How do you figure out the engine year?

[Bronco_Chuck]

hey guys i picked up a 70's something 390cid from a buddy today for $40 and was planning to bebuild it then drop it into my B2 or a ranger, just wanted to know if any of you knew how to figure out the year of the engine?

[baddad457]

There's a date code cast into the block, heads and intake. It's a number/letter/number combo on what looks like a tag that's cast into the block. Good engines, but not a good choice for a V8 swap into a Ranger or Bronco II.

[Bronco_Chuck]

thanks, why do you say its not a good choice for a swap into a ranger or Bronco II?

[Mac]

The FE engines are wide, heavy, expensive to build, lots of fabrication required - this is compared to a 302/351 Windsor. Even the block casting number on the FE's is something not really good to go on, too many sizes of motors used the same external pattern (where that casting number is found) and changed the internals.
Dave

[baddad457]

The FE engines are wide, heavy, expensive to build, lots of fabrication required - this is compared to a 302/351 Windsor. Even the block casting number on the FE's is something not really good to go on, too many sizes of motors used the same external pattern (where that casting number is found) and changed the internals.
Dave

wide and heavy ? Yea. Expensive to build ? No. A mildly built 390 will make 375-425 horses easily with the stock heads. All you need spend money on is the cam,valvetrain, intake and headers. And I wasn't refering him to the casting (engineering) numbers, but the date codes. Nothing misleading on the date codes.

[Bronco_Chuck]

thanks for the info guys. i may be going a differnt rout after all, the 390 is a bit heavy and would take more work to make fit than i have time for at this point in time, i think i might try and trade it for a 302 or 351 w.