Ribbed skirt FE block timeline?

[Rory428]

Anybody know when Ford started putting the vertical ribs on the side of FE blocks? I know the original 360 that I pulled out of my 74 F350 had them, as does the 74 428 CJ "service" short block that I have had for over 30 years. But the service 427 side oiler hydraulic lifter block from my Fairmont does not have these ribs. The 427 block casting date is 0A17, so I am guessing the ribs started to appear sometime between early 1970 and 1974, but just curious if somebody could narrow the time period a little.

[67428GT500]

All of the blocks I have seen with ribs were late service replacement blocks. 69-70 on.

[thatdarncat]

The ribs being a “service block” only applies to 428’s & 427’s, since they were no longer being installed in new vehicles by the time the ribs started showing up. Like Rory said, the ribs were on regular Dearborn Iron Foundry ( DIF ) production 360’s & 390’s, along with all the FT engines in production, through the end of DIF FE block production. By the 1971 calendar year for sure the ribs were showing up.

I’ve been logging FE date codes for a little while now trying to get a better idea when some of this stuff started, watching Facebook, eBay, Craigslist, etc. as I see dates pictured. But it’s a small sample, and I don’t have anything definitive yet. Unfortunately most people don’t detail all the characteristics of their parts as thoroughly as I’d like lol. People generally don’t pay attention to where their block was cast either. It would be nice if Ford documentation surfaced, but no telling if it even exists still. I’m guessing the dates the ribs started on 427 blocks could be different than the other FE engines, since they used a unique casting pattern on at least the drivers side & rear, so they may not have been phased in at the same time. And no telling if all the molds changed at the same time, or were phased in as old ones were replaced, or on a timetable, etc.

I’m also interested on when the Cleveland Foundry ( CF ) phased out casting FE blocks, but most don’t even realize FE parts were made there. 

[blykins]

I think Ford just did stuff when they wanted to do it, with no rhyme or reason.

I'm working on a 445 right now that uses a 390 block.

That 390 block has a "C" scratch, as well as an "I" scratch beside it.   It has crow's feet mains.  It has a pickup mount hole near the #3 main.  It has a 3/8" pipe plug right above the pan rail on the driver's side.  It has the oversized distributor shaft hole.  It also has "66-427" cast on the rear of the block, and also has the bosses for the sideoiler main galley plug and relief valve plug. 

Goofiest thing I've ever seen.

[My427stang]

I think Ford just did stuff when they wanted to do it, with no rhyme or reason.

I'm working on a 445 right now that uses a 390 block.

That 390 block has a "C" scratch, as well as an "I" scratch beside it.   It has crow's feet mains.  It has a pickup mount hole near the #3 main.  It has a 3/8" pipe plug right above the pan rail on the driver's side.  It has the oversized distributor shaft hole.  It also has "66-427" cast on the rear of the block, and also has the bosses for the sideoiler main galley plug and relief valve plug. 

Goofiest thing I've ever seen.

Clearly the extremely rare and semi-desirable 361 Cobra Jet wood chipper....impressive piece in it's day

[thatdarncat]

I think Ford just did stuff when they wanted to do it, with no rhyme or reason.

I'm working on a 445 right now that uses a 390 block.

That 390 block has a "C" scratch, as well as an "I" scratch beside it.   It has crow's feet mains.  It has a pickup mount hole near the #3 main.  It has a 3/8" pipe plug right above the pan rail on the driver's side.  It has the oversized distributor shaft hole.  It also has "66-427" cast on the rear of the block, and also has the bosses for the sideoiler main galley plug and relief valve plug. 

Goofiest thing I've ever seen.

No, there’s a pattern to this stuff, and there was likely a reason, although they were casting a ton of these a day, it’s just the documented reasons that have been lost to time.

Quite a few people with the “CI” scratch 361/391 FT blocks like that one, with those same characteristics. There’d probably be a bunch more saved if more people had known what to look for & where years ago, it’s just easier to share the info now.

I’d be willing to bet it’s a “DIF” cast block.

[shady]

I have a ribbed 390 D4 that came out of a '74 4wd pickup. It is not a mirror block.

[thatdarncat]

I have a ribbed 390 D4 that came out of a '74 4wd pickup. It is not a mirror block.

The “Mirror” blocks were cast at the Michigan Casting Center (MCC). All the “Ribbed” blocks I’ve seen were cast at the Dearborn Iron Foundry (DIF). There was overlap in the time both types of FE blocks were cast and used. Do you have any pictures? Did you notice the casting plant logo?

[babybolt]

I think Ford just did stuff when they wanted to do it, with no rhyme or reason.

I'm working on a 445 right now that uses a 390 block.

That 390 block has a "C" scratch, as well as an "I" scratch beside it.   It has crow's feet mains.  It has a pickup mount hole near the #3 main.  It has a 3/8" pipe plug right above the pan rail on the driver's side.  It has the oversized distributor shaft hole.  It also has "66-427" cast on the rear of the block, and also has the bosses for the sideoiler main galley plug and relief valve plug. 

Goofiest thing I've ever seen.

What's the date code on this unicorn?  Sounds like an industrial or heavy truck block.

[cjshaker]

If I remember correctly, Dave Shoe had some Ford internal documentation as to exactly when the ribs started. I don't recall the details of it though. Over the years of the old forum, Dave had accumulated several pieces of internal documents on production changes, mold changes, machining and production updates and the dates implemented. I think Dave is off chasing Martians now though, so much of that is probably lost.

[fekbmax]

All the external ribbed blocks I have came from 71 to 76 trucks. Mostly 360 and a couple 390 blocks. Some have the re reinforced mains and some do not. A few are 105 blocks, D3te and D4te.

[shady]

I have a ribbed 390 D4 that came out of a '74 4wd pickup. It is not a mirror block.

The “Mirror” blocks were cast at the Michigan Casting Center (MCC). All the “Ribbed” blocks I’ve seen were cast at the Dearborn Iron Foundry (DIF). There was overlap in the time both types of FE blocks were cast and used. Do you have any pictures? Did you notice the casting plant logo?

It's buried in the corner of my garage and hard to get at right now, but I'll try and get a look at it when it warms up a little.

[6667fan]

I have an October ‘71 block at builders now. I can’t recall if it is ribbed. Will try to find out this week.
My June ‘72 P block is ribbed.

JB

[67428GT500]

Even 427 service blocks were ribbed.  What I remember when this discussion years ago from a DIF foundry worker is that the ribs were repairs/reinforcements for original molds. They are definitely not limited to FT/ Truck blocks.
                                                                                                                 -Keith

[thatdarncat]

Even 427 service blocks were ribbed.  What I remember when this discussion years ago from a DIF foundry worker is that the ribs were repairs/reinforcements for original molds. They are definitely not limited to FT/ Truck blocks.
                                                                                                                 -Keith

Like I said above, the ribs are just a characteristic of the period of time they were cast during, and the particular foundry. 427 service blocks are ribbed because 427’s were no longer being put in production vehicles in 1971 when the ribs started, and they were cast at the DIF Foundry. By 1971 the only FE/FT blocks being used in production vehicles were in pickups & large trucks.

Dennis Kolodziej who is a longtime Ford employee, and FE enthusiast, has talked to some of the original engineers & plant workers from that time and they have emphatically stated the ribs have nothing to do with repairs/reinforcements to the molds. That appears to be someone’s uninformed guess, reported years ago in a magazine or book, and it keeps circulating.