FE guys: '63 Galaxie 500 XL w/ 4bbl; displacement?

Spotted an FE in a junkyard today, in what I'm almost certain is a '63 Galaxie 500 XL. I just looked at some Google images to refresh myself on the year differences, and after seeing them side-by-side, telling the cars apart in the junkyard would be easy, but I wasn't paying attention close enough this morning, so it's PROBABLY a '63, possible a '64.

It's got an FE in it, with a 4bbl intake.
So, the big question is this: is that FE a 352, or a 390?
And short of pulling a head, is there any way to find out?

Thanks,
-Brad

 

http://www.fordification.com/tech/castingnumbers-FEblock.htm

 

Brad....if it was a 390 there would be flags on the front fender......352s did not have any designation (markings).....both 63 and 64. ie...no flags...352, flags...390.

 

^^^^^^ What he said----IF it is original engine.

 

Yep, and that can be a BIG if.

 

FE motors left the assembly plant where I worked with an aluminum tab under the coil hold down bolt with the first three numbers the CID. Sometimes the bolt head hid the first number. Look for this tab first.

 

If the fifth digit in the VIN number is an X, the car was originally equipped with a 390. As others have stated, though, the engine may have been replaced at some stage in the game, so do your research on it first.

---John

 

Great info guys, thanks very much. At least now I have a direction.
If I get any conflicting results, I can always pull the intake and a head to measure the bore. (and probably drop the wrong kind of nut while I'm leaning over that fender and pulling the intake!)

-Brad

 

The only way to tell is to check the stroke! You can take #1, or any spark plug out, rotate the motor until the piston is at bottom. Insert a small wooden rod and measure to the plug hole. Bad news is I forgot what it should be for a 390, 360, 352 or 427, but Google it or test on a motor you know what it is......Its the ONLY way, all Ford FE's have 352 on the block just below the D/S head......Happy Motoring.....

 

Easiest way is to pull 2 plugs at opposite stroke locations. (I think 1 and 4 work) Put a dowel down each and mark the same location where you can Form a reference point on the head. 3-1/2 inches is a 352 and 3-3/4 (actually 3.78) is a 390 crank. As Big-M said first look for the code on the VIN. That's an easy start.

With his number of Fords and Merc's he does know (if you've ever been thru Williams Ca.)

Movin/on

Edit ( some Later PU 360 CI FE's) had pistons .10 down in the Bore so you may measure 3.60 and not 3.88

 

X is a 352, Z is a 4V 390, P is a police package, Q is a 4V 427, and R is a 8V 427.
Eric

 

BZZZZZ-Wrongamundo! 'X' is the code for 352-2v, 'Z' is the code for 390-4v/300 hp. Trust me - I had a 'X'-code 352-2v '63 Galaxie 500 XL More-door HT and wished it had a 'Z' 390 like my '63 T-bird.

 

Got a 66 Galaxie 500 XL convertible with a 390 in my moms garage never looked at it for 17 years not sayin i didn't want to but it is all original low mileage and my moms first car so she doesn't want to give it up to me yet but my brother got the 41 ford so that is all mine one day!!

 

Nope. 360 has 3.5 stroke like a 352 and your measurement difference will always be the stroke regardless of how far in the hole the pistons are.
Farmalldan

 

forgot the g code 406,lol

 

Is anyone else dizzy?

If not, reread the responses. I would say screw it and buy something else after all that.

 

Just FYI, in 1964 the x-code 352 was a 4bbl.

 

Any interest in a 390 w/428 heads and a edelbrock intake manifold. Also have MSD for it. Lv. P/m

 

Just to jog the memories, in '63 Ford also put a 406 in the Galaxie with either a 385 hp 4-barrel or 405 hp with the tripower.

 

That is a B code

 

63s are my favorite Fords..........lol

 

352's never came with a 4 barrel, so if it's original, it's at least a 390. Big "IF", though.

 

Oh, and 390's had gold valve covers and air cleaner.

 

Nope, not true. As stated earlier in the thread, in 64 X code was 352 4 barrel.

 

Yep, I have seen a lot of 4 barrel 352s. Even had a couple. Very common.

 

R Pope may have been thinking about truck engines.
352 car engines were available with 4 BBL carbs from the start,but as far as I know 352 TRUCK engines never came with a 4BBL.

 

Most of the Fords I look at of that era in junkyards have sat long enough that they won't rotate for a stroke check. I read the carb tag and distributor info.


Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!

 

Friend down the street I grew up with family car had a 64 352 4v mordor car. As 14yr old kids we knew what everyone had under the hood in the neighborhood..

 

X is the only code for a 352 in '63. 2bbl. Lots had 4bbls swapped in later, though. Ford put 4bbls on 352's earlier, when they were the big cube offering, but by '63 they were the grocery-getter engine.

 

Ooops! '64 to '66 X code could be a 4bbl 352. Never seen one, but they were out there, I guess. Maybe not offered in Canada? 300 horse engine, apparently.
Still, no 4bbl 352 offered from '61 to '63.