I own booth a Small Block Chevy which is a 283 and I also own a 390 Ford I like them both. I think that the FE is about the easiest thing to work on next to the SBC. Some the the weaknesses I have found on the FE is there are three different bolt sizes on the Front cover alone. while the SBC has all the same size bolts on the same part like the front cover there is only one size bolt.

 

Your statement about timing cover bolts is somewhat misleading. They never really changed it, they just use different size bolts for certain holes. As long as you understand that, not a problem.

That said, it's going to be hard to argue either way.

You go SBC if:
1. You like Chevies
2. You're on a budget
3. You want to get parts, aftermarket or otherwise, at the Auto Zone
4. You dont want to make a whole lot of horsepower (without violating #2 or blowing up your enigne)
5. You like oil burners (sorry had to throw that one in )

You go FE if:
1. You want to do something different.
2. You have a vehicle that had one.
3. You dont want to have to change out stock components to make lots of horsepower and torque.
4. You have a little more money to spend.

I really think the FE is the more versatile engine family. They were used in cars, trucks, heavy duty trucks, boats, irrigation pumps, and so on. There was a heavy duty FT series based on the FE, for heavy duty trucks. You have everything I would want in an engine:
1. Large-ish cylinder bores
2. High strength, deep skirt block
3. Bottom end that doesn't need 4 bolts or aftermarket cranks and rods to make big power
4. Heads that flow halfway decent, excellent with porting, in a quench design to allow good compression.
5. Plenty of crank strokes, a couple rod lengths, various heads, and various bore sizes. Gives you plenty to work from to design a motor to meet your needs.

The SBC does have a longer history though.

 

Personally I would take a 351C over either...

 

A 351C never had any expierence with them. I know that they came in a Mustang but not sure what year. But I would take a 350 or 400 over a 351C.

 

Ok you can't sit there and make fun of the SBC. I think we all know it's the small block of choice. Reliable, tons of aftermarket parts available, and you can make lots of horse power very cheap. The ford is also good but the SBC is the motor most people use and if you disagree your just lying to your self.

 

Your right

 

A 351C never had any expierence with them
Thats the only engine of that era I have had experience with. In a Phase II XW Falcon... 380hp from the factory.
I would like to check out other engines from those years, but around here they are as rare as hens teeth. The 350 was only fitted to a couple of models. And the FE is only on some privately imported vehicles. Everything runs a 302 or 351C if its a Ford. A Holden 308 V8 if its a GM.

Also a friend runs a 351C in his car, last dyno I think it made around 550hp and 480lbft at the crank (Naturally aspirated and without NOS)

 

That is pretty Cool to make 550 HP in a 351C. But my dream engine Makes 600 Hp straight out of the box. The 454 Small block from World Crate engines. The price is very lofty about $10,000 but how much is into the 351C running 550 HP.

 

The SBC might be the engine off choice but I always figured Fords FE engines were tougher an would take more abuse. The 390 is one tough motor. Id put it right up there with the 300 6. Thats saying something. I dont think the 350 is as tough.

 

Check out Bill Mitchell, and Huntsville (i think). They always have nice, top dollar chevy motors. I've noticed something, Ford doesn't really have too many hi performence motors. the 351 clevland, and the 460 and whatever you can bore/stroke it into. Chevy has 350's 355's, 383s', 427's, 454's, 502's, 509's, 540's, 572's, 632's...

Clevlands are BAD though. Bad in a good way.

 

Well I guess if you can stop your 454 from eating cams, and keep the rods "in" your 409 while trying to keep that bottom end in your 427 from exploading beacause your trying to run with that 427 Ford or Six Pack Dodge you might be alrite. Sorry had to throw that in there.

But seriously, only argument I have with the SBC is they are slammed into everything in existance beacause
1. They are cheap, if you think Im joking open up your Summit Or Jegs book and compare.
2. Who can't work on a 350? Even if you get confused there is enough SBC books and how to manuals in exsitance to satisfy everone.

Atleast the FE is different. It's more expensive yes, but you learn to live with cost if you wanna play with motors, everyone should know that. I also dont see a SBC pushing around a Fullsized Ford around like a FE would.

Btw Im sure with $10,000 and a 351C I can do better than that 600hp 454 and actually say I didnt have to buy it already done for me.

 

I prefer the 351w, tons of aftermarket parts, and just as reliable as the chebby 350. THe 305s were the ones that smoked.

 

my buddy has a 305 in a early 80's chevy truck, half ton 2 wheel drive. it has 260+ thousand miles on it, im wondering how its still running...

 

the fe is a very unique engine. what other engine has a intake that big and the intake is part of the head. the fe engines and ft engines were installed in school buses and dump trucks too. How many sbc do you think could be installed in those? the fe is a massive engine its also very heavy too. the stock intake weighs 80+ lbs. Just curous how many of you guys have worked on a fe or even driven one?

 

Just curous how many of you guys have worked on a fe or even driven one?
Not me, Unfortunately.
I had a brief ride in a 390 (stock) equipped Torino once. That was it.

Don't know. I thought I had a photo kicking around of it, but unfortunately not
I am guessing it is over US$10k in total though.