I guess I knew it was measured that way I just got in a hurry on my way out the door and didn’t think about what I was typing. I actually have a vac gauge on my 22re Toyota. When I run it on the woodgas it is a good measurement to know so you know how hard your pulling on the gasifier.
Hopefully over the 4th weekend I get a chance to work on it. If not I may just have to find a local reputable guy that can do good work with the FE motors. Want to be driving it when I can, not staring at it in the garage 
So I got a chance finally to pull it into the shop and tear into it. My water valve to bracket leak was just what I thought it must be. Because I used a paint and clear coat to mimic color on that bracket rather than getting it replated, or getting an after market one, I guess the paint just “melted” and the coolant just seeped between the o-ring and paint. O-ring in place and intact, but got a new one anyway with a small amount of high temp rtv on the reproduction bracket. Should seal up.
I did check tension on intake manifold bolts. They seem tight with a wrench. If I physically want to torque them I guess I would have to pull the carb so I can get on them.
I need to snap some pictures, but a question I had was my engine never had a decent oil dipstick I it. The one I have was partially kinked at some point and straighten so the dip stick went in hard. So I thought I would buy the Scott Drake after market they make for the 390. Pulled the old one out and noticed right off the length of tube that goes into the block until you get to the stopping ridge is quite a bit longer. Also there is no way the bracket that attaches under the exhaust manifold bolt is high enough on the bracket to let the hole length of that tube end to get into the block until that ridge. I am pretty sure my non -original block came from a 65 model year Merc. Would have to double check to be sure.
Any block casting changes over the few years that would make a dipstick tube year specific?
I will do more tonight after a work repair job today. Hopefully get the pics then.
Thanks!
Dip sticks and tubes are specific to application. If your 390 came from some other size of car the dipstick tube and the dipstick would not be correct. The correct parts are shared with other FE engines used in Mustang / Cougar / Fairlane / Comet. There’s nothing different as far as anything having to do with the engine block. Reproductions are available everywhere.
I guess I perhaps created more mysteries by not using the correct year block. I recall when I did this rebuild many years ago now that I had to get advice on the heads, and the correct manifolds to use and dealing with tapped holes in the heads etc. I am using the correct exhaust manifolds, not the ones that came on the engine with the holes in the ears straight top and bottom. If I remember right the heads had both sets of tapped holes in them for either exhaust manifolds. Anyway, including pics of both dipstick tubes the one I had in there and the repro one I bought. Then there is the picture where I am trying to hold the repro one in place and show the relation of the bolting tab to the exhaust manifold bolt. The tube is not inserted in the block at all and if I did insert it, it would only go in about 1/2in and then the tab would line up, but the tube would not be in to the stop shoulder molded into the tube. I think I get what your saying Royce. Are you saying all 390 blocks would be the same, but they would make individual tubes and dipsticks based on the model car they were going in?
So another question came up when I was going to put the new thermostat gasket on (my previous install was leaking) Here is a picture of my housing. Note the recess for the thermostat to fit in, but also the raise ridge around that hole, and raised parts around bolt holes. then note how the BB gasket I bought from WCCC along with some other parts fits on the housing. Is that correct? My previous install gasket actually had a smaller center hole to it and covered that ridge in the housing and I think even went onto the thermostat flange a bit.
In doing a little research this morning I am finding this style water neck isn’t correct. Between the Scott Drake store pics and Concours Mustang site pics I am finding a water neck that doesn’t have the extra raised portions like mine on the mounting face and also doesn’t have a threaded port (plugged) like mine does. I also don’t care for how pitted mine is. I think it’s in too rough of shape to use, and wrong?
If I remember correctly the ‘67 housing is different than ‘68 and later and very hard to find. Even if yours isn’t that nice don’t be too hasty getting rid of it.
