352 motor
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352 motor
I am restoring a 65 Ford 1/2ton truck, it has original 352 engine that I would like to keep, but parts are hard to find. Should I take the 352 engine out and replace it with a 390? Would like feedback please.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
352 motor
James you can find good parts for the 352 as well as the 390. The 390 has more power and has been known to get better gas milage.
My vote is for the 390 if you have access to a block.
John
jowilker
66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.
My vote is for the 390 if you have access to a block.
John
jowilker
66 F100s
In the still cool hours of the night, you can hear chevys rusting away.
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352 motor
Yes, most of the 352 and 390 parts are interchangable. The differences: the 352 had a 4" bore from the factory, the 360/390 a 4.05" bore. I've read somewhere that the 352 cranks were used in the 390 block to make 360. The heads,valvetrain pieces, manifolds, waterpump, oilpan, distributor yada yada interchange. There is differences in cranks, pistons and rods due to the difference in stroke between the 352,360 and the 390 and the difference in bore between the 352 and the 360/390. Matter of fact on my 390, I put aftermarket Crane adjustable rockers on my rocker shafts, and had to get 428 motorsport valve covers to clear the rockers. 428's had external balance so don't use a harmonic balancer from a 428 unless you have a 428 crank. I have an Edelbrock Performer aluminum intake manifold, Comp Cams 268H cam, Crane pushrods and adjustable rockers, I know that there are aluminum heads from Edelbrock and others availible..... you can get the stuff although more expensive than small/big chevs, and 302,460 parts.
BBT
BBT
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352 motor
Some are some arnt.
the 352 is a 4.00 bore x 3.5 stroke
the 390 is a 4.05 bore x 3.78 stroke
so that is the basic difference..i believe that they did use a different block..but i'm sure some of the guys here have done the overbore b4.
The 390 uses the same heads..infact they even have 352 cast into them.
But I dont think there is anything wrong with a 352 to tell you the truth...they are good little engines.
the 352 is a 4.00 bore x 3.5 stroke
the 390 is a 4.05 bore x 3.78 stroke
so that is the basic difference..i believe that they did use a different block..but i'm sure some of the guys here have done the overbore b4.
The 390 uses the same heads..infact they even have 352 cast into them.
But I dont think there is anything wrong with a 352 to tell you the truth...they are good little engines.
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352 motor
To simplify the answer, the 352 is in the same "family" of motors as the 390, also includeing the other mentioned motors like the 360, 428, etc. They are refered to as FE motors. And as was said before, many parts are the same between the engines, but some werent, so be careful with what you mix and match if you do.
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352 motor
James,
I am also restoring a 65 which originally had a 352 in it. When I bought it there was a 240 in it so we restored it and it runs great and gets good mileage. If you do not use your 352 I might be interested in buying it to use in the future. Just let me know
Thanks, Bryan
I am also restoring a 65 which originally had a 352 in it. When I bought it there was a 240 in it so we restored it and it runs great and gets good mileage. If you do not use your 352 I might be interested in buying it to use in the future. Just let me know
Thanks, Bryan
Logistics Pro
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From: Sun River St. George
352 motor
Sam1, I also thought parts were going to be difficult to find when I started putting my 66 F100 together. I discovered that the availability of parts for these old Fords is not a problem. You gotta find a smart parts guy to deal with and some times you gotta lie about the year of the truck your working on. Check out Dennis Carpenter, www.info@dennis-carpenter.com, Mac's Antique Auto Parts 1-800-777-0948, www.eatonsprings.com. There are many more. Keep us posted as this project goes along!
William in Atlanta
William in Atlanta
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352 motor
I replaced the entire top end of my '66 352 (build date 10/65) with the top end of a '68 galaxie 390 2 barrel. The differences I found were small but I believe significant. The 390 pistons were pocketed for valve clearance (longer stroke?,higher lift cam?) and the 352 pushrods were about .050 (i believe) shorter than the 390's SO, I ran the shorter pushrods w/ the later top end and the 352's "un-pocketed" pistons and came up w/ a good running engine. 122,000 miles on the bottom end and clean & quiet as could be. As was mentioned before you've got to be careful mixing parts.
Logistics Pro
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From: All over Texas
352 motor
If you really want to learn about the FE engines, I'd recommend getting the Steve Christ book "How to Rebuild your Big-Block Ford." It's available at the online store and worth its weight in gold.
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352 motor
I have the same book as mentioned and i love it. the book gives all the number's,parts interchange,id number's , any thing you need to know about the FE it tells you. i have had several FE motors and they all produce much power, of course the 390 put's out more, after all "there is no replacement for displacment". all the FE's are good power plant's and most ALL part's are interchangable.but as said before you can't use 410,428,and the "FT" bottom end part's as they are "detriot balanced" where the other's are "zero balanced".
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