I will start building my 2nd 66 4x4 F 100 soon. have lots of parts but am wondering, I have a running(barely) 66 352 and need to know is it worth a rebuild or should i just find a 390? Not looking to build a race truck just something that looks and sounds real goood!! 4bbl, small cam, dual 2-1/2 inch exhauast.IN my other 66 i used a 302 but this time i want a big block. I read on here someone did up their 352 and loved it! thanks for any suggestions also this will be a street driver so nothing to radical Fatz

 

Hi Fatz, there’s nothing wrong with a 352 except for some cubes maybe. Some of the late model engines came with very free-breathing heads with tall intake ports. You might want to check the casting number between the center two spark plugs. The two I remember were C6AE-R and C6TE-A. They both will easily take the larger CJ valves and with a little exhaust pocket porting makes them excellent budget performance heads. For a 4X4 they might be a little overkill depending on your RPM range. For low RPM torque you probably would be better off with a 390 and C8AE-H or D2TE-AA heads (or a 410 for that matter.) Sorry if I am a little wishy-washy here, just have a soft spot for the underrated 352s. I’m sure the other posters here will give you more pros and cons and a good choice of parts to bolt on.

Barry

 

If you're going to spend a ton of money on a rebuild, I would suggest the 390 upgrade. I switched from a 360 to a 390 and think it was well worth the couple hundred extra I spent. Plus the 390 looks the same as the 360 so the swap didn't jeopardize the integrity of my truck...same with your 352. Plus there is the intangible that comes with knowing you have a "real" motor (no offense to those with 352's & 360's, I'm still inferior to the 410's-428's).

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 28-Feb-01 AT 11:56 AM (EST)[/font][p]hea Barry thankyou!! I checked #'s between plugs real fast it it COLD outside and came up with C6AE or c8ae ,2nd # 6080R can u give any more info ? Can anyone? thanks Fatz

 

Sounds like you have a nice unmolested 352 there! I'm assuming the heads are C6AE-R because they would be the right ones for it but I'm not familiar with a C8AE-R. Save those heads because with a little port work, mostly on the exhaust side plus bigger valves will make them perform just as well as the CJ heads.

After thinking more about what you want in an engine, I really believe you would be more satisfied with a 390 in your truck. Even though the 352 is nice, it's hard to make up for those extra cubic inches and the longer stroke. You'll feel the difference every time you step on the gas.

The 360 and 390 blocks have the same bore but you do need the 390 crank and rods. Since you're only planning on running duals, I'd stay with the C8AE-H or D2TE-AA heads. You could do a little bowl and port work but I don't think that will buy you much with your stock exhaust. Just put in some hardened seats for the exahust and be done with it. As far as the small cam and 4bbl, you're pretty much describing the Performer Plus package from Edelbrock. It makes some nice torque down low but don't expect a lot of power out of it past 4000 RPM. Personally I like the Edelbrock (Carter) carb. over a Holly in this application. For a good low-buck ignition you could go with a DuraSpark II or a Pertronics conversion. This would make a nice reliable torque motor. I think this sounds like what you're looking for.

Barry