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352 ford FE

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Rose Racing, Aug 24, 2011.

  1. Rose Racing
    Joined: Dec 12, 2010
    Posts: 32

    Rose Racing
    Member

    How good is a 352 Ford FE engine and how could I make it a pretty descent performer???I hear you can put any FE intake on any FE engine and make it work???and also any suggestions?thanks
     
  2. R Pope
    Joined: Jan 23, 2006
    Posts: 3,309

    R Pope
    Member

    352's last forever! They are the same basic engine as all FE's, right up to the 427 and 428, but much less power so they are like the battery bunny, haha.
    A 390 crank will fit your block if you can find one, as will better heads, intakes, cams, pretty much any good stuff from the bigger power FE's will work on a 352.
    A point of interest, most FE'S have 352 written on the block, regardless of cubic inches.
    One thing to be aware of, the HD truck engines have specific head/intake/exhaust manifold assemblies that are different. The blocks will accept either truck or car stuff, but the heads require the correct manifolds.
     
  3. falcongeorge
    Joined: Aug 26, 2010
    Posts: 18,341

    falcongeorge
    Member
    from BC

    Larry Wells ran one in AHRA D/HR in the early '70s before he switched to a SS/C 427 fairlane. It was written up in Car Craft, was ina '53/'54 ford 2 dr sedan. Maybe someone has the article, and can post it. Had a home-made tunnel ram. Cant remember what heads were on it, maybe 427 med. riser?
     
    Last edited: Aug 24, 2011
  4. George
    Joined: Jan 1, 2005
    Posts: 7,724

    George
    Member

    Some of the last 352s were rated about 352, but the first of those rated that high had too soft valve springs & suffered valve float. By the time Ford figured out what the problem was they had gained a bad rep. They can be built.
     

  5. JEM
    Joined: Feb 6, 2007
    Posts: 1,040

    JEM
    Member

    They work fine, depends on what you want to do.

    There were a vast array of different FE heads with different port sizes, ranging from fairly small to big to huge so 'any FE intake on any FE engine' doesn't quite cover it.

    The 352 has a smaller bore than later FEs, don't think you can run anything bigger than the basic 352 (maybe 390) head without valve-head-to-bore clearance problems.

    I recall reading about some big-port 352 heads, that had the small valves or the valve guides closer together or something, that were used in some hipo 352s before the 390 and 406 came along, but that's as much as I remember and they're probably about as rare as rocking horse feces now.
     
  6. 61 Fairlane
    Joined: Feb 10, 2006
    Posts: 311

    61 Fairlane
    Member

    Not to take anything away from our guys here, but if you want FE info, Google FE Forum and you should find the one listed on network54. Those guys live, breathe and bleed FEs
     
  7. JeffB2
    Joined: Dec 18, 2006
    Posts: 9,484

    JeffB2
    Member
    from Phoenix,AZ

  8. FrozenMerc
    Joined: Sep 4, 2009
    Posts: 3,093

    FrozenMerc
    Member

    The 352 is blank slate just waiting for the artists chisel. As already stated, you can drop in a 390 or 428 crank (or even longer stroke Scat or Eagle unit, they will clear with out any work). A 352 will easily take a 0.050" overbore (stock 390). At 0.050" over and a 428 crank, you have a 410 ci torque monster. The early 60's 352 heads (C0AE and C2AE) are really decent flow wise and will accept any aftermarket low riser intake. In 1960 Ford put out a 360 Hp version of the 352. One built to those specs and today's equipment would be a very strong runner. They can even be made to scream with the right valve train. A gentlemen by the name of Bill Heinson used to campaign a '64 Galaxie with a built 352 FE in the Super Stock class. Story goes that he would spin the FE up to 8600 on the line and shift at 7400. Here is a link to the complete story.

    http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182...uper+Stock+352

    Your options are endless with a good FE block, the question is how fast do you want to spend?

    Good Luck
     
  9. dragass
    Joined: Feb 16, 2006
    Posts: 307

    dragass
    Member

    I'm running one in my 55 Fiarlane and it run like a champ, also has a suprising amount of torque. I can peel the hides with no problem.
     
    Jeff Norwell likes this.
  10. FrozenMerc
    Joined: Sep 4, 2009
    Posts: 3,093

    FrozenMerc
    Member

    Exactly, you don't necessarily need the long torque arm (although it definitely helps) of the 428 crank. The 300 hp 352's produced from 1958 through 1962 were rated at 380 to 395 ft-lbs of torque. Pretty good numbers for a "small" motor.
     
