New 352 owner
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Elder User
Joined: Dec 2004
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From: Eastern Iowa
New 352 owner
Well Guys, I bought a car tonight. I go to pick it up after work tomorrow. It is a 1964 Galaxie 500 with a 352 4bbl. 70k original miles. Here is the "rub". I went over to my folk's place to tell them and my dad says"Oh man, the 352 was the doggiest motor ford ever made, back in my day you ALWAYS wanted a 289 galaxie or a 390-never a 352. They have no power, and they suck gas like a leach!" Is this true? I drove the car and it felt okay, needs a tune up and new points maybe. But what was the 352 rated at for '64? Is it an allright engine, or did I just buy myself a big headache?--Thanks,Ryan
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Iowa
The 352 is a good motor. It should get better gas mileage than a 390. With everything working right, you should get excellent gas mileage, as well as excellent power, which can be improved on a lot with appropriate modifications.
What you get out of any motor depends on what you put into it. Personally, I'd pull the motor and rebuild it, but you may not need to. I'd first get a compression tester. This will tell you if the engine is in good mechanical condition. Then, I'd rebuild the carb, new points, condensor, plug wires, rotor, cap, and plugs. Then change the oil, change the transmission fluid, as well as the differential fluid, and check everything else, and you should be ready to go.
If you want to get into modifying it, we can help with that too.
What you get out of any motor depends on what you put into it. Personally, I'd pull the motor and rebuild it, but you may not need to. I'd first get a compression tester. This will tell you if the engine is in good mechanical condition. Then, I'd rebuild the carb, new points, condensor, plug wires, rotor, cap, and plugs. Then change the oil, change the transmission fluid, as well as the differential fluid, and check everything else, and you should be ready to go.
If you want to get into modifying it, we can help with that too.
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Elder User
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From: Eastern Iowa
I know it has brand new pushrods, because those seized when it sat for 20 years. Do you think that ruined the engine too? And if I were to pull it and re-build, would I be better off trying to find a 302 or a 351 for it? Sorry that I am so full of questions, but this engine is 100% foriegn to me! I know I-6's and windsors-and that's it.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Iowa
I'd stay with the 352, and rebuild it. Engine swaps are a pain in the *backside*. Not only that, you can get loads of power out of it.
I'd suggest you get a book called "How to rebuild Big-Block Ford Engines," available by clicking this link. It will tell you more than you ever wanted to know about the FE series.
We can fill in any gaps and tell you how to modify it.
If you drove the car and it felt ok, then the motor is probably just fine. I'd still do the tune up and compression test. If the compression test comes out ok and there are no strange noises, then run it.
I'd suggest you get a book called "How to rebuild Big-Block Ford Engines," available by clicking this link. It will tell you more than you ever wanted to know about the FE series.
We can fill in any gaps and tell you how to modify it.
If you drove the car and it felt ok, then the motor is probably just fine. I'd still do the tune up and compression test. If the compression test comes out ok and there are no strange noises, then run it.
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From: Eastern Iowa
Well, It has to make a 20 mile trek back to Cedar rapids tomorrow night. That will give me a lot better feel for the shape the engine is in. I do want to learn FE's. It would have to be a LOT easier(cheaper too, hopefully) than wringing power from a 300 six!(which I do love by the way)
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From: Iowa
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From: Jackassville
352's are excllent engines! Dont make me any madder by dissing the 352, it is one heulluva motor. Anyhow heres my 352FE build:
Stock rotating assembly
Cylinders honed, crank ground .10 under
Hastings rings
Clevite/ACL bearings
Rebuilt stock heads
64 T-bird 4 barrel intake
Double roller timing set
Holley 600cfm Vacuum Secondary 4barrel carb
Dynomax headers
Melling HV Oil pump with hardened shaft
Oil modifcations done to main saddles and oil filter passage
Its mated to a granny 4spd manual in a 66 F100 2WD truck. Its got too much power, I cant floor it much in the lower gears as it peels out too much. In high gear it goes way too fast for manual steering/manual brakes and bias ply tires, its a blast and has exceeded my expecations.
