I see an awful lot of people having issues with their FE's and as a result getting quite discouraged. I have built several and have had only a few minor hiccups which is to be expected when building an engine that has been out of production for so long. Just wanted to show the other FE nuts my pride and joy. She's a 361FT block, 390 crank and heads, hei distributor running 17deg 38 total, a c6, jag independent rear w/ 2.88 ratio. YouTube - ‪1948 ford F1‬‏

 

Sounds good! Looks good too! One the builds I've always wanted to do is a f1 with a FE, ratted out. That jag rear is very unique. I'm digging it.

 

Thanks! As an FE man you know the expense involved. My buddies say that 'FE' stands for "f'n expensive!" but for my money you just can't beat them. I have a 'new' 429 on the stand but can't get away from my love for a well built FE. I need to update my profile pics. I've added a few little touches like my new ceramic headers by Sanderson.

 

They aren't cheap for sure. I cringe sometimes when I hear how inexpensive it is to build a SBC, but everyone and their dog has one and anyone could put one together. Let a Chebby guy try and build an FE and he'll quickly find himself lost in foreign territory. The FE is almost forgotten in this day and age, but it's got a heritage like no other.
I'm due for some new headers sometime this coming year myself. I'll be looking at getting some nickel plated fenderwell exit. I think they'll look real mean plus be alot easier on the pipe routing.


Remember FEar begins with FE!

 

Sounds good, but for a while there I was afraid it was only capable of doing a "one wheel peel" in circles.......
FE's are almost forgotten, so it's up to us to keep reminding the SBC guys why we love the FE so much.......
These things may not like high revs or sustained use in the upper end, but man do they ever make HP and TQ....

 

You'd be surprised how many people over on the other forum turn em up to 7-8k, even 9500rpm!! at the drags. Granted, most of these are 427 based though. The 6-7k range is common practice for everything else on the street/strip. You'll need some good flowing heads. And you MUST do the oiling mods to the center oilers to keep them alive at these high rpms but that's an easy fix. Over 6500rpm and you'll have to break your wallet out for some rotating assembly upgrades if you want it to last more than a season. Most of us truck guys are running hydraulic cams as well, which limit the revs. When you go solid you don't have lifter pump up to contend with they'll wind on up like anything else.

I'm content with my 5700 redline though. lol

 

I know they can be modded to survive high RPM's. But they still ain't happy about doing it..... There's a lot of mass to fling around. It does help if the block has the extra main webbing. Might be why dad said he started with a FT block he drug out of the core pile. It was a 389, so it wasn't really in high demand...
Sustained high RPM use really takes it's toll, which is why the side-oiler came to be.

 

Chop nice ride. The Jag IRS rear is very cool as well. Looks like a blast to drive.

 

Do the lower end oiling mods and with the recessed crank they are almost bullet proof. Old technology, heavy but simple to work on.

 

When Building a performance FE drilling out the oil passage to 1/2" is a must and with the pump I'm running I carry 80-95 psi all day. Was torn " to stroke, or not to stroke" my issue was the thought of using BBC rods in my ford, tainted blood line and all.... It runs just fine as is and with just over 2400 miles on it, it is just starting to loosen up and come to life. I have no plans to do it but I bought forged pistons just in case I grow a wild hair and decide to give it a 150 shot of NOS. (better to over in the beginning, than to under in the end!)

 

Yeah, I dunno what, if any, oiling mods dad may have done when he built this FE. It's been over 20 years, and he can't recall either. Still runs today, so he must have done something right......

 

very nice , what exhaust ( glass packs?) also what cam, nice sound !!!

 

curious about cam, intake, head details, etc.
Your Youtube video claims 500hp, is that 'just a guess' or did you actually dyno it?

 

Heads have been given a complete work over and the intake is an edelbrock streetmaster. As for the cam it is a salvage from my buddies falcon drag car with a 427. He wasn't sure what lift it is since it was one of about 30 on a shelf. And the hp rating is a little of both. It had a pull of 456/485 but that was with a worn out stock points distributor, stock manifolds, rockers, and a few other stock low performance parts (lay offs suck!) but i have added my hei, rollers, headers, ect. And I feel that 500 is a reasonable estimate.

 

that sounds reasonable. Stock manifolds to headers alone is a huge difference.
I'm suprised a large cam is cool with the 2.88 rear gear, how are the street manners?


btw, awesome truck. You don't see too many like that. The sound of headers and glasspacks is perfect.... thats why I run it on all mine :-)