I did a search and was unable to find the answer here on the HAMB. Are all Ford FE blocks the same? Such as is the 352,360, the same block as the 390 FE with a smaller bore?
They look the same but there are a lot of differences inside. The HP blocks were cast with high nickel iron.
No they are not all the same. There is an early and late also. They can be spotted by the castings for the motor mounts. I also remember something about Dist. lower retainer hole size. Probably other things as well. The Wizzard
332, 352, 360, 361 Edsel, 390, and 410 blocks are all the same. Same bore spacing, same main journal diameter. All of these were cast using Henry's "Thin Wall casting" technique to make them as light as possible. Pretty much any of these can be used as a 390 - the 332 and 352 had a 4.00" bore while the 360 and 390 had a marginally larger 4.05" . watch out for really early blocks though, 58-60 as they are solid lifter only, no oiling provision for the hydraulic lifters. Also the head bolt holes are as deep using a shorter bolt The 406 required thicker walls and used cross bolted (4 bolt) mains. That motor was only made for less than 2 years. they have the 4.13" bore The 427 was originally a race only design that found it's way into production cars. There were tow versions, Side Oiler and Top Oiler. The 427 Cammer was based on the 427 Side Oiler Block Because the 427 used a 4.235" bore on a still relatively thin wall casting, it was an expensive and difficult block to make for Ford. The slight core shift during casting made the block unusable and many had to scrapped during production. The 428 was the solution, with a smaller 4.13" bore and longer stroke, amking a block that was easier to make.
Small mistake, but the 406 shares the same bore as the 428 at 4.13" and was only produced in 1962 and 1963. Also, Not all 406's are crossbolted. The 410 shares the smaller 4.05" bore as the 360's and 390's and was also a 2 year only (1966 and 1967) motor. The 390, 406, 427 all have the same crankshaft, were as the 410 and 428 have the same stroke.
Yep my mistake on the bore - fixed it - Thanks There were three blocks used for the 406 that weren't cross bolted C2AE-J, C2AE-K or C2AE-V. But the cross bolting that is common on the 47 did start with the 406 and C2AE-BD casting number. They are really rare, as are 410's (I have a .303' over 410 in my 75 F150, pulls like a tractor!)
Also, there are the FE truck blocks. Same thing, but they have thicker cylinder walls and are triple webbed in the "mains" area, like the CJ's. You can bore them out to a safer 4.130 These are stamped Dt3E or Dt4E Great blocks if you want to turn that 390 into a 406 or 427. You have the added strength, and won't twist the bottom end. Which is Why ford added the cross bolt mains. The 406 made so much torque it would ruin the bottom end. Fantastic engines man....if you build it using the right parts, and listen to the old guys, people won't believe the torque they make for the displacement....
Exactly. My 352 dynoed out at 375 ft-lbs of torque. But the best part is that it is making 300+ ft-lbs from 2500 RPM's on up, and I have the short stroke FE. A 410 or 428 with the right cam, heads, or intake will make stupid amounts of torque. And then you can step up to the 445 stroker kits and you can pull 2 stumps, a motorhome, and a boat behind your Galaxie!
You might want tp pick up this Ford Interchange manual:http://www.mre-books.com/interchange/interchange11.html Here is the first edition at a bargain price:http://product.half.ebay.com/_W0QQprZ592442
X2! On those books bro. And hit the FE forums at network 54. Also, FE stands for F'n Expensive! A truer statement there never was! But worth every penny, when you pull up to a four hundred horse SBC and stomp a whole in its ass with a 300 horse FE!
Here is a discussion that merits interest:http://www.clubhotrod.com/ford-fe-big-block/41324-500-hp-550-lb-ft-390-a.html Check out #5 for some Dyno-Sim numbers after that you will find other combinations of parts and their results,it doesn't take a lot to see 500+ torque figures from an FE and horse power to match.If I were building one the first purchase would be aluminum heads and intake to shave off weight and get a max power boost.
No, you can buy them and have them sonic checked for core shift and then maybe you will find one that you can bore 4.13 but probably not. Better have several ready if you are gonna try this and want more than .06 between the cylinders. Don't ever attempt a 4.13" overbore on an FT on spec. It ain't no 460.
Cylinder wall thickness has little to do to "truck" blocks. I have found 360's AND passenger car 390s cast on the 428 cores, I have a 390 passenger block out in the garage right now that has sonic tested safe to 4.17/4/18 range.
My block tested good. Did the drill bit test between the cylinder walls to confirm the thickness. She's 4.130 out and I beat the ever lovin bejesus out of her. She stands up to over 525 ft lbs of torque easy.... It was however the third block I bought that was good. So your prolly right there.
Yes, there are finds to be had, but one must check. Don't just bore a Ford block blindly, is my point. The rare thick block is found amongst a dozen thin ones.
Agreed. The drill bit through the frost plug hole sorts the wheat from the chaff, then you have to sonic test the ones that pass. But considering how many 360/390 FE's were cast, even if it is 1 in 10, that means theres still literally hundreds of thousands of potential 4.13 candidates out there.
The more research I've done the more I think I'm going to just do a 460 stroker. I can get everything I want, big power, a tunnel ram, and more parts availability. It's for an all out race car so need need for a mech water pump or pulleys. If I use an aluminum intake and heads I'll save a bunch of weight.
the Fe's weigh in the 650 lb range - a 460 is 720! But it is usually cheaper to build a 460. FE aluminum heads are cheaper than 460's and you probably lose a little more weight with the heads and manifold on an FE than a 460. You can build a Big Inch Fe, but it's not really doable with a stock block. I had Shelby build us a 515" Aluminum block FE a few years back - but it wasn't cheap over $25,000, but it did make about 575 HP in street driveable trim. But it is much easier and cheaper to build a Big Inch 460 - Ford Racing used to sell a 514" that made well over 500 and was around $10,000 The point is if I were building a Race Motor and was running a Big Ford, it would be 460 based
To be honest, a wise choice. It will make more power for less money/hassle. But it won't have that sound .
lord now I am confused....lol ford sure does change things up a lot.alot more than I ever thought they did..i know all the crap about chevys big and small. now im getting into fords ive got everything from a few flatheads to 460s. no 427, 428s. what have I gottin myself into!!lol
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