The 390 in³, with 389.6 in³ or 6.4 L true displacement, had a bore of 4.05 in (103 mm) and stroke of 3.78 in (96 mm). It was the most common FE engine in later applications, used in many Ford cars as the standard engine as well as in many trucks. It was a popular high-performance engine; although not as powerful as the 427 and 428 models, it provided good performance, particularly in the lighter weight vehicles, and was in much greater supply.

Ford combined attributes that had worked well in previous incarnations of the FE: a 3.98 in stroke and a 4.13 in bore, creating an easier-to-make engine with nearly the same displacement. The 428 engine used a cast nodular iron crankshaft and was externally balanced. Standard 428 in³ FE engines were fitted to Galaxies (badged simply as ‘7 Litre’) and Thunderbirds in the 1966 and 1967 model years. Applications: 4V, 10.5:1 345 hp (257 kW) at 4600 rpm and 462 ft·lbf (626 N·m) at 2800 rpm 1966-1967 Ford 1966-1967 Ford Thunderbird 1966-1967 Mercury 1967 S-55 360 hp (269 kW) at 5400 rpm and 459 ft·lbf (622 N·m) at 3200 rpm 1966-1968 Ford Police Interceptor 1966-1968 Mercury Police Interceptor 340 hp (254 kW) at 4600 rpm and 462 ft·lbf (626 N·m) at 2800 rpm 1968 Ford 1968 Mercury 360 hp (269 kW) at 5400 rpm and 420 ft·lbf (570 N·m) at 3200 rpm 1968 Shelby Cobra GT500 Cobra-Jet 4V, 10.

The following provides casting numbers for Ford engines applicable to classic Cougars. B9AE-B ’59-’60 352 c.i.d. ’59 332 c.i.d. C1AE-C ’61-’62 390 c.i.d. C1AE-G ’61-’62 352 & 390 c.i.d. C1AE-V ’61 390 c.i.d. Police Interceptor, High Performance, Solid Lifters, Oil Pressure Relief Valve At Rear Of Block C2AE-BC ’62 390 c.i.d. Police Interceptor, High Performance, Solid Lifters, Oil Pressure Relief Valve At Rear Of Block C2AE-BD ’62-’63 406 c.i.d. Cross Bolted Mains, Solid Lifters, Oil Pressure Relief Valve At Rear Of Block C2AE-BE ’62 390 c.

Cylinder heads used on the W-code 427 through (about) mid-to-late Jan 1968 were casting # C8AE-6090-J and are supposedly the most difficult to find. C8OE-6090-N cast heads were used after Ford ceased using the J heads. Intake manifold casting is C7AE-9425-F. It is cast aluminum and also known as the Police Interceptor intake due to its use on thousands of Ford/Mercury 428 Police Interceptor engines. — Source – Royce Peterson