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Original Message
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| 1966-later 390s can be distinguished. |
| By Dave Shoe - 03/17/2004 8:43:20 AM; IP 216.243.176.34 |
The 390 crank flange was changed about the time the 410/428 came out in 1966.
Up until 1966, the 390 crank flange was machined identically to the 352 flange. There were two features on the 352/390 flange prior to this time: 1) the square indexing notch which pointed straight down at TDC, and 2) the half circle cutout next to the notch which was there to permit drilling the throws out on the short stroke FEs, such as 332/352, and 361Edsel. When the 390 came out in 1961, the stroke was long enough that the half-circle wasn't required to hollow the rear throw, but Ford kept it in so the machining process could be uniform across all cast FE cranks.
when the 410/428 arrived in 1966, Ford apparently decided there were enough large displacement FEs being produced that savings could be realized by removing the extra machining process.
If the engine remains in the car or truck, you can crank the damper to TDC, remove the bellhousing inspection cover, and easily view the flange notch and half-circle if it's a 332, 352, 360 pickup, 361Edsel, 406, 427 cast (all FE cranks are the same nodular), or early 390.
If the half circle is not there but the notch is, you can be sure it's a 390, or possibly even a 410/428. If you cannot find a notch or any other edge feature on the flange, it's a forged steel FE or FT crank.
Shoe. |
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