I've got my motor, now i need info,

[71fordkid]

well, i finally got my motor for my swap. its a 360 out of a 1976 f250 crew cab hiboy. i need some help making sence of some things, and i need some help making a choice on a 410 or 390.

question #1: the casting number on te block is D4TE.... what exactly does this mean? higher nickle content in the block? thicker cylinder walls?
question #2: my motor has slipper skirt pistons, do i need to buy new ones for the 390, or can i use these? what will this put my compession at with stock heads? 9.0:1 to 9.5:1?
question #3: i need a 390 crank and rods for the 390 build, or a 428 crank and 390 rods if i want a 410?
question #4: stock manifolds or flowtech headers? dont really have the money for banks or good headers like that. and if stock manifolds, car or truck?
question #5: for the ring ridge at the top of the cylinder, can i ream it off with a ridge reamer and then hone the cylinder to finish it?
question #6: is it worth it for me to build a 410 for my truck? its a street truck that will see strip use every once in a while.

Thanks in advance for the answers, you guys rock!!

[Montana71-F100]

question #1: the casting number on te block is D4TE.... what exactly does this mean? higher nickle content in the block? thicker cylinder walls?

From the chart below the numbers indicate that it' was originally a 1974 Truck Engine. D=1970's, 4= year in the decade, T=Truck, E= Engine

Decade of Manufacture:
A = 1940
B = 1950
C = 1960
D = 1970
E = 1980
Year of Decade
The year of the decade is determined by adding a number (0-9) to the letter of
the decade. Example: C6 would be 1966, D0 would be 1970, D1 would be 1971.
Car Line/ Manufacture Codes
A = Galaxie
D = Falcon (60-69)
F = Outside USA, Trans Am racing
G = Comet / Montego
J = Industrial
M = Mercury
O = Fairlane / Torino
P = Autolite / Motorcraft
R = Rotunda
S = Thunderbird
T = Truck
V = Lincoln (61 - current)
Z = Mustang
Engineering Departments
A = Chassis
B = Body
E = Engine
F = Engine accessories
J = Autolite (67-72)
P = Automatic transmission
R = Manual transmission
W = Axle
X = Muscle parts program
Y = Lincoln / Mercury service parts
Z = Ford service parts
Basic Number
These identify the part, such as 6090 being a cylinder head or 9430 being an
exhaust manifold.
Design Change
A Basic part is made to fit many applications. Example:
DOZZ-7528-C is a clutch bar for a 390/428
DOZZ-7528-D is a clutch bar for a 351 W
DOZZ-7529-E is a clutch bar for a 302 Boss
Reading Casting Dates
Casting dates:
Casting dates show the exact day, month and year a certain part was made or
cast. The typical casting date looks like "6M08".
Breaking down a casting date:
6 = The year of the decade. "6" for 1976.
M = The letter of the month. (December)
08 = The day of the month. (8th)
First year month codes:
ABCDEFGHIJKLM
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugN/ASepOctNovDec

Second year month codes:
NOPQRSTUVWXYZ
JanN/AFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

How do casting numbers appear?
Most casting numbers are stamped into the part itself, other have the number
molded on the part. Some casting numbers can be ink stamped while others are
printed on paper, which is then wraped around the part.
FE Casting Numbers
Blocks (C1AE8015C)
390 cid
C1AE-CC1AE-GC1AE-VC2AE-BC
C2AE-BEC2AE-BRC2AE-BSC2SE
C3SE-AC3AE-KYC3ME-BC3AE-AY
C4AE-DC4AE-FC5AE-AC5AE-B
C6MEC6ME-AC8AE-AC8AE-C
C8AE-ED3TE-1D3TE-ACD3TE-HA
D4TE-ACD7TE-BA

406 cid
C2AE-JC2AE-KC2AE-VC2AE-BD
C3AE-DC3AE-V

427 cid
C3AE-MC3AE-ABC3AE-ZC4AE
C4AE-AC5AE-AC5AE-EC5AE-D
C5AE-HC6AE-BC5JE-DC6JE-B
C6AE-CC6AE-DC7AE-AC7JE-A
C8AE-AC8AE-BC8AE-H

428 cid
C6AE-AC6AE-BC6AE-FC6ME
C6ME-AC7MEC7ME-AC8ME

Crankshafts
390 cid [3.78" stroke]
2UC3AE-DC4TE-6303-B
3UC3AE-EC4TZ-A
C1AEC3AE-UC4TZ-B
C1AE-AC3AZC6AE-A
C2AE-BC4AE-BC6TE-6303-C
C2AE-DC4AE-CC6TE-6303-E
C3AEC4AE-DD2TE-6303EA
C3AE-6303-EC4AE-A
C3AE-BC4AZ-A
C3AE-CC4AZ-J

