i am lookin at a 77 f-250 with a possible 352. i havent heard too much good about them, but i was wondering what particular problems there were with them, how to fix them or what i could do to squeeze some power out of it. also, what other FE parts would mix and match with this engine (i.e. a 390 with 427 crank = 410). i know where there are a few FE's laying around so i might be able to make a decent engine depending on what my options are....also, aside from the CJ heads what are good heads for the FE? thanks in advance for the help and info.

 

The FE blocks have 352 cast into them at the left front of the engine. So, it could be a 352, 360, 390, 410. However, the engine from a F Series 1977 will NOT be an FE, as the last year for the 360/390 was 1976. if it does have an FE, it was swapped in.

1977 = Look at the VIN code 4th digit = engine size. G = 302; H = 351M; S = 400; A or J = 460.

1973/76 = If there's an M = 390; or Y = 360; it's not a 1977. ( A few 1976 390's use the H code also)

The VIN plate will have 1977 stamped on it, second line, if it's a true 1977.

FE Engines: If you haven't heard "too much good about them" I'd say you haven't asked more than one person. The FE 390 is the finest V8 Ford engine ever made. Reliable, and easy to work on. 200,000 miles on original 390's without touching them is very possible. The 360's and others were pretty damn good too.


In contrast, the 1977/79 351M's and 400's with their smogged up, prone to cracking cylinder heads can be a PITA.

 

I agree with Bill's comments. The FE family produced some of Fords toughest, hardest working, and most famous engined, ever. If you want a dependable engine for your truck, look no further. Even factory engines have a lot of torque, but rebuild an FE with the right parts and you could develope a serious case of lead foot!

 

i know for a fact that this FE is not stock for the truck. i also know what years the FE came in (well, wasnt sure the last year) but i know what replaced the FE and when they were put in, but thanks for the help guys! i was wondering, however...how is the aftermarket for these things? i know they are some true "old iron"...so are parts cheap-ish (cheaper than a 385 series BB ford)? or are they hard to find?

also, i have heard a lot about the 352 being unreliable and/or powerless...the 390 and 360 have always impressed me. i have heard the 360 had some odd problems from a number of people, although i refuse to beleive it. i think ford should have schooled the mopar guys in "360cid 101"

personally my grandfather owned a 69 f-250 camper special with a 360 in it, and he claimed that its fuel efficiency would rival a 300-6 and he brags (not the norm for him) about the power it had...frankly hes pissed they dont make them anymore. he also caught this engine on fire, put it out with dirt and worked it the rest of the day before cleaning it up. never had any other trouble out of it. i also like how wide the FE's are...they just look frickin mean, they scream "run the **** out of me". so its not the FEs im pickin on, im just worried about this 352...IF thats what it is...

havent seen the truck yet, but i heard this from a fairly reliable source. so far i KNOW its a 77 F-250 and i KNOW the FE is not this rigs stock engine....and i am willing to bet that this "352" replaced a boat anchor "M" series engine.

 

I've owned at least 10 352's, nine in cars. My 65 F100 went 156,000 miles and needed a valve job when I bought the truck back in 1981. (It was residing in a creek bed in Felton Ca, and was a bit worse for wear, The guy actually drove it to West LA, after I wired him the money). When the engine was torn down, a set of rings, rod and mains and a valve job would have put it back on the road.

I went the other way, converting to a 390 with all new Ford parts. 30,000 miles later, not one problem. My 63 Galaxie XL seems to be holding up ok, after all, it's only 44 years old. Doesn't burn a drop of oil.


You can have all the 351's, 400's and 460's, I'll stick with FE's.

 

so what kind of numbers does a 352 put out? and what would it take to change it to a 390 or bigger?

 

News to me as 390's and 427's both have a 3.78" stroke.
A 4.050" bore 360/390 with a 3.98" stroke from a 428
will get you a 410 but check the balance as you mix and match.
352, 360, 390, 406, 427 internal balanced, 410, 428 external balanced one end, 428 CJ and SCJ external balanced both ends.
Should you find a 361/391 they are also external balanced.
Your 352 has 4.00" bore, if the block checks out for .050"
bore plus adding a 3.78" crank you'll have a 390 or a 410 with
a 3.98" crank. Should you be lucky and have a 427 block, add a 3.98 crank for a 447, 4.125 crank for a 463, 4.25 crank for a 477 and was told about 4.375 crank for a 492. How big are your dreams and wallet?

 

dreams are always big, wallet never is tho. i dont know much about FE's i must have been misinformed. anyway, i just found out i am lookin at a 76, not a 77 and it has the biggest peice of junk ford ever put under the front of a truck...closed knuckle, drum brake, power assist steering, low pinion dana 44. i have a good high pinion axle to swap in tho. so who makes a good set of headers that isnt too expensive?

 

in 1960 the galaxie had a 352 with 360hp...it ran a 14.02 in the 1/4...the 352 wasnt a slouch if you got the right combo...

given that isnt a truck engine from the mid 70's, its still impressive.

 

ok this guy claims it is out of an old grain truck...says its a "high torque motor"...thatnks for the ratings tho...glad to hear that

 

Nothing wrong with the 352, the 352 in my '67 "feels" the same as any 360. We're only talking 8 cubic inches here.

 

Going back to my drag race high school days, the thing that I found weak in the 352 mill was the weak rods when you push the motor. The rods are quite a bit smaller as well as longer than the 390/360 rods. I've snapped them before, taking out the block. You can drop a 390 crank in the block, but you'll need to use the rods and the pistons from the 390. The 352 is a different design motor. Due to the longer rods the wrist pin location in the piston is high up in the piston. Piston deck height to wrist pin center-line is much less than the 390 slug. It and the 332 where pure truck engines, the 352 found it's way in to the car production line latter on. I learned the hard way it's tough to make a long stroke motor a screamer. Now the 390 is a whole different story.

In my 390 66 Galaxie fastback, it would pull 7300 in first and then 6300 in the last three gears, with a Vic Edelbrock X-66 Cross Ram Manifold. It was one fast Ford back in it's day.
352's for normal use are just fine.

I joined this list because I purchased a F350 Super Duty diesel, and needed some education about the mill. I just stumbled on to this section of the list! It's pretty cool to see that you guys are still championing the old FE block Ford's. It brought back some wonderful memories.....that motor was so special...I still have it to this day. I just haven't figured out what to put it in yet.

Keep up the good work keep these motors alive and well.

 

Old grain truck... could it have really been a 361 or 330 FT?

 

330/361/391...........or ? Lol..

Rj

 

The 352 uses the same rods as the 360, a 360 is a bored out 352. Other than the bore there is no difference in design.