Odd HiPo Block - Help Identify

[mbrunson427]

We're trying to decide what this block is. Not sure if it's an over-bored 64 HiPo block, or if it was actually produced this way. The block is in super nice shape and looks to have very little use on it, factory head gasket pattern shows on the top of the deck, cylinders show cross hatching and slight wear. Current bore is 4.130". The casting number is pretty hard to read, but I've determined it to be C4AE-6015A. We have a standard 64 hipo block that was sitting right next to this one on the rack, we went back and forth between the two and the only difference we could find (beside the bore) is when we did the drill bit test, this one would only fit 13/64" or 14/64" between walls. I was able to get the sonic tester out this weekend so I have a picture of that. I'm not sure what "typical" is for a 406 or 428, so I don't have anything to base a judgement off of.

I looked this up and there are a few other guys who have stated that they have blocks that were cast +/- a month of this one that have 428 walls, but folks tend to disagree that they were ever made in such a fashion. Not sure if anyone on here has some good data on these things?
http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182/thread/1175774042/C4AE-A+Block+Info

[mike7570]

Looks the same as my block, determined  it was a 390.
http://fepower.net/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=5316.0

Turbohunter is going to build something nice out of it!

[mbrunson427]

I took the sonic sheets and put them next to each other, it's actually kind of wild how close they are. Looks like some of these blocks were just cast a bit more substantially than others?

[cammerfe]

My C4 330/390 block was determined to be able to take a 4.130 bore and leave about .090 as the thinnest spot. I know the guy---from long ago---who bought the '64 Gal, new, with this engine in it. Looks just like yours. The fore-'n'-aft oil galleries in mine were drilled, but the little 'tower' in the back of the valley was 'as-cast'. I drilled there to open the block up to be able to use pressure-oiling for the solid roller lifters. I also put in cross-bolt main caps.

KS

[Heo]

Looks like my PI Block. if i remember correctly it was also date coded J 
was allready 4.11 could have gone 4.13 except one spot in one cyl that
should have ended up just under 0.100. It is stamped P in front of block
besides the timing cover

[preaction]

 4 August 1963 date code.

[cjshaker]

Overbored 390 block used in '64 Fords and Mercurys. Not real uncommon for the year, but still a good solid block to have. I have the same block that came out of a '64 Mercury. Built it for my '68 F250 Highboy, ran it for over 20 years, now it's going to be a 445 stroker for my '70 F350 towing truck.

It's just my guess, but I think Ford either used leftover blocks from the 406's used previously in '62-'63 ( only difference being drilled for hydraulics), or used the casting molds to cast these blocks for part of the '64 model year. Later changed them for weight and savings on iron. That explains the thicker cylinder walls and crossbolt knorbs. But like I said, that's just my guess.

[Katz427]

Not sure it is a hipo if you can get a 14/64 drill bit between cylinders. Bore spacing as we all know is 4.63 subtract 4.13 and you have 1/2 inch for 2 cylinder walls and a cooling jacket. I have only had one 64 427 block and that was about 8/64 for the drill test.   The numbers would be on the thin side for a standard bore 406. If it started as a 390 the 14/64 drill makes sense.

[BH107]

Well it isn’t a true hipo block, as the only hipo FE in 64 was the 427.

Have you checked to see if the oiling to the lifters has been blocked? Might be a 390 PI block if they are. Either way I’m fairly certain it started life as a 390.