Okay I thought I'd compile some things about the various Ford engine families, V8s anyway.

We don't have small blocks or big blocks. They are in series.

Starting in 1958 Ford Motor Company when Edsel was the man, they decided we needed some big displacement engines, later called the FE. We're pretty sure it means Ford Engine, but could be Ford Edsel too... I'm betting Engine.
It started with the 332, progressed to the 352 which they put in everything, from industrial applications to boats through 1965. After that, we got the 360, not much improvement. Then we got the 390 in 1961... they put that in cars and 2wd trucks, it came with 2, 4, 6 and 8 barrel carburetors. Then there is a 406, which was used in large cars in 64 and 65, then there was a Mercury only engine, called the 410. Then there was a couple 427s, one was a SOHC destined for NASCAR, but banned before it ever hit the track, several versions still exist today in NHRA and IHRA. Then there was a 428, that was used in cop cars, they didn't make too many of these. Of the FEs, the 360 is the most common, with the 390 being next. They had very poorly designed exhaust manifolds that were extremely restrictive. The intake also goes under the valve covers and the pushrods go through the intake. The easiest way to ID these is the intake and the 5 bolt valve covers. Most of these used a 10" clutch.

In 1962 Ford decided they needed a lightweight V8, banking on that they made an itty bitty one that was 221 CI. Then they stepped up displacement to compete with the SBC (ick!) to the 260. In 1964 they stepped up the displacement again to 289 cubic inches. The 221 & 260s and 64 & 65 289s had a 5 bolt bellhousing that is unique to them, and is not interchangeable at all. 1966 was a 6 bolt standardized bellhousing for the 289/302 family and was a new year for Ford, they were coming off big wins in NASCAR and LeMans. In 1968 Ford built and all new 4" bore block to house the new 302s guts. Its mighty 5.0 liters would see many, many applications and changes until 1997. In 1969 Ford built yet another new block, taller than a 302 and with huge main bearings by comparison to all other blocks. Ford wasn't done with the Windsor series, in 1980 they created the 255, it only lasted for a few years and was killed in 83. The 351W and 302 have different firing orders, up until 1995. The W engines died in 1997, however Ford Racing still makes new blocks for circle track racers. Dart makes Man-O-War heavyweight racing blocks, and standard weight tall deck blocks for maximum cubic inches

In 1967 Ford created another new family of engines, the 385s, with their own unique bellhousing. The first one was called the 429. It was definetly a performance engine. The DOT had other ideas, and it was killed in 1972. In 1969 they created the mighty 460, which was originally destined for medium duty trucks (and many medium duty trucks got a variant of the 385 series). The 460 was used in 2wd trucks and large Lincolns until 79 in the cars, and 83 in the trucks. The 351W replaced both. In 1984 Ford started putting the 460 in 4x4/4x2 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. The 460 was discontinued in 1999. Ford Racing still makes the 460 blocks as well.

In 1969 Ford motor Company created a cylinder head, slapped it on the 302 and called that a Boss. In 1970 they decided they needed an engine to go with it. The 335s were born. To this day, Cleveland is a word that makes chevy guys shake in their boots. Fortunately for them, most circle track racing associations across the Nation have banned the Cleveland. The 351C shares the same bell pattern as the 302/351W, it has a different crank and rods. The 351C was discontinued in the USA in 1974, but continued to be built in Australia well into the late 80s. In 1971 Ford built a 400 CI torque Monster, with its 9.5:1 compression it was a powerful motor. It suffered from having such a long stroke that made revving past 5000 a big no-no. Needless to say, its only racing history is in the mud bogs. In 1975 Ford replaced the C with the M, it shares everything with the 400 except the crank and pistons. It has a tall, heavy piston that isn't conducive to racing. Performance parts are limited, but with a little searching they can be found.

The latest offering from Ford is the Modular Motors, first designed in 1992, they consist of 281 CI, 330 CI V8s and a 415 CI V10. There are tons of performance parts available for these engines.


Thats about it.... This isn't too specific, but hopefully will help some

 

not bad you got most of it right.

 

Before the 260 in 1962, there was the 221 which was in production for about
a year, give or take, a friend of mine has one (221). Not only the FE series were made but the FT series speculation (Ford Truck) medium and heavy duty truck-330, 361, 391 etc. Good historical reference-Source:How to rebuild your small block Ford, and How to rebuild your Big Block Ford.

 

The 255 was built in the 80s. It was an unpopular bassackwards idea...


FTs were basically the same block, they had forged steel cranks and different motor mounts. There is a 428 and 429 FT, but the 429 had the 385 series pattern.

 

the 221` was built in 62 and 63.your thinging of the 255 which didnt amount to much.

 

Oh yes, the 255 that was designed to compete with GMs 267 V8..... BOth were jokes, they should have made them v6s, they would have run better.

 

we can also cover the mercury lincoln engines 383,410,430,462 from 58 to 68.the 383,430 was used in 58 to 60 mercs.the 410 in edsels in 58.the 430 in lincolns became the 462 around 65.they shared the same bell and flywheel as the fe.everything else was their own.you used to see a lot of them in old fords in late fifties.i remember seeing one in a 56 .guy wanted 35.oo for the car.

 

I always thought that the most common FE motor (Ford Edsel by the way, as told to me in writing by a FoMoCo public relations expert. It's in the company archives, as is 351M=modified) was the 352. I think it was produced for more years then any other FE, and could be found in most Ford cars and trucks. Of course I could be wrong.

