FE Power Forums
FE Power Forums => FE Technical Forum => Topic started by: Nelybel66 on December 04, 2014, 09:59:59 PM
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Hi All!
Without going into all the gory details, it appears that my original 1966 390 FE block (from a Galaxie) has been ruined by poor machine shop work. I have access to a 1962 390 FE block (from a Thunderbird)....and I was wondering if there are any major differences between a block from a 1966 390 and a 1962 390. Thanks!
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I think the major differences will be the earlier '62 block will only be the 2 bolt motor mounts so be sure your mounts will work with that or can be adapted. Also the '62 used a cam with a thrust button, you should change that to the '63 & later thrust plate which just involves drilling and tapping the block for the 2 bolts. Also I don't know if the early blocks have the boss on the front for the alternator mount, take a look at that. I believe there was a slight change in the length of the head bolts, but not sure of when that changed. Early bolts were a tiny bit shorter, so be sure if you use the later bolts they don't bottom out in the block. There was also a difference in the thrust bearing on the mains around that time. I believe you need either a bearing set for the early block or to machine where the thrust bearing goes to use the later bearings. All I can think of right now, maybe someone can add if I missed anything.
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Isn't the thrust bearing different? Seems to me I ran into that problem once years ago.
Bob
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Yeah, Bob caught me, that was my edit.
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Thanks for the great reply!!