Let's begin our discussion...
Let's begin our discussion with the Fairlane V-8 series, sometimes called the short-deck engines. Originally offered in a 221 displacement and then in the 260 size, these two early displacements of the engine are fine in original applications, but the smaller bore size make most modern equipment not transferable. These two early displacements of the Fairlane V-8 have a five-bolt bellhousing pattern. The more popular 289-302 engines have a six-bolt bellhousing pattern. The engine in this photo, while it has a non-stock distributor from Davis Unified Ignition, shows a six-bolt valve cover pattern and horizontal orientation of the water outlet, which is part of the intake manifold. These characteristics are also shared by the 351 Windsor engine. The valve covers used are identical and the exterior architecture is very similar. The dimensions of an assembled 289 or 302 engine are 29Lx24Wx27 1/2H.
Back in the beginning of our classic Ford madness we used to wonder, "How can you tell the difference between a Ford 427, 428, and 429?" Also lurking in our mind was some confusion about the 351 Ford engine because there were two types, the Windsor and the Cleveland. When you're walking the rows at a swap meet how is it possible to tell them apart? When it came to big-blocks there was also some confusion because there were really two varieties, the FE and the 385-series. The FE was introduced to replace the Y-block, and began at 352 cubic inches. However, the FE also came in 390, 406, 410, 427, and 428 cubic-inch displacements. Is it possible to tell a 427 from a 428 just by looking at it? The 385-series 429 and 460 engines were certainly big-blocks from the beginning, and, as you will see, it is possible to distinguish them from the earlier FE series at a glance.
When it comes to engine diversity Ford has always been a leader and the Total Performance years were no exception. While, for example, Pontiac made the 326, 350, 389, 400, 421, and 455 all from the same block, Ford had many different engine castings in production during this same period. Indeed, in the '70 Mustang there were six distinctly different engine varieties available, using four separate engine block castings, not including six-cylinder models. There was both a standard and Boss 302 short-deck offering, the tall-deck 351 Windsor and the completely separate 351 Cleveland engine. Although the 390 had been discontinued in the Mustang, the FE was still available in the form of the 428 Cobra Jet. The 385-series Boss 429, which was completely different from the 428 FE, was also offered. Part of what makes classic Ford vehicles so interesting is the wide variety of engines that these cars came equipped with.
Whether you're admiring a finished car at a show or searching for parts while walking the rows at Carlisle or Pomona, it's nice to be able to distinguish one engine type from another. In our discussion we'd like to examine the various visual cues that you can use to indentify the different classic Ford V-8 engines from the Ford Total Performance years. The engines we'd like to include are the famous Fairlane V-8, the Windsor and Cleveland 351 engines, as well as the FE and 385-series big-blocks. We'll also talk a little about how to distinguish the Boss engines, the 302 and 429, from their more numerous brethren. Finally, we will take a look at how to identify the Ford Y-block, famous for use in the early Thunderbird.
We could fill this whole magazine with info on block codes, casting info, mid-year changes and other little tidbits that make verifying a certain engine is what you think it is, so you can see we're just skimming the surface with some basic "new guy" information here. We strongly suggest that once you've determined the engine family you dig deeper with books specific to that family from the likes of HP Books, SA Designs, Classic Motorbooks, or even Ford shop literature. Don't forget there's plenty of info on the Internet, though you need to be careful and weed out the correct info from the years of rumors and misinformation. Sites like www.fordfe.com, www.351cleveland.net, www.y-blocksforver.com, and others are where you can get answers to your questions from individuals who live, eat, and breathe these specific engines.
To find as many classic Ford V-8 engines as possible in one place we traveled out to the JBA Performance Center in San Diego, California. Owner J. Bittle is a Ford engine expert of considerable renown and his outfit is a Ford performance focal point for all of Southern California and beyond. We'd like to thank JBA for its assistance in the compilation of this story.
This view gives us a closer...
This view gives us a closer look at a stock 302 block. The short 8.2-inch deck height and compact design are very apparent. Cylinder head bolt holes will be 7/16-inch in diameter on a 289 or 302 casting. On early blocks, the lower row of head bolts are blind holes, where as the later engines extend into the water jacket, requiring thread sealant on the head bolts.
Compare this 351 Windsor block...
Compare this 351 Windsor block to the 302 seen in the previous photo. Aside from the 351 engine's 1.3-inch taller deck height, the Windsor's most obvious distinguishing characteristic is a diagonal strengthening gusset next to the distributor opening. The short-deck version of the engine doesn't have this. The Windsor block also has 1/2-inch diameter cylinder head bolt holes. Because the Windsor block has a taller deck height, this moves the cylinder heads farther apart, requiring a wider intake manifold to bridge the additional distance between the two cylinder heads. With a slightly trained eye it's possible to recognize a Windsor just by the wider intake manifold.
This assembled Windsor engine...
This assembled Windsor engine shows how much difference an inch and a half makes and this engine appears far wider than any 289 or 302. Notice that the engine's valve covers have the same bolt pattern as the 289 and 302 engines. Often, when a Windsor is installed into a car it's difficult to see the diagonal gusset as it can be obscured by the distributor and wires. The dimensions of the 351 engine assembled are 29Lx25Wx29H.
This photo gives us a different...
This photo gives us a different way to visualize the width difference between short-deck and Windsor engines. This 351 Windsor has a dual quad 302 intake manifold installed onto it using the thick spacers shown. We're not sure how this arrangement worked out in practice but it does show the substantial difference in the deck height between two engines.
This interesting shot, taken...
This interesting shot, taken while walking the rows at Carlisle, shows even more plainly the width differences in several of the different classic Ford intake manifolds. The short-deck intake is at the top while the Windsor intake is shown at the bottom. Wider still is the FE intake shown in the middle of the trio. Unique among V-8 engines, the FE intake casting has the upper valve-cover rail incorporated into it and the pushrods transit the intake through openings in the manifold.
The other Ford 351 is known...
The other Ford 351 is known as the Cleveland, which is named after the assembly plant location. This engine is completely different than the 351 Windsor and shares no interchangeable parts. The engine features a canted valve arrangement, proven to aid breathing and power production. This bare block shows the unusual timing chain housing, which is an integral part of the engine block casting. This is perhaps the most prominent visual feature that distinguishes a Cleveland block from a Windsor. A simple steel plate covers the timing set. Another way to distinguish a 351 Cleveland block from a 351 Windsor is a vertical water outlet integral to the block, which is quite different than the Windsor arrangement.