  11. spot
    Joined: Jun 10, 2009
    Posts: 212

    spot
    Member
    from usa

    A buddy and I back in the early 80's used to race a 65 f100 with a 352. Topped it with a 3 duece intake backed by a c6. It would cross the traps around 7600rpm. Solid powerful engine. Never broke it. We kept adding bigger carbs and finally sold it and he built a 460 powered falcon.
     
  12. damagedduck
    Joined: Jun 16, 2011
    Posts: 2,341

    damagedduck
    Member
    from Greeley Co

    I found a 59-60 Merc 352,complete here the info i have so far:

    It was in the garage all covered in <NOBR>plastic</NOBR> and canvas. It turns over real smooth-the oil looks good, and the plugs look fine. It might be a good running motor as is, but it is at least, a builder [352,s are hard to find ]--the <NOBR>Engine shop</NOBR> looked up the motor #s and It came out of a 1959 or 1960 <NOBR>Mercury</NOBR>-Has Mercury valve covers. $ 300.00

    So should i risk it? opinions Thanks for any help!--chuck
     
  13. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 23,758

    Deuces

    If you don't, I will...;)
     
  14. tommy
    Joined: Mar 3, 2001
    Posts: 14,757

    tommy
    Member Emeritus

    [​IMG]

    What are you building? If it's not a race car you should be fine. They had a rep of being a gas guzzler in the 60s but for a non daily driver where fuel economy is not quite such a big deal I'd make him an offer.
     
  15. GOSFAST
    Joined: Jul 4, 2006
    Posts: 254

    GOSFAST
    Member

    Over the years we've done a few of these (352's) and I can tell you from the start, "make it bigger", especially in a larger ride!

    The last one left here (based on an OEM 352" casting) as a 406" (pictured below) for a full-size Galaxie. It was dynoed and turned out as a nice pump-gas "driver", nothing fancy, but real nice.

    Thanks, Gary in N.Y.

    P.S. If you do any up-stroke, you cannot use the 352" conn rods, wrong length for most "stocking" aftermarket parts!
     

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  16. damagedduck
    Joined: Jun 16, 2011
    Posts: 2,341

    damagedduck
    Member
    from Greeley Co

    I was thinking for my 53 F100,daily driver type of truck -chuck
     
  17. moefuzz
    Joined: Jul 16, 2005
    Posts: 4,950

    moefuzz
    Member



    -$300 does not sound out of line for what is there.
    And if it has Mercury valve covers, they are becoming pretty rare items!
    I'd jump on it if it was closer.
    In actuality, I need a set of Merc valve covers for my 68 1/2ton 390
    but they are just about impossible to find even up here in the land of Mercury's.





    .
     
  18. Marty Strode
    Joined: Apr 28, 2011
    Posts: 8,801

    Marty Strode
    Member

    Chuck, From what I remember and read, Mercury didn't offer a 352 in 59 or 60, they came with 312, 383, and 430's on those years. It could possibly be a 390, out of a 61 and up Merc, maybe some of our FE experts might be able to clarify what it is. It sounds like a good deal either way.
     
  19. FrozenMerc
    Joined: Sep 4, 2009
    Posts: 3,093

    FrozenMerc
    Member

    Marty,
    I believe you are correct. '59 and '60 Mercury's only came with a 312 Y-Block or a 383 or 410 MEL. In 1961 and later, you could get a 352, 390, or 406 FE in a Merc.

    Now, that is not to say that someone couldn't have swapped the motor. The early MEL's and FE's were very interchangeable.
     
    Last edited: Feb 11, 2013
  20. damagedduck
    Joined: Jun 16, 2011
    Posts: 2,341

    damagedduck
    Member
    from Greeley Co

    I called the guy he states the #'s on right (pass side)
    96A,3
    B9ae8075B
     

  21. Gary, I referred a HAMB member to you from L.I. that needed some heads repaired, I know if you handled that for him, he would be pleased, TR
     
  22. sunbeam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2010
    Posts: 6,214

    sunbeam
    Member

    In pickups Ford went to a 360 which was a 352 useing a 390 block one less block to stock. My question does a 360 use a 352 or 390 rod.
     
  23. MeanGene427
    Joined: Dec 15, 2010
    Posts: 2,307

    MeanGene427
    Member
    from Napa

    360 used the "long" 352 rod, which can be very handy when building a street engine, as you can easily adjust the quench, as most stock pistons are down in the hole a bit to allow for decking and tolerances, so you can get the quench very tight with a leetle cut on the 390-410-428 pistons and the "long" rods. They are not quite as beefy as the 390-410-428 rod, but strong enough for a street engine
     

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