HI.. Ive been reading posts from several forums for the last couple hours on ID of FEs. went to the junk yard today to look for an engine for a car i want to build, and came home with what I was told was a 390FE. has block, oil pan, heads, fly wheel, valve covers, crank, cam, pistons, and valves. paid $100 for it. from what I can find of numbers..........
block 352 date code 8j17 (or 9j17) cant find other numbers anywhere on block...none on left rear flat under head, or right front or elsewhere that I can find. does have DIF and mold number. Heads are C8AEH. Also DIF on heads. never looked for date on heads. Pistons have c3 number on end of rod. pistons stamped 360. timing chain cover also has c8 date on. so I know its a standard FE block from the 60s(352) and made 17JUL68/69, and heads are '68 Galaxie and all forged at Detroit. should I assume that It is a 360 per the piston size, or is it possible the same 360 piston could be on a different length rod or crank with an alternate throw to make it something other than a 360? Also I have not found a number on the crank weight. (have to dissassemble fully tomorrow to look) also looks very clean inside like it was rebuilt recently, and freshly painted blue, but the internals all have ford markings and no "0.30" or anything on the piston tops. I've heard that FEs were constantly changing and parts were all the time swapped by the manufacturers,and I wonder if the really best way is to just measure the bore and stroke. since basically all the parts for FEs are interchangeable, maybe I'll just make it real pretty and shiny and loud, and dont tell anyone that I dont know what the heck it really is...lol

Sam