FE engines
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Joined: Dec 2000
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From: Prinde Frederick USA
FE engines
Please pardon my lack of knowledge but upon finding an FE what outward indicators should I look for to try and best determine if the engine has been rebuilt. Is it general practice to stamp the engine anywhere on the outside as to the oversize pistons etc? I know with small engines such as Kohler, Briggs and Onan oversize pistons are stamped with the oversize and if my memory serves me the same goes for automotive engines? Or is it a crap shoot trying to deterime the status without a tear down? My machine shop friend said that any oversizing should be limited to .030 over and after that things get sort of thin. So I guess that a once rebuilt engine is worthless? I am going to get a book about rebuilding FE's this weekend.
Thanks
Trackbolt
Thanks
Trackbolt
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Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Sun River St. George
FE engines
TB, You can get the book here, Steve Christ is the author. 30 over bore is pretty much standard for a first over bore since most of the FEs run long miles before they need rebuilding. But +40, +60 and even +80 over is not completly unreasonable. There are millions of 360 and 390 blocks (they are the same) out there available for cheap. You gotta go look. I found a set of heads 60 bucks and they appear rebuilt, and got the 390 block, rods and 2U crank for 70 bucks and 10 dollar tip to the Guy helping me when I smashed his finger with a pry bar. All this is in the shop right now.
William in Atlanta
William in Atlanta
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Joined: May 2002
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From: Tacoma USA
FE engines
theoreically, machine shops stamp the outside of the block when they bore it over.... bbbuuuuuutttt... my brother and i were working on a 300 L6 and were told about this theory, and finding nothing stamped on the outside we went and got our parts planning to do a quick rebuild. once we pulled the motor apart i went to check the gap on the new rings and it was like 1/8 inch. meanwhile, my brother was cleaning carbon off of one of the pistons and he got this funny look on his face and said "hey James.... how come this piston says 'zero-four-zero' on top of it?" funny thing was, the old rings had the same gap. i guess that explained why it burned so much friggin' oil! but my point is, the only way to know for sure is to tear the motor apart and see.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 869
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From: Apple Valley CA USA
FE engines
i have never seen a rebuilt engine that is marked on the outside unless the rebuilder used tags with thier name on it (not very common anymore). even in the old days when tags were more common they were often left blank in the dimension boxes so they only told you it had been done but not what had been done. i think it would be very unusual in todays world to find rebuilt engines that had any indication on the outside that would be decipherable. hawkrod
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Joined: Apr 2002
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From: LA
FE engines
If the engine is out of the car pull it apart! No time will it be easier than now. Even if you don't need a rebore, at least inspect for bore taper and crank being in spec. Hot tank, put new cam bearings, freeze plugs and re-ring put new bearings. It is worth the hassle to drop something in that you know what you have.
Once you have the heads off, the pistons will have stampings if they are overbore. You can also see if it still has fomoco gaskets / steel gaskets versus aftermarket gaskets.
Hope this helps. I know it is more work but it will pay off in the long run.
George
70 F-100 with 92 5.0 EFI
Once you have the heads off, the pistons will have stampings if they are overbore. You can also see if it still has fomoco gaskets / steel gaskets versus aftermarket gaskets.
Hope this helps. I know it is more work but it will pay off in the long run.
George
70 F-100 with 92 5.0 EFI