406 cid [3.78" stroke]
2UC3AE-BC4AE-C
3UC3AE-CC4AE-D
C1AEC3AE-DC4AE-A
C1AE-AC3AE-EC4AZ-A
C2AE-BC3AE-UC4AZ-J
C2AE-DC3AZC4AZ-J
C3AEC4AE-BC4TZ-A
C3AE-6303-E C4TZ-B

410 cid [3.98" stroke]
1VAC8ME-AC9ZE-CIU
C6MEC9ZE-BC9ZE-DIUB

427 cid [3.78" stroke]
2UC3AE-BC4AE-C
3UC3AE-CC4AE-D
C1AEC3AE-DC4AE-A
C1AE-AC3AE-EC4AZ-A
C2AE-BC3AE-UC4AZ-J
C2AE-DC3AZC4AZ-J
C3AEC4AE-BC4TZ-A
C3AE-6303-E C4TZ-B

428 cid [3.98" stroke]
1VAC8ME-AC9ZE-CIUC2VE
C6MEC9ZE-BC9ZE-DIUBC6ME

question #5: for the ring ridge at the top of the cylinder, can i ream it off with a ridge reamer and then hone the cylinder to finish it? That would work if the measurements are within specs. Otherwise you need to bore the cylinders.

Sorry I can't help with the other questions.

[Montana71-F100]

I just found the same date code information on Fordification:
http://www.fordification.com/tech/datecodes.htm

[fordman]

#2 yes
#3 yes
#6 how much do you want to spend on the 428 crank?

[knightfire83]

As far as the cylinder ridge, if there is a ridge at the top of the cylinder, it means the cylinder is worn.

Unless the ridge is very small, it would likely be time to have it bored out and install oversized pistons. When a cylinder wears it becomes out of round, your new piston rings wont like that too much.

Since your engine was identified as a 1974 engine, you may want to check the head casting numbers. If they are '74 heads they wont have hardened exhaust valve seats. My research on the internet states that hardened seats started in 1975 when unleaded gas and catalytic converters came out. You can have a machine shop install new seats along with a highly recommended valve job.

[70_F100]

As far as the cylinder ridge, if there is a ridge at the top of the cylinder, it means the cylinder is worn.

Unless the ridge is very small, it would likely be time to have it bored out and install oversized pistons. When a cylinder wears it becomes out of round, your new piston rings wont like that too much.

Since your engine was identified as a 1974 engine, you may want to check the head casting numbers. If they are '74 heads they wont have hardened exhaust valve seats. My research on the internet states that hardened seats started in 1975 when unleaded gas and catalytic converters came out. You can have a machine shop install new seats along with a highly recommended valve job.

Low-lead gas was first introduced by Exxon in 1970. They introduced it in the mid-grade Exxon Plus.

Here's more information from EPA:

http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/airpage.nsf ... s+Phaseout

[knightfire83]

Ok, let me re-phrase that:

"My research on the internet states that hardened seats were widely introduced in 1975 on mass produced automobiles in North America. This was due to EPA regulations regarding the use of catalytic converters, which required unleaded fuel for proper operation of the converters."

[ToughOldFord]

'73 was the first year for hardened seats for the FE.

[69rangerf100]

excuse the dumb question. i have heard the term hardened seats but what exactly does that mean?

[stephen44]

excuse the dumb question. i have heard the term hardened seats but what exactly does that mean?

so the deposits from the leaded gas - protect the valve seats - unleaded - does not leave these deposits - and hence you can get wear or 'valve sink'

However - Chevron published a report - with findings that suggest that unless you are using the vehicle under very heavy load for long periods of time (towing is an example) - the damage from unleaded gas and un-hardened valve seat sis not as great as first surmised...

http://www.chevron.com/products/ourfuel ... d_gas.aspx

Stephen

[knightfire83]

'73 was the first year for hardened seats for the FE.

Yesterday I looked for hours trying to find that information..... Today I found it at the http://www.fordfe.info forum faq.

It states that "All heads starting with the D2TE-AA had induction hardened exhaust valve seats." Which decodes as 1972 heads.

71fordkid should be good to go with his 1974 engine so long as the heads are original to the block. Sorry for the confusion, this is now good info for anyone else who has a earlier engine.

To also add on to the Chevron report:

It is true that heavy use without hardened seats on unleaded will erode the exhaust seats, but be sure normal wear over time will do it too. Our engines were built to last, for some of them the odometer is turning over 2 or 3 times already. It would be a good idea to check your valve seats if your ever inside the engine...

Thanks stephen44, that report was a good read.