Ford FE motors

Topic: Ford FE motors (Read 1758 times) previous topic - next topic

Ford FE motors

November 11, 2013, 01:45:16 PM

I recently acquired a new project -- a '73 Ford F-250 "highboy" with a blown up 390 (he thought it was a 390 but could very well be a 360). Apparently the rear main seal went out and starved it of oil. I am thinking about rebuilding it this winter but 1.) have never rebuilt an engine on my own 2.) never worked on a FE motor. Anyone have experience with them? From what I've read they can be a tad expensive to work on compared to a Windsor.

I don't need a HP monster, just something that sounds good and will have enough power to tool around on the weekends and occasionally pull a small load. I thought this would be a great learning experience and would give me something to do over the long winter months.

Ford FE motors

Reply #1 – November 11, 2013, 03:37:06 PM

FE's are a bit different. Shaft rockers and the intake is part of the heads (heads are pretty small physically) and it weighs a bunch! They've been out of production for some time, though recently more performance parts have become available.

Performance stuff can be expensive, but run of the mill 360's & 390's are pretty cheap.

Some of the FE engine sizes are: 332, 352, 360, 361(typical truck designation), 390, 406, 410, 427, 428. Physically, most look about the same.

Lots of different OEM cylinderheads. Performance ones include: low riser, mid riser, high riser, CJ. Specifics of what they are, often depends on the year of production. OEM intakes can consist of 2bl, 4bl, 3-2bl, 2-4bl and then there are aftermarket one's from single 4bl on up.

The performance OEM stuff can be priced higher than the new stuff (though the new stuff offers more performance), due to the demand from retorers.

Mild builds seem to respond well to an Edelbrock Performer and a set of 1 3/4 LT headers. OEM cams are all flat tappet, but Rollers now are available.

Lots of info on the net as there is a small committed following (kind of like fox T-birds & Cougars...). Survival Motorsports is a specialist in FE's.

Ford FE motors

Reply #2 – November 11, 2013, 08:29:59 PM

I have an FE project that I must do in the future also. It's a 390 in a 64 Galaxie. The FE is a tough motor full of torque. In stock form it will pull anything u want it to. One thing I have learned about them is their thin castings. When u pull it apart, have the machine shop check for wall thickness b4 doing any boring. On the assembly line, the first FEs to come down the line were the ones that needed the bigger bores. As the day went on, the forms would get more and more off, so the smaller displacement engines would start to be produced. Just an added note, "FE" stands for Ford Edsel. These were the cars they were originally designed for. Edsels were some of the best built and advanced cars Ford ever produced. They are famous for not selling well. This is because, well, they were butt ugly.

Ford FE motors

Reply #3 – November 12, 2013, 03:43:14 AM

If youre not wanting to build the FE you could drop a 460 down in the place of the FE should be a direct swap. I have one that i was going to drop in a 76 f250 but the truck is long gone. Frame was a little thin if you know what i mean

Ford FE motors

Reply #4 – November 12, 2013, 09:06:42 AM

Thanks guys. I was originally wanting to fix up my old '78 F-250 4x4 which was my granddads truck. Unfortunately years of farm use and winter driving have caused it to pretty much rust away. The frame has a fist size hole and in general is, as 87thunderbirdBlackJack puts it, getting "thin".

I plan to harvest the high pinion/open knuckle Dana 44 front axle and steering components from the '78 and put them on the '73 to get rid of the py highboy steering. The '78 has a completely worn out 400M which was a tough motor, but I've always thought the FE motors were pretty neat. I'm a big fan of the FE Fairlanes and Galaxie's. So now I just need to decide whether I want to do a stock rebuild on the 360/390 or actually swap in a 460, etc.

Body wise its going to be a clone of the '78. It already has a newer bed with the "racetrack" trim and fuel doors. I have a complete rust free '79 doghouse (square headlights FTW) saved up for a rainy day that I plan to put on the truck.

Ford FE motors

Reply #5 – November 12, 2013, 09:37:37 AM

I love them old dentsides. I have a pretty decently built 460/c6 combo im looking to get rid of decently priced if youre interested. Pm me for details if youre interested that is, its a stump pulling motor

Ford FE motors

Reply #6 – November 12, 2013, 10:55:07 AM

Quote from: 87thunderbirdBlackJack;424348

I love them old dentsides. I have a pretty decently built 460/c6 combo im looking to get rid of decently priced if youre interested. Pm me for details if youre interested that is, its a stump pulling motor

Thanks, I will keep that in mind.

My buddy that I bought the truck from had a fresh rebuilt 460 for the truck that I passed on. I was thinking that putting the FE motor back in would be a lot easier as far as fitting it up to motor mounts and with the 4 speed transmission. I know that a 460 would make more sense as far as cheaper parts and power potential though.