overbore and what the different blocks can be safely bored to. This will save you hassles and $$$ at the machine shop. Do it right and you'll be rewarded with a good running engine you can enjoy. Sorry to be long winded...I'm a little gassy today. G.