date code for block is on under side of the oil filter housing boss on the lower front driver side.

This ain't no L-Kamino!

Other Hi Po bits include 3/8 inch fuel line, fuel filter canister located on drivers side cylinderhead, 3 inch wide front brakes, brake line location on front crossmember, fuel pump is fuel only, non vacuum.

My 61 390/375 had gold covers, All Hi po had open element air cleaners Adjustable rockers. If it does not have valve train noise it is in all likely hood a hydraulic lifter engine. All 390 engines had 390 eagles behind the front wheel wells. The 62 is a good clean looking car. Good luck with your purchase.

Billy.  Sounds like you have the 352 but worth checking the engine over anyhow as parts do get changed out over the course of time.  The other external telltale signs of a 375 horse 390 would be the shorty headers, dual point distributor, and aluminum intake with a Holley carb.

 

On the FE’s, parts swapping within the engine bay over the years muddies the identification process.  Although a 1962 352 will have FORD on the valve covers versus a 390 having THUNDERBIRD, the covers are easily swapped out.  The same swapping out applies also to the cylinder heads.  Short of pulling the cylinder heads to do a bore and stroke check, then a crude check can be performed with the spark plugs removed from the #1 and #4 cylinders and having the #1 cylinder at TDC.  Measuring the distance from the edge of the spark plug threads to the piston top on both cylinders #1 and #4 and taking the difference in the measurments will give an approximation of the stroke.  3½” will be a 352 while 3 ¾” will indicate a 390.

 

You might scratch at the blue paint on the valve covers and see if there is some evidence of silver or gold under the blue.  For 1962, the THUNDERBIRD covers for the 300 horse 390 were silver while the 406 covers were gold in color.  By the time the 1964 models rolled out, the THUNDERBIRD covers on the 390's were gold.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Good news, Bad news. I pulled the aircleaner today and it isn't even a 4v, it's a 2, which means it probably is the original 352 the car was coded with. Thats good for originality but bad because my hopes were up for a HiPo 390, somebody must have just installed a 390 4v Premium fuel only sticker on it.

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?

Went thru this when I was looking for a 390 recently.

ONLY way short of tearing it down is to measure the stroke.

Get a wooden dowl and measure it thru a plug hole.

Good luck.

Oldmics

Try this site: http://www.mre-books.com/interchange/interchange11.html

Y's guys rule!
Looking for McCullouch VS57 brackets and parts. Also looking for 28 Chrysler series 72 parts. And early Hemi parts.

MoonShadow, 292 w/McCulloch, 28 Chrysler Roadster, 354 Hemi)
Manchester, New Hampshire

I Haven't seen Ted post much the last few days, he must be taking a break from the computer and has his hands full of wrenches.

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?

There is a FE web site the fellows talk about, maybe Ted, John, or someone knows the address or even how to solve your problem.

Gary Ryan San Antonio.TX.

The funny thing is it is mint under the hood, doesn't look like anything has been changed, air con and all, is it possible that the car was coded and then the last minute they got a special order for a 390 and installed it without changing the code?

I guess I will have to start by removing the valve covers and see if it has mechanical lifters, doesn't sound it but someone may have tightened them up to quite it down for the sale. Its a georgeos car though, gold with black roof in near mint shape, couple minor paint chips. 500 XL 2 dr hd top with console and buckets.

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?

It might not be easy without tearing it apart

http://www.mre-books.com/interchange/interchange11.html

 Seppo from Järvenpää, Finland
www.hollowheads.net (just click the hole in the head to proceed)