428 block

[falcongeorge]

  I have seen a few 390 bore blocks with "428" cylinder cores. They always have small lettered "352" up front, and ribs at the pan rail.  '73-4-5 dates.

I have one of these blocks. 3/16 allen wrench just fits between the cores, and it tested quite thick. No distributor bushing, FWIW.

[falcongeorge]

FWIW, I have heard the D3TE and D4TE 360 truck blocks are thick as well. Would be the same time frame production wise as the ribbed "352" 390 blocks.

[thatdarncat]

FWIW, I have heard the D3TE and D4TE 360 truck blocks are thick as well. Would be the same time frame production wise as the ribbed "352" 390 blocks.

My experience having a few of the blocks sonic tested is the D3TE & D4TE mirror 105 MCC blocks are not significantly thicker than the regular DIF & CF FE blocks. I know some will disagree with me, but that seems to be a story that started somewhere and persists. What Ford claimed is the new MCC blocks would have more control on core shift, which would allow a safer overbore, but I’ve sonic tested a couple MCC blocks with significant core shift too. So bottom line is don’t assume anything, test.

[falcongeorge]

FWIW, I have heard the D3TE and D4TE 360 truck blocks are thick as well. Would be the same time frame production wise as the ribbed "352" 390 blocks.

My experience having a few of the blocks sonic tested is the D3TE & D4TE mirror 105 MCC blocks are not significantly thicker than the regular DIF & CF FE blocks. I know some will disagree with me, but that seems to be a story that started somewhere and persists. What Ford claimed is the new MCC blocks would have more control on core shift, which would allow a safer overbore, but I’ve sonic tested a couple MCC blocks with significant core shift too. So bottom line is don’t assume anything, test.

No problem Cat, that's why I put  "FWIW". I wont state anything as fact unless I have first-hand experience with it, and I never had a D3/D4 block. IIRC, I think I heard it from Jim Kuntz, but my memory could be playing tricks on me, it was 20 some years ago.

[BigBlueIron]

I recently scrapped an otherwise very nice D4TE (360) block due to porosity in the casting. Porosity holes in the pan rail and mains. Obviously it ran that way for years but I didn't want to take the chance spending a bunch of money on it. Hadn't ever seen that before, cylinders looked good guess that's the reason it passed QC.