I have quite a heavy coat of paint on mine, but think I can make out the engineering number of C8AE-8594-B which I am finding on the Cobra Jet site as getting used on the 428. I would have to strip the paint off to hopefully absolutely make out the numbers and letters. It looks identical to the one pictured on the Cobra jet site except that one just has a raised ring around the hole only, and mine goes into having raised areas around the bolt holes as well like pictured above.
I have to get the dipstick tube thing figured out. Will have to do some more searching on that one. I also want to get a correct bent fuel pump to carb line. I don’t like the way the one I bent myself fits. I have an after market fuel pump though so are the odds that a repro one won’t fit, and are the repro ones any good?
The fuel lines I bought were fine they just needed to be tweaked a little. Your ‘67 would not have a C8 housing. Check out the Concours Mustang forum for more details. Functionally they may be the same, I’m not really sure.
Al thanks! I know my car wouldn’t have a C8 housing. I scoped out the CM site, and know what a correct 67 housing is like and how rare they are, and big bucks. Where did you get your fuel lines from? I still have not figured out the dipstick thing. There are some measurements of length on sites, but nothing really in regard to fitment.
According to my MPC, the correct dipstick for a 1967 390 is a C7OZ 6750-A with a chrome handle.
17.42" shield to full
18.50" shield to add
19.25" shield to end
The tube is a C7OZ 6754-A and is approx. 10 5/64" long
http://www.fordification.com/tech/dipstick.htm
So in this link under removal and installation of tube is it correct in stating the tube only goes in 1/4 to 3/8 inch and the rib don’t go all the way to the block? That may be my dilemma as to why I don’t think the tube is correct. I’m thinking it needed to go to the rib (ridge I called it) and if it did there is no way the bracket will line up with exhaust manifold bolt. If it don’t then I guess I’m set on the tube at least
Got my fuel lines from WCCC. They know what fits, it’s just easier that way.
Both the dipstick and tube are specific to the application - Mercury Cougar 67 - 70 with FE. That’s what you have. Reproductions are sold everywhere, ask for a dipstick and tube for 1967 - 70 Mustang with FE to get the best prices.
Nothing from any other car line works. If the engine was in a Galaxie = nothing works.
That rib fits the factory tool that was used to install the tube. It doesn’t rest against anything.
Thanks. So the dipstick dilemma is worked out. I think the water neck I have will work even though it isn’t the correct engineering number. The back side of it still puzzles me. Anyone have any pics of the mounting face of a 428 one? Does it look like the one I posted?
To get this thing running right I am also going to zero in on the distributor. Even though I know the vac diaphragm holds my research has led me to different distributors for 2v vrs 4v and auto’s vrs standards. I need to look my numbers on mine, but I am pretty sure it is the one that was on the 65 model year engine I bought and it had a 2v on it and I put my original 4v intake on it. What running issues if any would that pose? Advance weights wrong or other items? I also think I should be looking at the plug wires I used. Just parts counter ones. I don’t recall what I read, but I know I have read posts about solid core wires vrs other types. I know I have read all over of a major mistake of re-using the rockers and shafts. I did do this also as they didn’t appear that worn. I guess I’m learning about engines the hard way.
Someone smarter that me in this area want to come for a visit
You have the gasket for a large hole thermostat (1967 and earlier) and you have a 1968 / later small hole thermostat housing. You must use a thermostat housing that matches the era of the intake. The gasket needs to also match the era of both intake and housing.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1966-67-72-73-76-Ford-Mercury-360-390-427-428-NOS-Thermostat-Housing-C7AZ-8592-A/392318825084?hash=item5b5806327c:g:htsAAOSwKN1dD7dJ
Is this one correct? I know it doesn’t have the C7 number. Or there are Dorman ones 902-1024 offered all around. Functionally right?
Depends on which intake is being used.
Royce it is a C7AE 9425-E intake. I got it with my 67 S-code automatic parts car. BTW didn’t I read somewhere your originally from MN? In you ROM story maybe. Wanna come for a visit 