I ran across this engine recently. It is a C3AE-6015-H block, C3AE-E crank and C1AE skinny rods. Possibly a 390PI?But my big question is what trans is this that was with it? I've never seen one. Possible FMX? My dad is saying looks like a C4 but he's not sure.

Many people mistakenly call any of those early Cruise-O-Matic transmissions a “FMX”, but the FMX didn’t exist until the 1968 model year, the one you have is obviously older than that, so it’s an earlier variant, and not actually a FMX. And it’s absolutely not a C4. Many of those early Cruise-O-Matics & Ford-O-Matics have an oval I.D. tag on the side with a tag number that can be looked up, I’ve circled the location on your picture. CAREFULLY clean the oily dirt from there and see if there’s a tag. I emphasize carefully because some of the tag codes are just printed on the tag, and I’ve seen lots where people accidentally cleaned the numbers off it. See what you find there and then come back with the info and we can try and look it up in the Ford Parts Books.

What makes you suspect it’s a 390 PI ?

Brent, I sent you a PM a few weeks ago thru the forum here to order 3, and add them to Jay Brown’s order, not sure if you got the message? Thanks.

You don’t necessarily need the tall pentroof valve covers to work with stock Ford adjustable rockers, but there are some Ford valve covers that won’t work as-is.

The common ‘65 to mid ‘67 short angular FE valve covers won’t work. Some people mistakenly call those “pentroof” but they’re not the same as the tall pentroofs.

The early round top & “baldie” valve covers will work. And like Mike said the mid ‘67 & later “Powered by Ford” valve covers will work.

If you start adding aftermarket roller rockers then the choices can get more complicated.

Your picture actually does show your block has the “crows feet” main webs.



And my guess would be “G” for the month also. A “4 C” would likely be too early for a C5AE-A block, and no other letter used would have that shape.

*And I’ll just edit to add - there is also usually a stamped assembly/test date code, often on one of the corner ears of the block, or on the front, and that will often help confirm the casting date code. Most common FE engines were assembled anywhere from a few days to a couple weeks after the block was cast.

Here are Cody’s pictures of the caps. (They look nice!)

Cody, I can see the post on Facebook, but I’m not seeing the pictures of the caps on any of the various pages. The pictures might be there, because I see somehow one of the commenters had a picture they referenced. Maybe a person might have to be friends with you?

Do you want to try sending me the pictures on Facebook messenger, and I can post them for you here?

Thanks for tackling the project, there’s definitely a need.

As noted in this post, apparently C5AE 390 blocks were cast with crossbolt bosses similar to the '64 blocks.  I haven't had much luck determining if it is all C5AE blocks or just some.  If anyone knows the answer to this, I am all ears.     Thanks in advance.

From what I’ve observed, it’s definitely not all C5AE-A blocks, only some. Certainly no where near as common as the ‘64 model year blocks. They might be the second most likely garden variety FE/FT block to have the cross bolt provisions though, from what I’ve seen. I try to watch & log casting date codes and other block characteristics I see, both in person and on the internet, but unfortunately not many people post all the details of their blocks, so I don’t have any definitive patterns yet. There were also two different & distinctive formats of how the “C5AE-A” block engineering number on the side of the block “looks”, but again no idea if there is any correlation between the “style” of engineering number and whether it might have the cross bolt provisions. Hopefully maybe some people will post up what they’ve found.