FE Engine Rebuilders
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 126
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From: Portland, CT
FE Engine Rebuilders
Looking for some recommendations. I want to buy a rebuilt 390 FE long block for my '74 350 SCS. Would like to know if anyone has experience with any current rebuilt engine distributors. I am not looking for top shelf performance but rather solid reliability and good driving and mileage with good power. Good customer service would be very nice.
Has anyone dealt with any of the engine amnufacturers out there in the last year or so (Jasper for example or Phoenix Engines?). Please provide me some feedback if possible. Thanks.
Has anyone dealt with any of the engine amnufacturers out there in the last year or so (Jasper for example or Phoenix Engines?). Please provide me some feedback if possible. Thanks.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 820
Likes: 11
I wouldn't trust any of the big box distributors with building an engine for me. They tend to use the cheapest parts out there. The "performance builders" will cost you a touch more but they're more inclined to use good parts.
Or here's an idea. Rebuild it yourself. An engine rebuild isn't that hard. It can be a little involved and labor intensive but anybody with basic mechanical knowledge and a good book or two can build a reliable long block. It's also the cheapest way to go. As long as your block and heads don't need a ton of work all you're looking at is rings, bearings, an oil pump and a gasket set. Everything else will be based off whether you need/want them. We're always here to help you along. Hell, if you put the word out I'm sure someone from your area would come over one weekend and help you with the assembly.
Or here's an idea. Rebuild it yourself. An engine rebuild isn't that hard. It can be a little involved and labor intensive but anybody with basic mechanical knowledge and a good book or two can build a reliable long block. It's also the cheapest way to go. As long as your block and heads don't need a ton of work all you're looking at is rings, bearings, an oil pump and a gasket set. Everything else will be based off whether you need/want them. We're always here to help you along. Hell, if you put the word out I'm sure someone from your area would come over one weekend and help you with the assembly.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 146
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From: Kansas
Hey Raptor, saw your thread and gotta say I agree with joker, I'm gonna rebuild mine myself with the exception of the machine work. Something about knowing for sure what part are in it and how it was assembled makes a difference. There are plenty of guys here willing to help. One thing I learned is replacing the 390 pistons with the 360 to get a respectable compression ratio back in the ol' 390. I'll be starting on mine this fall.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 970
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Tear your motor down to a short block, take your heads and short block to a reputable machine shop. Tell them what you want out of it and they will make it happen. When its done all you will need to do is put the heads, intake and the other goodies on and your done. Even if you decide to do it your self always have the block hot tanked and magnafluxed to check for cracks, align honed/bored and decked square. A lot of guys build there motor and don't have the deck checked, also have your heads resurfaced.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 136
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From: Houston
Here is a rebuilder, if that is your question
Don't know where you live but here is one in Houston. Thunderbolt » Ford Engines Thunderbolt has been around for a long time though I must say I have always been a little leery of them. If nothing else a call to them might give you a baseline.
puttster
puttster
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