i found a 391 ft engine with low miles and want to rebuild it and use it in my truck what can be swapped between the fe a ft engines will the intake swap and what about the front components i know the snout needs to be re ground and it is a external balance engine so what do i need to balance it is it balanced front or rear

 

The snout needs to be ground if you plan on using an FE timing cover, otherwise the FT will fit. The manifold will work from an FE, but you will need to use and FE distributor also. I think you will probably need to have some of the flywheel pad shaved off too. The machine shop should be able to set you up with what you need.

--Mike

 

so then is it impossble to use this with a auto tranny because i was going to bolt it up to a c-6 and i really don't care which timing cover it has that is not important i'm just glad to know i don't have to have it ground down.thanks

 

No, nothing is impossible, but may require a little more work and a few more $$.

--Mike

 

so then what else would i need to use it with a auto almost seems like more hassle than its worth i may just use the oil pan then on my 390 for extra capacity

 

Unless I'm completely off here, you should be able to bolt the FE style flexplate on and go. You will have to have the bottom end internally balanced though, to match the FE style flexplate. Of course, you're getting it balanced anyway, RIGHT? Also, be sure to take the harmonic balancer along when you get it balanced, as it will need to be modified to internal balance too. See Steve Christ's book, page 35, top left.

In order to use an FE distributor in an FT block, you need a bushing that goes in the block. DSC sells 'em, and they're extremely inexpensive.

You'd be better off to go find a set of FE heads, like D2TE-AA's off a 360. The FT heads ports are VERY small and restrictive. Also, the FT uses smaller valves. Plus, you wont have the issue of the manifold heating ports being in the wrong place to use an FE manifold.

You dont need to have the crank snout ground down. Just be sure to keep the pulleys, harmonic balancer, timing cover, and brackets when you get the engine.

On the build, build it like any other FE after all the above mods are done. You know the drill, pistons, bigger cam, head porting, good intake, headers, and so on.

 

Don't know, but I would say that you need the flange to be the same thickness that your run of the mill 390 crank is. I have to agree with you on the oil pan swap, especially if there is nothing wrong with your current motor...

--Mike

 

Yep, you do have to machine the rear flange. Steve Christ book, page 33.

 

And it's expensive for a good shop to machine the snout. G.

 

i will just take the oil pan then as the current engine runs fine i just wanted to start another fe/ft build but the pan looks to be a 10 quart on the ft engine is that possible it is big.

 

ford, yeah, you can swap it in if you really want to. But it isn't really worth the effort. Not that the 391 has bad parts or anything, they are just differant. The timing cover is a big and heavy cast iron job, and you need it to handle the bigger diameter snout on the FT crank. The FT cranks are forged, and some guys really like that. But the 390 cast crank can take almost any abuse you throw at it, so why would you want to switch ? The forging is heavier by at least 10 lbs, and needs the snout cut down and re-keyed if you want to use the pickup truck/car style timing cover. Yes, the 390 flex plate will fit the 391FT crank, and NO you do not need to thin the flange. They are within .0005 of the same as the cast cranks, with the cast crank being the thicker of the two. Where an auto trans guy MIGHT run into a problem is the register that the pilot bearing fits into. It is bigger around and sticks farther out of the back of the crank. But why are you using a C6 any way ? They suck. Nothing but a horsepower sponge. Get a toploader or a tremec or a Clark 280. The heads are also smaller ported and valved than a 390, and you'll lose power as compared to the setup you have now. The compression is less too. But grabbing the big pan is a good thing to do. And yes it is 10 quarts. Sell the steel crank to a drag racer and keep the block and do Dave Shoe's 'drill bit test' on it. Some of the FT cylinder blocks are good candidates for boring to 428 size. DF, at the boss' computer while he is out to lunch