What are we trying to accomplish here, just looking at the families of Ford?
Mopar engines you spoke of are known as the LA series 273, 318, 340 and 360 (up to TBI) Mopar also has the A series (before LA) which also one of the engines displaces 318ci as well. Then we have the Magnum series which also has a 318ci. Although the 360ci was not around in the A series days.
The big block mopars you have B series and you have RB series. B being a standard deck height pretty much housing the 350 (short lived), 361, 383 and 400. Going to the RB or raised block we have the 413, 426 hemi, 426 wedge and 440. The 426 came before the 440. When the big daddy 440 debuted the 426 hemi was already 2 years old. If you have a 426 wedge, it won't drop into place of the hemi because of the different position of the engine mounts.
Then you have the early hemi engines from Chrysler, Dodge, Desoto and polyspherical engines.
Fords, there are many displacements in just one family as you already know. We have the y-blocks, FE series, FT series, Windsor, 335 series, 385 series, MEL series, flatheads, Super Duty industrial mills and the newest modulars. Some have already been mentioned.
FE series displacements 332, 352, 360, 390, 406, 410, 427 and 428
FT series displacements 330, 332, 359, 361, 389, 391
The wicked SOHC 427 is a full hemi-chambered engine. With a 7foot long timming chain, there is nothing like it. I can't remember if it was NHRA whom banned it from competition or not.
The external appearance of FE vs the FT is the same. I would tell you how to tell the difference between these two, but its somewhere in my notes. The INTERNALS are different. FT is a truck specific engine. Both of these engines have an extended skirt at the bottom end. There is a block called the 'side oiler' which a version of the 427 uses, its not like the regular oil gallery that lead straight up to the cam and go from there.
MEL series Mercury, Edsel, Lincoln. These engines are their own breed.The heads I believe will work on the 385 series engines. Not sure it anything needs to be adjusted or not.
MEL displacements 383, 410, 430 and 462
Y-block displacements 239, 256, 272, 292, 312 This engine utilized block skirts.
Windsor series displacements 221, 255, 260, 289, 302, 351ci
The earlier windsors, or maybe 289 and below I believe the headbolt diameter is smaller so if you were to install 351W heads on a 289ci you will need a sleeve to make up the space around the headbolt in order to not allow the head to shift.
Now we have what is known as the BOSS 302. This engine uses the heads that the 351 4V cleveland has in a basic sense. The coolant ports from the head to the block are different from the basic 4V 351 Cleveland though. These engine parts will not work on a basic 302.
335 Series displacements 351C, 351M (Modified) and 400. The heads from the 351M and 400 will work on the 351C, but the block height of the 400 and 351M is taller than the 351C. The 351M & 400 was steered more for the truck and large car. The 351C engine had 2 styles of heads, the 2v meaning 2 Venturi carb and 4V meaning 4 venturi carb. You can ID these heads by looking at the corners by the valve cover rail. Look for a 2 or 4. As you stated, the oil system has a bit of a problem. I want to say this engine fed the heads more than having an equal oil distribution, but i could be wrong
385 series displacements, the big daddy Ford as I call it. 370 (industrial only), 429 & 460 started in 1968 the 460 went to the Lincolns until 1973 came, then was installed in 1tons too until 1997, 1999 for industrial apps. 429 went into Ford's cars, although ended in 1972 due to emissions reasons. These engines shared the same bore 4.360". If you think about it, that's the biggest cylinder bore produced for a mass produced engine. Cadillac's 500 had a 4.300" bore, Chevy 454 had 4.250" and the 440 Mopar had 4.320" even with the newer Chevy 8.1L the bore is still 4.250". The block the 460 used in the 1960s and 70s switched castings a couple times, in 1979 Ford changed the 460s to a externlly balanced engine from an internally. The heads will work up until 1986. 1987 the engine became EFI and the whole top end changed. Head design changed on the intake side and exhaust side of the heads. 1999 is the last recorded year I have found to be in use. Now you also have to realize the 429 and 460 were used in industrial applications too which entails different casting designs. The heads changed too, the one being a real dog is I believe the D2 head throughout the course of this engine family.
The 429 Boss is its own beast just like the 302 Boss. Rotated & Canted valves. Not quite a full-hemi, but considered as the semi-hemi. These parts do not interchange.
Super Duty (industrial only) displacements 401 and 534ci.
Flatheads or side-valve displacements 136, 221, 255, plus 239 and 337 according to Wikipedia. If you are dealing with the 221 you must watch for the different amount of headbolts because each amount of headbolts retaining the heads. If I remember right, the least is 17 and moves up until about 24 bolts per head. Each having different amount of horsepower being produced. I want to say there are more flatheads out there, but I am not too sure. I will have to look into my library again to see if I missed anything as far as displacements.
Among other basic things such as valve cover bolts to help ID what you have along with engines using shaft mounted rockers and pedestal mounted rockers. There are numerous things out there about Fords and their differences between engine families. Remember at the bottom end you oil pan changes from app to app from different k-member positions which changes your pan and your oil pickup system.
Hope this helps!
