352 FE questions

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Feb 13, 2004 | 01:59 PM

fordfan2018

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352 FE questions

i have a 1966 ford F-100 with a 352 FE and 4 on the floor. I recently tore the heads off and had them completely rebulit also got new lifters,pushrods, and rocker arms. Are these engines prone to lifters failing? on every single lifter the plunger was ceased even putting all my force on it i couldnt get them to go down. i know it was sitting for years and years. ive heard the FEs have weak valvetrains.fact or fiction? also how much life can i expect out of my heads?

Feb 13, 2004 | 03:33 PM

Freightrain

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From: Ohio

Sounds like it was just stuck from sitting. The FE is top fed FIRST. Meaning all the oil starts at the cam and goes down to mains/rods. Most all times the heads are OVER fed with oil. Most performance rebuilds include REDUCING oil to heads/rocker shafts. It is fed by a 3/16" hole and by no means needs all that. Most have restrictors made with .06 hole.

The only weak part of an FE valve train is the big roller stick/heavy springs that people put in them. For any mild application the stock stuff is more than reliable. I run a .531 lift cam on stock parts with no problems up to 6000 rpm.

It boils down to proper parts mated to proper parts.

As for heads, if you installed new guides and the like, you'll get LOTS of miles. Hardened seats will be the best upgrade you can do for it. Unleaded gas tends to wear on original heads.

Larry

Feb 13, 2004 | 10:35 PM

Ratsmoker

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I can't bleed a lifter down with my bare hands. This is normal. If a lifter is full of oil then it will be locked up tight. Your valve springs will push it down though.

Feb 14, 2004 | 12:31 AM

fordfan2018

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well i know with the new lifters i could push them down quite easily, after i soaked them in oil.

Feb 14, 2004 | 12:32 AM

Ratsmoker

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Soaking them in oil doesn't pressurize them though. Once they are plunged up and down a couple hundred times they are full of oil and then work like they are supposed to.

Feb 14, 2004 | 12:40 AM

fordfan2018

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i see, thanks for the info.

Feb 14, 2004 | 12:48 AM

Ratsmoker

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From: Missouri

If you have a spare lifter lying around take the plunger out and fill it half way with oil and see how hard it is to put the plunger back in. There is quite a hydraulic lock going on there.