 

the 352 ran 58 to 66 in cars and i think longer in trucks.it was the most common fe.

 

my brother had a 428 in the 68 torino gt he had supposed to be call a "super cobra jet", or so i've been told was very fast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Around here, pickup trucks are popular, and as such so is the 360 FE. By far the most common FE I've seen in my junkyard wanderings has been the 360. That may not be true elsewhere though.

 

Let me help you out here, yes the 221 came in the 60's before the 260. Also, the first FE was a 332 not a 330 . The 360 didnt come before the 390 and 390's NEVER had an option for two 4 barrels. The biggest identifier for an FE (which is Ford-Edsel), is that part of the valve cover sits on the intake. Then, there was more than a "couple" of 427's, there was a low-riser, medium riser, high-riser, tunnel port and SOHC, and two different blocks. The standard one and the side oiler.

The 289 switched to a 6 bolt bell housing sometime around 66 or 67 I "think", I don't remember for sure which year, but I know they did. The 302 ran further up than '97, in the 5.0 Explorers. . HO 302's use the 302 firing order, and that started in the 80's. Around 82, Ford started using a 50oz balance on the flywheels for 302's, but left the 351 with the 28oz.

I could pick through this all day long because you forgot the Flatheads and the Y-blocks, but here is a list I have been working on, with years. I have it posted at modernmusclecars.net. It is by far unfinished, but it is a good place to start.


The Ford Flathead
221ci
239ci
255ci

The Y-Block Fords
3.9L/239ci- x.xx" x x.xx" - 1954 - 19xx
272ci
4.8L/292- x.xx" x x.xx" - 19xx - 19xx
5.1L/312- x.xx" x x.xx" - 1957 - 19xx

The 90º Small Block
3.6L/221ci - 3.50" x 2.87" - 1962 - 1963
4.3L/260- 3.80 x 2.87 - 1962 - 1965
4.7L/289- 4.00 x 2.87 - 1963 - 1968
5.0L/302- 4.00 x 3.00 - 1968 - Present
5.8L/351W- 4.00 x 3.50 - 1969 - 1996 (may have been in F-Super Duty's up until '98)

The Cleveland Family
5.8L/351C- 4.00" x 3.50" - 1970 - 1974
5.8L/351M- 4.00 x 3.50 - 1975 - 19xx
6.6L/400- 4.00 x 4.00 - 1972 - 19xx

The FE Big Blocks
5.4L/332ci- 4.00" x 3.30" - 1958 - 1959
5.8L/352- 4.00 x 3.50 - 1958 - 1961
5.9L/360- 4.05 x 3.50 - 19xx - 19xx
5.9L/361T- 4.05 x 3.50 - 19xx - 19xx
6.4L/390- 4.05 x 3.78 - 1961 - 1970 (Through 1976 in trucks)
6.4L/391T- 4.05 x 3.78 - 19xx - 19xx
6.7L/406- 4.13 x 3.78 - 1962 - 1963
6.7L/410- 4.05 x 3.98 - 1966 - 1967 (Mercury Only)
7.0L/427- 4.23 x 3.78 - 1963 - 1968
7.0L/428- 4.13 x 3.98 - 1966 - 1970

The "385" Family
7.0L/429- 4.36" x 3.59" - 1968 - 1973
7.5/460- 4.36 x 3.85 - 1968 - 1997

The Modular Family SOHC & DOHC
4.6L/281- 3.55" x 3.55" - 1991 - Present (SOHC= 1991 in Lincoln Town Car, DOHC= 1993 in Lincoln Mark VIII, Used in Mustangs beginning in 1996 both SOHC & DOHC versions)
5.4L/331- 3.55 x 4.16 - 1997 - Present


You do have some of it right though. Class dismissed for now, I need sleep.

 

Tang, you left out the 255 small block. lol

 

lol...I sure did, I need to update my list. Anyone know the EXACT year(s) that thing exsisted ? From what I'm finding, '79 to '82 was the years.


Here is some updated Flathead and Y-Block info

The Ford Flathead
136ci - 2.60" x 3.20" - 1937 - 1940
221ci - 3.0625" x 3.750" 1932 - 1938
239ci - 3.1875" x 3.750" 1939 - 1948
255ci - 3.1875" x 4.000" 1949 - 1953
337ci - 3.50" x 4.375" - 1948 - 1951 (Lincoln & Trucks)

The Y-Block Fords
3.9L/239ci- 3.50" x 3.10" - 1954 - 19xx
x.xL/272ci - 3.62" x 3.30" - 19xx - 19xx
4.8L/292- 3.75" x 3.30" - 19xx - 19xx
5.1L/312- 3.80" x 3.44" - 1957 - 19xx

 

I am impressed, but further confused. I would like your advice on a really simple question. But first the facts: I have a 68 Ranger with a destroyed 360. The engine has to come out and either be repaired or replaced. It seems a reasonable idea to replace it with a common engine which Ford has made for years that is proven reliable & capable with unlimited aftermarket parts. Would this not be a 302? If so, which year(s) 302 do you suggest. If not, what do you suggest.

Keep in mind, I am not climbing mountains, making beer commercials, racing police cars, entering car shows or smoking tires in the mall parking lot. I simply want a proven, relliable, simple and capable V8 engine that has no problems, quirks or highly restrictive exhaust manifolds that I can drive to work every once in a while.

Your comments will be greatly appreciated.