New 352 owner
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Originally Posted by rusty70f100
No, currently I'm not. I did, however, have a 360 in my truck, and it got 15mpg. Pop in the 390, and I'm getting 11 - 12mpg (tested last weekend). Now, the 352 is a much better motor IMO than the 360, having higher compression and better piston options, so it should do better.
Now my 390 has a bigger cam, intake, headers, and higher compression, so it's not a completely ideal comparison, but that's the best I can do.
Now my 390 has a bigger cam, intake, headers, and higher compression, so it's not a completely ideal comparison, but that's the best I can do.
I just has been my experence growing up in that era, that the 390 cars always got better mpgs that the 352.
John
Needsmorecoffee.
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,624
Likes: 2
From: CT
Armorer, Those 64 Gals are sweet rides. Sounds like you have a nice one. Get some fresh tuneup parts, filters, oil and gas in er and have some fun. Is your a 2 door? I used to have a nightmare all the time that my car melted. I used to wake up out of breath, sweating then look out the window to be sure it was ok. LOL. I'm such a *******! G.
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 742
Likes: 2
From: Eastern Iowa
Wow, I wish I would have read that post this morning! Today I hosed the entire car out(yes the inside). I used two cans of degreaser on the engine and got those valve covers ford blue again. The spark plugs were rusted into the block. A little wd-40 and busted knuckles fixed that. So, today I did the plugs, wires, points, condenser,new coil, adjusted the carb, fresh gas...........all of the above feels like it netted me 200 hp! The thing runs absolutely be-utiful! Also the choke was stuck closed, so I fixed that. It runs SO much different than it did. That old 352 actually has quite a bit of power! It sounds really nice, too. Throaty. It's power really tapers off fast in the high rpms, so I think the timing should be adjusted. I never even checked that. What should timing be for a '64 352?? I am quickly becoming an FE fan! Never in my life have I owned an engine that was this easy to work on!! Oh,and FFR428-It's a 4-door. Pillarless hardtop. It still has really sweet lines even though it's not a 2-dr. My F-150 is the only 2-door I need! Ha ha.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 0
From: Jackassville
A good cheap way to get more throttle response and power is too get a Crane Recurve Kit from summit for $25. It allows you to set your total timing as well as the proper timing curve, it also comes with an adjustable Vacuum canister. I bought this and installed it on my 352FE but cannot tell you if its any good as I cant get my motor to fire now, but I will update you on the results once I do.
http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2...ng/index.shtml
http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2...ng/index.shtml
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,070
Likes: 2
From: Boise, Idaho
I'm impressed by people who have the gumption to install re-curve kits. To me, that's a smart way to go. It's a little money, a lot of work, but it's maximum bang for the buck.
To the original poster, if you've got the skills and the patience, I'd recommend tackling the installation of a new timing chain. If you install a new, adjustable chain, and degree it, you'll really help the engine find its potential. Let me emphasize that you'll need to degree the cam.
Like a re-curve kit, it's a lot of work, but it pays big results.
Otherwise, consider installing a Pertronix Ignitor II and matching coil before you recurve it. It's another big-bang-for-buck upgrade. And the recurve will help a lot.
To the original poster, if you've got the skills and the patience, I'd recommend tackling the installation of a new timing chain. If you install a new, adjustable chain, and degree it, you'll really help the engine find its potential. Let me emphasize that you'll need to degree the cam.
Like a re-curve kit, it's a lot of work, but it pays big results.
Otherwise, consider installing a Pertronix Ignitor II and matching coil before you recurve it. It's another big-bang-for-buck upgrade. And the recurve will help a lot.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 0
From: Jackassville
Okay, got it running. So far, theres no earth shaking difference, but it does seem to have a little more accerlation. I have yet to take it high gear, just went up and down the driveway so I dont have complete results. BTW, I switched the slot in the dizzy to the 18L slot, so with my intial timing of 12, I should be getting about 48 degrees total timing, quite excessive, but theres no pinging or detonation of any sort, dont know why but my engine never pings, maybe its the high altitdue.
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 742
Likes: 2
From: Eastern Iowa
I just got back from going out to eat chinese. My wife drove the gal. for the 1st time. I am not joking, the AM only radio was playing oldies,and she got tears in her eyes saying it was the most awesome expierience we had since we got married!!! I know, women like that don't come around so often. Anyway, the ol'FE started up like it had tuned port injection. That scored major points with my wife. So, what exactly does the crane re-curve kit do? How does it allow you to make these adjustments? Is it a new distributor? I really want to do this. The first thing that we do on this old 'Gal is going to be the bodywork type stuff, so I want to make the engine run as good as it can/will because I'm runnin it till it dies. Hopefully that wil be a long time from now!!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Originally Posted by ARMORER
I just got back from going out to eat chinese. My wife drove the gal. for the 1st time. I am not joking, the AM only radio was playing oldies,and she got tears in her eyes saying it was the most awesome expierience we had since we got married!!! I know, women like that don't come around so often. Anyway, the ol'FE started up like it had tuned port injection. That scored major points with my wife. So, what exactly does the crane re-curve kit do? How does it allow you to make these adjustments? Is it a new distributor? I really want to do this. The first thing that we do on this old 'Gal is going to be the bodywork type stuff, so I want to make the engine run as good as it can/will because I'm runnin it till it dies. Hopefully that wil be a long time from now!!
You have no idea how many guys would love to be in your shoes just now. All they can get is scouls from the little woman for spending the money.
John
Elder User
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
From: Texas Hill Country
Armorer... you did yourself a favor, you'll enjoy driving it with the new tuneup. Now you can leisurely shop the internet and research upgrading to an electronic system. I personally like the Pertronix, with an upgrade to the larger cap and wires... had mine in for over a year with no problem.
What you really need now is the shop manuals for your car... you can get truck manuals in either book form or on CD at motorhaven.com, also owned by this website... upper right hand corner of this screen you will see a "parts shop" icon. For your specific car I would look on eBay... you can get all the dealer related documentation and shop manuals on there, as well as many parts you may need... including electronic ignition components.
Have fun!
What you really need now is the shop manuals for your car... you can get truck manuals in either book form or on CD at motorhaven.com, also owned by this website... upper right hand corner of this screen you will see a "parts shop" icon. For your specific car I would look on eBay... you can get all the dealer related documentation and shop manuals on there, as well as many parts you may need... including electronic ignition components.
Have fun!
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,354
Likes: 0
From: Jackassville
Recurving the dizzy isnt hard, its actually very striaghtforward and simple. If you want help, PM me and ill send you step by step instructions. As far as running it till it dies, dont hold your breath, it wont die.