I have a ford engine out of a 68 f350---I do not know if it is original, just popped the heads, it has a bore of 4.05 and stroke of 3.6 . I see a number cast into the left front of the block, it says 352 , but that does not match the bore / stroke of this motor. What gives? Thanks

 

Welcome to FTE

As original, a 1968 F350 V8 would have offered either a 360 or a 390. Most of these engines have 352 cast into the block, as a 352 block is the basis for the 360 and 390. That $%!#@* 352 casting number has caused confusion for decades.


352 (F100/350: 1965/67 only): B&S: 4.00 X 3.50

360/390 offered 1968/76.

360: B&S = 4.05 X 3.50

390: B&S = 4.05 X 3.78

1968/72 VIN engine codes (4th digit) H = 390 / Y = 360

 

Wow thanks for the quick reply. The VIN # for the truck has a H as the forth digit. But unless I measure wrong , the bore I have is 4.05 and stroke of 3.60 . Does not match a 390. After some looking I see the 370 truck motor has these numbers. Could it be a 370 truck motor ?? Thanks again ken

 

370? Not originally it didn't, but who's to say what's under the hood now. 370's were used in the late 1970's and later F600 and larger trucks. It's the same engine family as a 429 & 460. But the 429/460 engine specs don't match either. What the specs are on a 370 is, I don't know, as I have no refs. There's a specific engine forum on FTE for these engines, you might ask questions there.

 

One quick way to tell, is to look at the rocker arms...

If they are shaft mounted, and inline, the engine is an FE family, quite probably the original 360 / 361 installed in the truck...

If they are individually mounted and configured in two differant planes, what we call 'porcupine' then I would think some one trans-planted a 370 in. This would in volve changing the trans, and a lot of other things too. In my book, a bit costly unless the 370 was a good deal, or the guy was thinking he was getting a 429 or even a 460.

I have some books here that may help. Give us the casting numbers from the heads,
C89Z-AD / D9ZZ-B <-- are numbers I pulled out of the air, but yours would look like this. I'll look up the numbers, and see just what we have here...


TDY

 

Does your intake go under your valve covers? That is FE motor.

 

Hey , Thanks guys. I've learned a lot, Including the fact that I measured the stroke incorrectly. The piston does not completely come to the top of the cyl., (which is the amount equal to the stroke of a 360). The other hints you've offered, confirm this. Thanks again, I know where to go for all of my Ford questions. K.

 

So you have a 360. That the piston doesn't come all the way up is one of the reasons a 360 is a cross between a dog, a pig and a boat anchor.

If you are going to fool with it, see the FE forums and turn it into a 390 with some decent compression, instead of the 1930's CR it came with.

 

Thanks, I will do that. K