shr

i have a buddy that is looking at a 67 mustang with a 390 in it, is there any easy way to tell if it is a 390 because he doent think it is. Is there a definate sign like valve cover bolts, intake bolts, or distrubuter posistion or #'s on the block? any help would be great

nealro

If I'm not mistaken, if it is an FE (360/390/427/428 and others) it will have

5 Valve Cover Bolts
Distributor goes through the intake manifold
Intake goes under valve covers
2 forward facing and 2 rearward facing spark plugs on each side

BillyBobJoe

^^^I wish I could rememeber but I believe that's correct.

Another one that I can't remember if is always true: pull the valve cover off, sometimes engraved in the head will be the displacement number. at least it was on my 351...

28HopUp

All of that IS correct, but that won't help him determine which size FE could be in there, if it is an FE engine. Ford/Lincoln/Mercurybuilt many different displacement FE motors, including the 352, 410, or any of the others you listed (cuz I know I'm forgetting some).

nealro

Well, that's true but if the things I listed don't match then it's definitely not a 390 as suspected. It might help get him in the right engine family however. Then to identify the displacement for sure, you'll probably need casting numbers or the most accurate, measure the bore/stroke.

shr

THANKS for the help guys that will at least get him in the right direction

390bigblock

look at the spark plugs if the middle 2 on on both sides are in a up side down v shape its a ford FE

JBradley500

An FE will have the intake under the valve covers, as said above.

Well the FE that it could be would be 352-360, 390-406 or 428 more than likely...if you check the stroke with a dowel by putting it on the piston and turning the crank by hand and see how far it moves up and down you can get a good idea...3.5" would be 352-360, 3 3/4" is 390-406 and 4" would be 428". This isnt a definite, but it will get you real close unless hes got an exotic engine.