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I purchased a very nice 631/2 Galaxie a couple months ago. The owner stated it was a 390, but I am not sure. It really don't make any difference as I would have bought the car anyway. It is one of the nicest and most solid 63's I have ever run up on. Can someone tell me how to tell a 352 from a 390 by looking at the motor or give me the id letters and where they would be located . The serial number has a "Z" in it, but anything can be changed in 54 years.
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As you know, the "Z" indicates the VIN shipped with a 4 barrel 390 Thunderbird V8. The only way to be more certain is to measure the stroke with the classic coat hanger (or some kind of dowel) method; the 390's is 3.78 inches and the length of the 352's is 3.5, so a 1/4" difference could be measured, assuming you're sure the piston is resting a bottom dead center.
According to this site, you might be able to get a better clue via the block number:
Last edited by pkevins (June 9, 2017 7:59 pm)
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I'll echo Kevin's reply. The only way I've ever heard of to confirm the engine is to measure the stroke. I believe that just about all FE blocks have 352 cast into them, so measuring the stroke is the best way if the engine is together and they all look the same from outside.
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70 XL is right. Every FE-block has 352 on it.
Ordered a 390-block from Sweden some years ago, and got a 352. Had to measure the stroke. Got a 390 later :-) Take a woodstick down one of the plug holes, and measure the stroke from bottom to top piston position. 3.50" is the stroke length on a 352
Both of the blocks is now sold, instead a ready 390 and C6 from a 67 Mustang was bought, had to measure the stroke on that engine also to be sure it was a 390
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