I need to verify the engine in my 62 Galaxie 500. I was told by the last owner that he believed it was a 1971 390 from a pickup truck. It has the 352 cast mark on the block but I can't see any additional numbers on the engine. I do notice that the radiator fan seems oversized for the radiator and there is no shroud in place. Also there is a different tranny in it, smaller than original I think, someone added a piece of angle iron to support it. Any pointers on what to do with this ? I want to either rebuild it and make it great or replace it if needed. I have been concerned about a truck motor, whether it will be dequate to make a nice little hot rod

If it has the 352 on the drivers side of the engine in front then it's definitely an FE motor but unfortunately that's about all you'll be able to know other than a date code stamped underneath on the same side near the fuel pump to tell you what year it was built but not all of them had it either and as all the FE engine blocks and that includes 332,360 390,406,427 and 428 had the 352 number casted on the block but only some had a date code but since you are not going concourse, you don't need to worry about what year the block is. . I'm sure it's not anything special but a 390 or possibly a 360 if it's from the 1970's and was in a truck. It's not going to have 4 bolt mains unless it's a HI-Po 390 GT motor or a 428 Cobra jet block from 1968 or 69 but all the FE blocks were practically bulletproof, infact they actually WERE bulletproof (LOL) but they were all also really great for hotrodding whether from a truck or car and with a complete .030 over rebuild, a set of headers, a mild street cam kit, an aluminum single plane Torker 390 intake and either a Holley 3310 750cfm carb or an edelbrock AFB style carb on top and a Mallory Unilite distributor you will have a powerful big block thats great for cruising or doing a few burnouts at the goodguys show. If you can afford it, a nice vintage '62 Galaxie tri-power setup for around $1200-$1500 would look right at home under the hood of that '62 Gal.. Hook that up to a C-6 tranny with a B&M shift kit and a Holeshot torque converter with 3:25 gears out back in a 9 inch rearend and you'll have a screamer of a car that will definitely get up and go. It would be best to buy an FE Ford performance rebuild book like in the photo below so you can see all your FE options. Find it on ebay or amazon for $24.95, ISBN # 13: 9781934709153. great book. Good Luck with it, Kenny/MrBlueOval

There is a stamp under the 352 it is 81. I assume this is the date code. Is that 71? I'm guessing 1=00, 2=10...8=70. Then 1 means 71.. Is that correct?