Intro and current project

[turbohunter]

Hey Guys
Thought I'd introduce myself with a thread on my current project.
My name is Marc and I am a Fordaholic.
I've built a few Windsors and a Y block but never an FE from the ground up. Even though I own three. Four if you count the FT in my fire truck.
My current project is a new engine for my '74 F100 4x4 short bed.
I found this truck as a non running heap. Bought it and after a few weekends got it running and road safe.
It's been running like a top ever since.
When I first took the valve covers off a whole bunch of oil spilled out of each one, so I knew I may have some starvation issues in the lower end.
So I found a D4TE block and it is out getting sonic checked as I write this.
The plan is a 445 that will be a solid, lug able hunting truck. So I'm not going for a lot of compression and will run a very street able cam. I've had the heads done already. They are a set of D2T's. I did a nice valve job, cleaned up the intake ports and chambers but kept the stock valve diameters.
Edelbrock performer manifold the has been port matched. A set of Maddog fender well headers.
I think I'll run a complete roller valve train.
And thats about it.
Have very much enjoyed lurking for the past few days.

[jayb]

Welcome, Marc.  That is one good looking truck.  Got any engine shots?

[turbohunter]

Just stock stuff. Nothing fun yet. Although I'm amazed at the toughness of this engine. It sat for six years after being a snow plow and wood hauler, had a bent push rod, starved for oil in the bottom end (probably) and it runs great.
Promise I will post plenty as the build goes on.
I plan to learn some FE basics on this build, then move on to my Tbird (I have a 3x2 secured for that), then build the mustang and go crazy.
Here's the truck engine minus the a/c compressor.

[390 Cougar Conv]

That is one tough truck.  Good luck with the build. Clifford

[My427stang]

Looks good! 

I haven't got mine on the road yet, fresh paint, not quite assembled and salty roads, but I will let you know how my "low RPM" 445 works out

I went with a 270H, heavily ported D2s and CJ valves and a Performer RPM.  It feels like a monster, but we'll see when i can get it out on the road.  The cam sounds pretty mild though  

[turbohunter]

I'll be very interested in your results.

Here is my block.
It has a reman number on it. It looks to be in good shape. Bores are clean, small amount of surface rust in places. Caliper read 4.15ish so it may be the end of the road there.
Still waiting on the sonic scan.
Can you gents make sense of the date code? I can't read it, but I have no experience reading them.
Just curious if a trained eye can do better.

[KMcCullah]

Welcome Marc! You ARE in the right place for your FE learning experience. Sweet little '74 there. I'm a truck guy too. (for now) I was relieved to see fendewell headers are available for a 4wd FE. Never heard of Mad Dog Headers so did a Google search. I need some BAAAAAAD!

[turbohunter]

I need some BAAAAAAD!

Haaaaah
Awesome.
Mark the owner of Maddog was very informative about my time schedule and answered any questions I had. My headers are very well made.
I'm sure I'll have to make things fit (steering maybe) but what would life be without exercising your brain a bit.
Really stoked I found this forum. Trying to learn as much as possible.
And freakin' love all your cars, jeeeeeez.

[turbohunter]

Question gentlemen.
As I previously stated the bores in my block initially calipered at 4.15 ish.
As I was researching on Barry Rs site I came across the displacement chart for the different FE base blocks.
390 base blocks bore range is from 4.0 to 4.11.
406-428 base blocks range from 4.13 to 4.19.

http://www.survivalmotorsports.com/FE-Stroker-Displacement.html

I always figured my block was a run of the mill 390 based FT (maybe) block.
Did I luck into a nicer block than I thought?
Certainly no As or Cs scratched into the rear.
And yes, still waiting on the sonic test.

[jayb]

The sonic test will tell the story.  I've got a 390 FT block that can easily be bored to 428 size because the cylinder walls are really thick.  A run of the mill 390 FE block won't be that thick, but some people bore those to 428 size too, although that is a dangerous practice.  So the block you have will be revealed by a good sonic test.  If you start seeing wall thicknesses less than .125", it is probably a normal 390 block that has been bored an excessive amount.

FT blocks also have a larger hole where the bottom of the distributor shaft goes in, because the FT distributors use a larger diameter shaft at the bottom (below the gear).  Ford sold a bushing for the FT blocks that presses in the hole, and allows an FE distributor to fit.  Does your block have that bushing pressed in?  Or maybe a better question, has it ever been run with an FE distributor?

[turbohunter]

Don't know the history of the block.
But here's some pics.
Guess you can tell I'm pretty geeked about this and my future builds.

[jayb]

Looks like a standard FE block to me, not an FT.  Have you got a picture of the main cap area?  A 428 block will have some webbing structures between the block sidewalls and the main saddle.

[turbohunter]

Here you go.

[jayb]

That definitely appears to having the webbing around the mains.  Could be a 428 block...

[ScotiaFE]

Interesting.
The date code is an odd duck. the screw on the left is not normally seen.
They "normally" have two screws like the one on the right.
There appears to be two dots so that would put it into the 70's
and the D4 on the side so you have a truck block cast some time in the early to mid 70's on May 11th. LOL
You can have a FT type casting machined as a FE. As in dissy bore.
My D4TE "SPECIAL" is machined that way. It has thick walls and extra webbing.
As was mentioned a sonic check and a crack check will tell the most.
Great Truck!