Stock rotating assembly
Cylinders honed, crank ground .10 under
Hastings rings
Clevite/ACL bearings
Rebuilt stock heads
64 T-bird 4 barrel intake
Double roller timing set
Holley 600cfm Vacuum Secondary 4barrel carb
Dynomax headers
Melling HV Oil pump with hardened shaft
Oil modifcations done to main saddles and oil filter passage
Its mated to a granny 4spd manual in a 66 F100 2WD truck. Its got too much power, I cant floor it much in the lower gears as it peels out too much. In high gear it goes way too fast for manual steering/manual brakes and bias ply tires, its a blast and has exceeded my expecations.
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From: Jackassville
BTW, I have not even begun curving the dizzy yet, so it has much more potentioal, I got my Crane Re-Curve kit today so ill be having fun with that. As far as mileage goes, no 350CI + V8 is going to get very impressive mileage, you want good mileage, buy a pinto, you want power, buy an FE. 
Last edited by FERacing66; Apr 21, 2005 at 01:09 AM.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Rusty, Just curious, Why do you think a 352 should get better mpgs than a 390. From my experence the 390 wins that one hands down.
Personally I think everything just matched up better with the 390. IMHO
John
Personally I think everything just matched up better with the 390. IMHO
John
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Iowa
Well, here's why a 352 should get better mileage than a 390:
1. Less stroke = less movement of the reciprocating assembly = less friction = less horsepower loss to friction
2. Less cubic inches to feed.
3. Operator wont floor it as often to get the rush of torque the 390 provides. (352 is ok in this respect too, but no 390
)
Edit: Yeah, there's plenty of aftermarket parts available. For 99% of it, if it'll fit a 390 it'll fit your 352 just fine. Edelbrock makes both heads and intake manifolds for it, headers are available. Crane makes a nice assortment of cams for the FE series (including 352) for any use you could possibly want. Pistons are available, though not in the assortment there is for the 390, still a good selection. ARP makes fasteners for it. You just have to look past all the SBC stuff; it's out there.
Re-edit: Of course, if you wanted to convert it to a 390, it's as simple as 390 car pistons (aka 360 pistons), a .050" overbore, a 390 crank and 390 rods. Then you have a 390 in every way, shape and form.
1. Less stroke = less movement of the reciprocating assembly = less friction = less horsepower loss to friction
2. Less cubic inches to feed.
3. Operator wont floor it as often to get the rush of torque the 390 provides. (352 is ok in this respect too, but no 390
)Edit: Yeah, there's plenty of aftermarket parts available. For 99% of it, if it'll fit a 390 it'll fit your 352 just fine. Edelbrock makes both heads and intake manifolds for it, headers are available. Crane makes a nice assortment of cams for the FE series (including 352) for any use you could possibly want. Pistons are available, though not in the assortment there is for the 390, still a good selection. ARP makes fasteners for it. You just have to look past all the SBC stuff; it's out there.
Re-edit: Of course, if you wanted to convert it to a 390, it's as simple as 390 car pistons (aka 360 pistons), a .050" overbore, a 390 crank and 390 rods. Then you have a 390 in every way, shape and form.
Last edited by rusty70f100; Apr 21, 2005 at 04:18 PM.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,600
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From: Iowa
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.
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Elder User
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From: Eastern Iowa
I am in love, guys! I took my wife out to the farm last night to pick up the Galaxie. She fired right up, and I began the 20 mile trek home. It ran really crummy for the first 3 or so miles, but once we were able to get onto pavement I "cleared the cobs!" The 352 seems to have really abundant torque down low. With the 4 barrel it also pulled hard through the mid-range too. It was running great by the time I pulled into my driveway. Nice Nice Nice. I could not sleep last night, I kept looking out the window to see if it was really there.........don't tell me you haven't done it!!! The engine has not been touched tune up wise in years. Where should I start? The last oil change was august of '98. So that'll be one of the first things.-----Ryan P.S. I got it up to 80mph on the highway, no sweat. I let off because the tires are in awful shape, and I got a premonition of doom.....