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360/390 deck clearance ?

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Author	Topic: 360/390 deck clearance ?
fordguy57 Journeyman Posts: 32 From: Mpls MN USA Registered: Nov 2001	posted 04-14-2004 12:46 PM I got a supposed 1963 352 FE and tore it down to inspect. But, I suspect it is a 360 short block with '63 352 heads & manifolds. There are no casting numbers on block, but it has 3/8 wide vertical ribs both sides of block. Pistons are marked .030 and bore is 4.08". Stroke appears to be 3.5". Is this a mid 70's 360 short block? The replacement pistons have no dish, but have valve reliefs. What I am really surprised by is that the pistons sit .14 (at least) below deck (not .014...). Were the 70s' 360 and 390 this far down the bore? Really seems unlikely from past motors I have torn down. Can find no specifications listed that indicate any FE had more than about .10 deck clearance max. Can I just swap a 390 crank into this motor for a 396, since rebuild seems fairly recent and engine ran fine? Posts I have read about 360's seem inconsistent as to whether these motors used "long" 352 or "short" 390 rod, and some folks say "both found". But huge deck clearance would seem to indicate rods in motor are kinda short already (or 390 pistons erroneously used?)... Would the standard mid-to-high 70's CC range 1963 heads, and late style composition gaskets still provide a large enough chamber to handle valve-relieved pistons at close to deck height? Or would this put it over 10:1? Thanks, Mike H IP: Logged
KULTULZ Gearhead Posts: 834 From: Rockville, MD Registered: Oct 2002	posted 04-14-2004 01:22 PM If the block has external ribs, it is a service replacement 391 block. The same side castings were used on later 428 service replacement blocks. It is a 4.05" bore from the factory and was used as service replacement on both 360/390's. The NASCAR 396 was a 427 (4.23") with a steel 361 FT steel (352 stroke-3.5") crankshaft. It is really hard to say how the engine has been assembled. IP: Logged
Thumper Journeyman Posts: 10 From: Moxee WA USA Registered: Jul 2004	posted 07-29-2004 06:52 PM The 1964 250 H.P. 352 and the 1963 220 H.P. used a .036 minimum deck with flat top pistons. IP: Logged

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