Doing some thinking and was wondering if any FE crank will fit in any FE block? If it works like that has anyone ever tried to put a 360 crank in a 427 block? If my math is correct it would be a 394ci high RPM over square engine. It wouldnt be the best engine for towing but would be fun for racing.

 

Yeah, the crank could go in but...

If you're thinking big time revs you're going to come across some limitations

There was only cast cranks made in the 352/360 3.5 stroke. They are still strong cranks but if you're talking sustaining high RPMs for a considerable amount of time they would be a liability. The only factory steel cranks were the 427 and some FT motors.

The 352/360 used a unique rod length. With the exception of the very, very rare 60 352HiPo engine there were never a performance version of this rod made. You could refresh a set of stock rods and add ARB rod bolts. This may work for short blast up to a higher red line than stock but I wouldn't trust them with a high load or holding onto that speed for very long.

Pistons would have to be custom. You wouldn't find anything off the shelf for this. This could be a blessing though. You can have a set made with a modern design (short skirts, smaller rings, lighter weight). You could also control where the pin would go. This maybe a way around your rod problem. You can look to other applications for aftermarket rods and set the pin for the proper deck height.

This engine would take a lot from a builder. How much are serviceable 427 blocks going for now? I don't think they're cheap. Plus, the one off pistons = BIG $$$. The time researching to find a rod that would work (if there is one out there), the machine work to get it all together, and we haven't even gotten to the top end yet.

I'm in the planning stage of a high winded 352 build for my 59 Galaxie (I know I say 390 in my sig, I have buildable cores for both and haven't made up my mind which one's getting built this summer). I've been looking extensively at the limitations of the stock rods and crank. I think for my street/strip goal of 6K blasts I would be okay after proper prep. But if you're wanting to sing your engine to much higher than this I think you're going to run into problems. Ford didn't seem to have a problem running the 427, with its stock stroke, on the oval tracks back in the day. And with everything that we have learned about airflow, head design, and such since then I think you could build a stock stroke street 427 today that could rival those old NASCAR motors from the 60s. Plus, tapping into this new knowledge I think it is possible to build one of these new stroker motors that can take more revs than most folks would know what to do with.

BUT! I have to say one last thing. I hate being like everybody else. I like unique builds, I like doing things that most folks would say not to do, I like being different. High RPM 427s have been built for the past 50 years. For the past 10-15 years or so the hot ticket for FE guys have been a stroker crank in a 390 block. A couple different good aftermarket heads are readily available too. These things are relatively easy and have been done before. I won't take away from their badass factor but making something like your 394 work would blow them away in koolness (notice that's kool with a "k", if I have to explain it you wouldn't understand). So if you have the means I say do it. Open a build thread here and fill it full of pics and dyno charts. Tell us the details, what worked and what didn't. Ignore the naysayers. Until you have a running engine there will be plenty of them. In the end have fun! Stab this thing into something unique. I would say something full size with a late 50s/early 60s NASCAR vibe.

 

Put in an FT 360 crank and new 360 rods with domed forged 427 pistons, it wont be super high on compression but I'm actually wanting to run a lower compression ratio for good reason. I've been playing around with the idea of putting a turbo on this frankenstein of an engine and putting in in a 58 or 59 F100 step side. But as you said 427 blocks are hard to come by and if you do find one the person wants an arm, leg and first born for it. I've heard from a buddy of mine of a guy who has a couple of side oilers but it's probably just some 390's.
Anyway if I can come up with the block then I will go for it and if all else fails I'll build a nice 427 and still try to find the F100 to put it in

 

The 352 crank into a 427 was a trick used for a short time (1968?) in NASCAR racing. This put you under 400 CID which gave you a weight break. Reference here:

HowStuffWorks "1968 NASCAR Grand National Chronology"

More here with links, videos etc:

332-428 Ford FE Engine Forum: FE 396 NASCAR racing motor ( video) and some questions..

As for doing it today, why bother? Do you have lots of spare 427 blocks? Is there something magic about this compared to say a 410 or 445? Do you have the money to get the custom pistons and valve train to take advantage of the high revs? Can you afford to blow up engines with high revs?

 

Why bother you say? Why bother putting a Detroit 2 stroke in a pickup? Why bother doing anything to a vehicle? It's to be different. Yes I don't have a plentiful amount of 427 blocks or any at all. Ok there are different ways to get to the same spot, but who wants to follow the same path all the time. So yes if I were to get a 427 block I would try it. If it worked the way I wanted it to then I'd run it. If not finish it as a 427.

 

361 steel crank w/snout turned down , 427 block bored .017 , 427 chevy piston slugs (4.250) custom cut , HR heads .

Holman Moody combo . I remember my dad building one when I was a snot nosed kid . The bottom end would easily over rev the valve train .

Dad had a dozen Mustangs, few Fairlanes , a T Bolt ,couple SOHC motors and 427's out the rear , , , , , until the divorce .

 

Shelby Inc. will sell you a 6 bolt main aluminum block with extra webbing in the lifter valley for only $5K

 

Ok what about a bare block at a swap meet? My guess is around 2-3 grand? Well this idea is getting out of my price range quick.

 

If I had a 427 block I'd put a 4.375" crank in it and have a 492. But then again I love low revving torque monsters.

 

Just because it has a longer arm doesn't mean it'd rev all that slow.
a well build 492 would spin up to 7000 fast enough you probably wouldn't be able to tell the difference over a 352.

Anyway, to be "different" I'd be int he camp of building a 482 and calling it a 352.