Okay guys, first I would like to say hello to all and thank you for having such a great forum. This is my first post. I'm a die hard Ford fan, and I finally bought an old project truck. It's a 1967 F100, and guess what, I'm running into some problems. This is my first FE engine, by the way does FE mean Ford Experimental? And it's for the 352,360,390,428 series right? Anyway, I'm getting a ticking sound. I first thought it was the fuel pump, (I know that they can be installed wrong and make that horrible sound) I took it off and it was fine. So I moved on to the old screwdriver to the ear trick and tested everything, came to #1 cylinder and sure enough there it was, tick tick tick. I pulled the valve cap and found that the rear valve on #1 cylinder (I'm assuming intake) was loose. The rocker arm is fine, nice and tight but the valve, I can move up and down and just a tiny tiny bit side to side. So I'm screwed. But while I was in there I noticed that there is no way of adjusting the rocker arms, is this an FE thing? Now here is the million dollar question....Would it be worth it to pull the heads, take it somewhere to put in a new valve guide and seat, or should I buy new heads? I can pick up some 390 heads from Auto Zone for about $180 a piece. Next question, will 390 heads fit on a 352 block? Are all the FE's capatible? And finally, would the 390 heads have the same setup as the 352, with non-adjustable rocker arms?


Thanks again everyone and sorry for so many questions at once

 

It's pretty much yes, yes, and how much you want to spend. The non adjustable rockers are for hydraulic lifters. You can get adjustable rockers, solid, or roller lifters; for a price.
If you pull the head, you might as well do everything at once.
What you get for your money is another story. Does the Autozone product have hardened valve seats? A machine shop might provide better value, best to let your fingers walk through the yellow pages.

 

First off, welcome aboard!!!

I'll second the yes-yes-yes reply by Hypoid. The parts for the FE (or Ford/Edsel) engine all pretty much interchange. You run into a few issues with the 427/428 stuff, but the 390 and under mix-n-match. The thing you will run into here is the valve stuff. The new heads should be complete with hardened seats for unleaded fuels. If you really do not care too much about the motor, you can have the one guide replaced and be on your way. Will the others follow shortly, probably.... If you dig into the motor, do it right, but of course it will cost $$. Having just spent $600 to have the factory heads completely reworked a little better than stock, I could have spent the $360, but the work was performed at a quality machine shop and will compliment the mild bottom end build too.

--Mike

 

Okay, here's the story. And remember I am new to the do it yourself, full blown out, on my own engine work. I was so dead set that I had a valve problem that when I wiggled the "pushrod" I just assumed it was the valve. A light bulb clicked on in my head last night that it was the pushrod I was messing with, and not the valve. DUHHH! So immediately I was thinking of either a bent rod or getting new lifters and a cam. Then I figured I'd do some light troubleshooting first before I start blowing my cash. And this is also for some of you who might have this same ticking and can't get rid of it. I used some oil flush called "fast motor flush" and ran it for a few minutes, did a normal oil change, but put in Castrol GTX 10W40 with a quart of "Rislone" engine treatment. I drove it around the block a few times and...presto...no more tick tick tick. HORRAY. Now I can go back to the origanal plan and start my rebuild and stick to the budget. But thanks for the replies and ideas guys.

So "FE" means Ford/Edsel not Ford Experimental? Didn't know that. Thanks Mike

 

Thats good that you got the problem fixed. Before I did my rebuild I replaced the lifters, pushrods, and rockers and I still could not stop the ticking. I then found out that a lot of the lifters are made in india and not very good quauilty and they have excess cleanrece and tick no matter what you do. The FE argument is highly disputed but most argree that it means Ford/edesl cause that was what Ford used in the edsel. I just think of FE as reffering to a series of engines spanning over 15 years. The FE's were discontited in 1976. It began in 1958 I think.

 

Live and learn Brother, and ask a lot of questions! A ton of research is cheaper than tution payments at "The School of Hard Knocks".

Heres an address to another FE site:

WWW.network54.com/Forum/74182

Between these two forums I've learned answers to questions I never knew to ask . Both offer a pretty diverse group with a vast knowledge base. I have experienced one problem: the Mrs. gets a little jealous on occasion .

Have fun, Mike