which FE to use?
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: lehigh valley
which FE to use?
just bought a 57 F250 and surprise!!! the previous owner sat it on a shortened 66 4x4 frame with a 352 4 speed and 4.10s this thing will get it! i want to fix this up for combination DD, off road, and just turning heads around town. which motor would you all recommend? rebuild the 352 or go to a 360,390, etc.? hearing some ford guys around the area bashing the 352 and 360. all opinions helpful, since my experience is with the 302 and 351w in the late 70s. will post some picks of this beast as soon as i get them uploaded.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2005
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First off, Welcome to the FE forum here!
There are so many things you can do to the FE engine it's hard to recommend one thing in particular. Probably the most common FE build is a 390, which you can turn the 352 into....if it's not already...that's the real question as it's basically impossible to know for sure what you have without checking all #'s or measuring the bore and stroke. The first thing I would do is pull a plug and check the stroke. That will tell you most likely what you have. I'm sure some of the more knowledgable guys will weigh in here on this for you.
Good Luck!
Tracy
There are so many things you can do to the FE engine it's hard to recommend one thing in particular. Probably the most common FE build is a 390, which you can turn the 352 into....if it's not already...that's the real question as it's basically impossible to know for sure what you have without checking all #'s or measuring the bore and stroke. The first thing I would do is pull a plug and check the stroke. That will tell you most likely what you have. I'm sure some of the more knowledgable guys will weigh in here on this for you.
Good Luck!
Tracy
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,175
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From: Texas
It's all about $$$$. The 352 is a decent motor. It's a bit higher compression than the 360, so it's probably a better choice than a truck 360. As mentioned, the popular choice is a 390. It probably ofers the most bang for the buck in the FE motors. Now, if you have money growing in the yard, you can start talking about 428s, 427s, 454s and other variations with even longer strokes. Check out my gallery for info on how to spend some bucks on an FE. To see a really built FE, check out Scouder's gallery.
FE "Freakin Expensive"
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Smith Mountain Lake, VA
Well I kinda like the old 352 those old motors can be made to run!! I dont know what piston selection is like anymore..But if the still avialible in a 4.030" .030" over Ya Might go that route and put in a 390 crank making it a 386" motor and the Longer stroke of the 390 crank will help with the Torque you'll need being in a truck..
All the parts should be rather cheap...and with the left over money..Have you heads worked on..
JMO!!!
Russ
All the parts should be rather cheap...and with the left over money..Have you heads worked on..
JMO!!!
Russ
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: lehigh valley
thanks for the welcome all and thanks for the input. think after i check stroke i'll be running the 352 while i work on the rest of the truck(interior ideas will be awesome), and put a 390 on a stand unless i can run across a 427 cheap like some lucky people here. keep you updated and will post some pics today. btw gtex very nice truck and thanks for the tip to look at scouders pics, that is an unbelievable truck!!!
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2005
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Originally Posted by Beastmaster
....... 427 cheap .......
i have been looking for one of those for a long time. they are still around. you just have to keep your eyes open and know what to look for. I like the idea of a 390. I have a stock 352 in a truck and it seems to do all right (it could always do better)
-Brandon-
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Long Island USA
390 - the torque boost from the extra stroke between the 360 and 390 is amazing, and a 352 is even shorter stroke.
The trick is, is it really a 352? How do you know it's a 352? From the # cast into the front of the block? That doesn't mean anything, my 390 has the same # on the front of it
Do the dowel stroke-check on it and see what you come up with. If someone went to that much work to do something so "unstock", chances are that 352 ain't a 352...
art k.
ON EDIT: whoops, 352 is same stroke as 360, different bore. Sorry...
The trick is, is it really a 352? How do you know it's a 352? From the # cast into the front of the block? That doesn't mean anything, my 390 has the same # on the front of it
Do the dowel stroke-check on it and see what you come up with. If someone went to that much work to do something so "unstock", chances are that 352 ain't a 352...
art k.
ON EDIT: whoops, 352 is same stroke as 360, different bore. Sorry...
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[QUOTE=Beastmaster]just bought a 57 F250 and surprise!!! the previous owner sat it on a shortened 66 4x4 frame with a 352 4 speed and 4.10s this thing will get it! QUOTE] If as you say "it will get it", do you really need more? My $.02 would be to freshen it up and run it. You may also find that if the PO went to the work of putting a 57 body on a 66 4x4 it maybe a 390.