Classic/Antique Car Repair: ford fe block, high performance engines, police interceptor

Question
i just got an fe block the casting # is c3ae and has hp on the block side and in the lifter galley any help on what this might be??

Answer
Take another look at that casting number.  After the C3AE, there should be another letter, or perhaps 2 letters.  If you tell me what those are, I can identify the engine for you.  It could be anything from a 352 to a 427, and anywhere from an early 60s to a 65.

If you are sure it has no letter after the C3AE, then it is a 360 engine from the early 60s, which was a truck engine, I believe (but I can't be sure about that).

I don't know what the HP indicates. There is a HiPo engine, that would be C3AE-KY.  That is a 63 390 Cu. In. "Police Interceptor" engine, with solid lifters.  

lIf you have the whole engine, you can measure the stroke and learn more about the engine, and you can take the  pan off and see what the bore is, and inspect the main bearing webs to see if it has the extra strengthening webs used on the high performance engines.  If you have the pan off, turn the crank so you can read the marks on the crankshaft throws - these have code letters on them also.  You can also look at the rear end of the crankshaft to see what marks and machining have been done to it - with all that information, a Ford engine person can tell you much more about it.

I hope this is some help to you.

Dick