FE swap?
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Plant city florida
FE swap?
I know theese are done before. No flaming for this please. Have any of you guys swapped an FE in to one of these trucks(carb--->carb)? MY grandpa has 14 390s,4 427s, 2 428s, a 360,a 410 and a 406 in his shop. Hes also got a 302 and 2 351 Windsors,(any other engines). Do you guys think it would be worth it to put a mildly built FE into my truck(which would mean it gets a C6 most likely), or do you think I should just stick to dreaming about making a 408 stroker out of a 351? I like FE's i just hate how scarce parts are for them anywhere but his house. If I did a 408 i would also do a zf5 swap to ditch my T18.
Kind of exploring options here.
Kind of exploring options here.
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From: Virginia
It won't fit. Yes it's been done before, but not very often, it's too much work to make it fit. A 302 or 351w will drop right in.
I would not begin to know if the zf could be made to work with the FE. In theory we thought the zf could be made to work with a 351m or a 400, but one of the other guys on here had a lot of trouble doing it, I don't know if he ever got it all worked out.
The 351m, 400's 240, 300 sixes, 289,302, 351w, 429,460 all these engines will go right in since the factory installed these engines in various years of the 80-up trucks, and all the 80-96 trucks are pretty much the same.
I would not begin to know if the zf could be made to work with the FE. In theory we thought the zf could be made to work with a 351m or a 400, but one of the other guys on here had a lot of trouble doing it, I don't know if he ever got it all worked out.
The 351m, 400's 240, 300 sixes, 289,302, 351w, 429,460 all these engines will go right in since the factory installed these engines in various years of the 80-up trucks, and all the 80-96 trucks are pretty much the same.
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Elder User
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From: Plant city florida
It was used from sometime in the early 60's u til '76 in trucks. Engine sizes were 332,352,360,390,406,410,427,428 361&391FT(same thingy MOSTY just for Big trucks). 427s are side oilers, or 'cammers'. Used in NASCAR(yes they OWNED Chevys) and blocks alone have gone for over 10k before.
If you want to get technical, no its not a big block as ford never made 'big blocks', only engine family's such as the 335series(351C,351M,400) the 385 series(370/429/460 AKA big block fords by us) and then the rest I don't feel like listing. FEs are IMO the best sounding of all and are very reliable engines.
Old School Hot Rodder
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Exmore, VA
For you brand C types, before Ford started referring to that family as FE, they were called Interceptor, as in 332 Interceptor, 332 Interceptor Special and 352 Police Interceptor. The term FE started during the Muscle Parts era.
I had a 390 Camper Special in my 77 F-150, it went like the hammers and got 16 mpg highway. I told a fellow with an SS-454, Any time, just name it. He wouldn't bite.
I had a 390 Camper Special in my 77 F-150, it went like the hammers and got 16 mpg highway. I told a fellow with an SS-454, Any time, just name it. He wouldn't bite.
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From: Algona,WA
FE stands for many things... Fairlane Engine, Ford Edsel, Freaking Expensive, etc etc.
It was used from sometime in the early 60's u til '76 in trucks. Engine sizes were 332,352,360,390,406,410,427,428 361&391FT(same thingy MOSTY just for Big trucks). 427s are side oilers, or 'cammers'. Used in NASCAR(yes they OWNED Chevys) and blocks alone have gone for over 10k before.
If you want to get technical, no its not a big block as ford never made 'big blocks', only engine family's such as the 335series(351C,351M,400) the 385 series(370/429/460 AKA big block fords by us) and then the rest I don't feel like listing. FEs are IMO the best sounding of all and are very reliable engines.
It was used from sometime in the early 60's u til '76 in trucks. Engine sizes were 332,352,360,390,406,410,427,428 361&391FT(same thingy MOSTY just for Big trucks). 427s are side oilers, or 'cammers'. Used in NASCAR(yes they OWNED Chevys) and blocks alone have gone for over 10k before.
If you want to get technical, no its not a big block as ford never made 'big blocks', only engine family's such as the 335series(351C,351M,400) the 385 series(370/429/460 AKA big block fords by us) and then the rest I don't feel like listing. FEs are IMO the best sounding of all and are very reliable engines.
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From: Marengo, Iowa
Not sure why it wouldn't fit, but it will be a full custom job, no bolt in options. If you do go ahead with it, also be aware that the heads generally did not handle unleaded gas, as they were designed for leaded only. They were discontinued as the unleaded gasoline took over. You should strongly consider updating the heads before going through with such a conversion. That is typically more than the cost of another common engine... $300 the last I heard.
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From: Virginia
The way I see it, the FE's had a good reputation because of when they were built. Low to no smog equipment, and high compression ratios when good cheap gas was available. But not all FE's have good reputations, the 360 is a good example of one that carried on longer than most into the smog era, and was down on power and a gas hog.
You can swap them in, but you end up fabbing everything, all the little brackets, the exhaust, etc. I believe someone figured out some combination of motor mounts that would fit, but none of it is stock.
You can swap them in, but you end up fabbing everything, all the little brackets, the exhaust, etc. I believe someone figured out some combination of motor mounts that would fit, but none of it is stock.
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Joined: May 2012
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From: Franklin, IN
As much as I absolutely LOVE FEs, you would be better off sticking with a powerplant that requires less time and money to install. You could install a bad little small block in less time and money then it would take to swap in a mild FE.
Have you thought about swapping in the 351C?
Have you thought about swapping in the 351C?
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Elder User
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From: Plant city florida
Thought about a Cleveland. It's not out of the picture as a nice one pops up every now and then for cheaper than a Windsor. If I really wanted to build a BAD clevor though, my grandpa has a set of new set of Cleveland QUENCH heads modified for a Windsor that were not even bolted on yet.
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From: Simi Valley, CA
1973/78 F350's made exclusively for U-Haul have 330 Medium Duty aka Xtra Duty engines.
FE (Ford Edsel) engines introduced in 1958, initially 332/352 in Ford's, 361 in Edsel (1958 only).
FE's used thru 1971 in cars (except Lincoln), 1965/76 in F100/350's.
352: 1965/67 F100/350 / 360/390: 1968/76 F100/350 / 1972/76 360/390 heads (same) came with hardened valve seats for use with unleaded fuel.
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Last year for the 240 I-6: 1974.
289's were not installed in trucks, 1963/68 Ford/Merc Passenger Cars, 1965/68 Ranchero's & 1966/68 Bronco's only.
351C's were not installed in trucks, 1970/74 Ford/Merc Passenger Cars/Ranchero's only.
429's were not installed in trucks, 1968/73 Ford/Merc Passenger Cars only.