Ribbed skirt FE block timeline?

[Rory428]

Bringed back an old thread, but I recently picked up a FE core short block; and it is somewhat interesting. First off, it is the first FE block that I have had that had neither the "352" or "105" on the drivers front pf the block, just blank other than an upside down 68. The LF side has 48 DIF, with no C4/C6/D3/D4 type of casting number . It does have the ribs on the block skirts, with the no triple ribbed internal main webbing. The casting date code is 1K, but with just a blank where the day should be. The only casting mark in the lifter valley is 76, and the rear bulkhead has just 76, and an small upside down V . Interesting, in that it has the "short" 428 style upper coolant passages on the deck surfaces, no "428" visible in the water , I imagine at some point it was rebuilt at a high volume engine shop, as the guy I bought it from said it was in a 75 F250 4x4, and it has the 4x4 pan setup, and a plug into the block dipstick hole, but the block is dated D1, is .030" over, and the 2T crank is .020-.020", but the rods are EDC, with small slits in the nuts, so I am guessing its a 352 with 1958 332/352 rods. The dipstick for the 4x4 pan is stamped D5TE, and the valve cover stickers are also D5s. Oil pump is kinda odd, it`s cast iron, but the cover plate is about 3 times as thick as any OF Ford or Melling pump that I have ever seen before. Also has a 1970 dated C9AE-A water pump, and I am guessing the truck was factory equipped with a Thermactor air pump, as the engine came with the low mount alternator brackets, and the water pump pulley has 2 grooves, plus a large, narrow groove pulley in the front. Crank pulley is cast iron 2 groove.  So it seems to be a bit of a Frankenstein engine, date wise.

[cammerfe]

Rory---

Here's a thought for you. We used to, back in the late '60s, make high volume oil pumps by cutting up a pump body in order to make a spacer plate, and using a rebuild kit for a truck pump. We would have the spacer plate lapped to flat and proper thickness in the department where they had the valve body lapping operation at T&C Livonia. Use the cover plates from both pumps stacked for extra strength/support. Then somebody (aftermarket) started selling a cover plate that was hollow on the inside to create the space for the truck gear and rotor. It sounds as if that's what you found in your engine.

To use the rebuild kit, you also had to press the shaft out of the truck-height gear and use one from a passenger car pump.

KS

[Rory428]

Ken, back in the 70s, I had one of those oil pumps, deep rotors (534 Ford truck engine perhaps?) with a deep machined aluminum cover, but since this appears to be a bone stock 360 in a 4x4 PU (cast pistons, standard timing chain etc), I don`t know why anybody would think such a pump would be needed. I should pop the cover off the oil pump to see whats inside. But this is the first FE that I have owned, that didn`t have either the "352" or "105" cast into the LF of the block.I will do the drill bit test, to see if the 428 type coolant passages in the deck show anything.

[thatdarncat]

Over the years I’ve seen a few, both actual, and pictures,  FE/FT blocks without either “352” or “105” on the front. Pretty sure pictures would turn up at times in the old FE Forum too. I don’t know that I’ve seen any ‘58 FE blocks that have the “352” on the front, since those generally have the raised artifact of the front core plug that very very early FE blocks had in that area. Then there is an era where the front of the blocks have the “C2AE” cast in that location, then I’ve seen a few after that era that have nothing on the front for a little while. Recently a picture & question was posted on Facebook with a block without “352” on the front that seems to maybe fit that time period. The person posted said it has a “C3AE-6015-H” casting number on the side. I asked him to post the date code, but he never came back with any more info. I put a screenshot of that one below. Unfortunately that’s what happens a lot in these topics, so we don’t always get the complete picture. I currently have a Michigan Casting Center (MCC) D4TE block that doesn’t have any marking on the front, other than the mold pattern number. This block has a “8C22” casting date code, 1978 March 22nd, a really late one! It was a 361 FT. Picture of that one is below. I’ve seen quite a few other MCC blocks that don’t have the “105” on the front, they don’t appear as common as the 105 blocks, but not unusual either. I think it would be interesting to hear from the guys that worked at the foundries, or the pattern shops, how often these various mold patterns were replaced just in the course of regular use.

[FERoadster]

Rory and others I've got a few blocks like those 22 or 70 something on the front with a 105 along the oil pan rail as well as one or 2 with the 105 inside the BH area.
I've got about 20 at this time and will check as time allows. Right now I'm working on an adapter to use a log splitter as a sheet metal press brake because my bead roller doesn't have the capacity to press the rolled sheet metal bend for my 48 Lincoln firewall to clear the FE 3X2 intake. 6+ hours into fabricating the die process so far,
As f0r the FE engines I'll get some pictures and post them here.
Richard >>> FERoadster

[WConley]

Kevin - Glad to see the guard spider keeping watch on your U-Haul block    That is a REALLY late one!