Howdy fellow FTE's, I have a 66 F100 with the original 352/three spd. I wanted to ask if any of you have done a good hi-performance build with the 352? I know a 390 or 428 would be better, I use to have a 72 F100 w/a 390, C-6. It was a stock 2 barrel with headers and shift kit in the tranny and it would bark the tires shifting into 2nd all day long. Looking on line for crate motors and good, complete, used 390's or better are scarce at best and have lots of $$$ being asked for them. I just wanted to know if it's worth my time and $$$ to do anything with the 352 to make it a nice little streetable set up that will let em' know when I'm coming down the road. I know with a 390 crank and rods and the block bored to 390 specs it would work, again just wandering if you have a hot rod built with a 352. Thanks for any info you may want to pass.

 

Believe it or not, in 1960 (for one year only) there was a 360 horsepower solid lifter, high compression 4 bbl, dual exhaust 352 engine offered from the factory. The 352 T-Bird engine was rated at 300 horses. It's all a matter of how much do you want to spend and how much do you want to do? Just putting a 4 bbl manifold/carb and headers/dual exhausts on it will help a good bit. You don't really need to change the cam to start with. Of course you can do a lot more. You might want to get your heads converted for unleaded fuel and the ports cleaned up. I'm sure other guys will have lots of suggestions. Good luck.

 

If the heads need to come off you might look into having them milled to bump compression up, otherwise why fix it if it isn't broke.

An electronic dizzy will not make horsepower, but it may get some back that you are losing, it will also help with mileage.

I prefer the stock exhaust manifolds over headers. Headers tend to burn up starters and its a PITA to replace a starter with headers.

Don't forget all the old hot rod tricks to improve performance. Reduce weight and get as much weight off the front end and over the rear wheels as possible.

 

Look at your heads near the spark plugs in the middle and see if you can find the casting numbers C6AE-R on them. These heads are the poor mans Cobra Jet heads. Used on some 1966 352s. I found that both of the 1966 352s I have did come with this head. Rather than retype it I'll link to some info.

332-428 Ford FE Engine Forum: C6AE-U & C6AE-R Heads

 

Shadowrider's observation about the negative side of headers is accurate, but the stock exhaust manifolds are terribly restrictive and you really do want your engine to breathe better. You might be able to find a set of the factory cast iron header-type exhaust manifolds, but they were made to fit Galaxies, not trucks so there might be interference with the steering gear or clutch linkage. The cast iron hi-po manifolds were fitted to Galaxies with hi-po 352, 390, 406, 427, and maybe 428 (not sure), from 1960 (352) thru the mid 60s, I think. They are pretty pricey as they are also pretty rare - but they are out there.

 

I like my shorty Sanderson headers. I have had no troubles with my starter as the pipes are just as far away as the stock manifold was. Going from stock logs to headers on my 416 was like going from my 352 to 416 (well, maybe not that extreme).

Another option is to have your 352 punched .050 over stock and get a 390 crank and rods with 360 pistons.

 

That's right, T-bird 352's where really the first Hi-performance FE's. I did fail to mention that mine does have an Edelbrock Performer intake with a Holley 4 barrel with dual exhaust. In the end it boils down to the $$$ spent and what I want the truck to do. I know it needs a valve job and new rings as it puffs blue smoke at idle and coming out of first from a dead stop. Thanks for the info

 

You're right on the headers. I was lucky enough years ago to locate an original pair of the 406 cast iron headers at the Houston Auto Rama swap meet and I still have them. The 352 has the original exhaust manifolds with dual pipes going to glasspacks and then dumped. Looking to use the 406 headers with new pipes and flowmaster. Thanks for the info...good stuff...

 

Thanks for the link and the heads info. I will check them to see what I might have. I know they need to be gone thru due to blue smoke at idle and smoke left behind coming out of first from a dead stop, could also be bad rings. Thanks again!

 

Yes sir they are, I spied a pair on Ebay for $795.00 a few nights ago...I just cked and they're gone. I was very lucky to find an excellent pair at the Houston Auto Rama swap meet about 20 yrs ago, I think I paid 100 bucks for em. My brother and I have been Blue Oval fans since we could push our favorites on our knees and we got quite educated on the four different Ford engine family's. By reading books and going to a lot of car shows, we knew what to BOLO for. Hopefully they will fit alright, I'd hate not to be able to use them. Good stuff, thanks SuperSabre... BTW, cool user name, are you a former F-100 Pilot?

 

72RedNeck...I have given the boring .050 over with the crank and rods some thought as well. I've been on Ebay looking at heads, cranks, rods...etc.... Complete 390's are out there but they're hi-dollar. I don't blame them for the high price, they're getting harder to find everyday and still very popular, as with all the cool 60's and 70's Ford power plants, the muscle car age is still very alive and well and we have to pay for it sometimes. Thanks for the info on the headers, if my 406 cast iron headers don't fit I'll look into the Sanders.

 

I just ckd the heads and it has C6AE on the front side of the head bolt and 6090 R on the back side of the bolt. Is this the C6AE-R heads? The other head is the same.

 

I picked up a 390 of unknown condition (it is free) for $50. If you weren't so far away I would gladly let it go for a couple hundred dollars.

 

TEX, thanks for noticing. SuperSabre is indeed in honor of North American's F100. I was an Air Force aircraft maintenance officer for nearly 20 years back in the day. Had a few friends who were "Hun" drivers.

 

Very cool Sir, I'm a SMSgt in the Texas Air National Guard (full time Technician), I'm also in aircraft maintenance. The Collins Foundation is a privately owned foundation that collects and restores the old Air Force iron, they have a hangar here at Ellington Field JRB and they have an F-100 that has brand new engines. They also have a T-33, F-4, and a couple of Migs, all in flying condition. I've seen a lot of aircraft in my time but other than the F-4 not many from the Vietnam era, especially that are in flyable condition. The first time that Super Sabre took off and we all heard the "boom" of the afterburner lighting off.....now that was way cool, jet noise never gets old!! Thanks for your past service Sir!!