FE questions

Hi my name is dave you could probably tell bye the screen name. I am new to the fe big block too I just got a 390 mach 1, I have a few questions about the fe and other things.Is there any way you could take a 352 or 390 anything lower than a 428 fe and turn it in to a 427 side oiler that everybody talks about or is them vain things in the engine that gets the oil to where it needs to go different I know that is not the name but I have been told that there is such a thing like that, or is the hole engine machined different from the factory. I know a littel bit about motors, I understand a littel how it works I have tore down a 351 cleveland but still learning a lot. I no this is a big block thread but could you turn a reguler 351 cleveland with 4 bolt main in to a boss 351 or are they machined different too, and is the 312 in the fe family, I know it is a Y block but is all fe,s a Y block. I also have read that ford did not put many of the 427 engines in the mustang and fairlanes because they where expensive to make but I always wonder why did they put them in the big galaxies or was there only a few of them too and also why didn't the 428 cobra jet come with 14 bolt holes like the 390 for the shock towers. I have always wonder about these question I know I am like a littel kid asking all kinds of questions but I would apprectate if any body could answer them for me . Thanks Dave

Lots of questions! Well, that's how to learn stuff.
The 427 side oiler had a lot of differences in the basic casting, a conversion would be ...well, impractical.( I've learned never to say impossible with the gang on this forum. )
A"Y-block" (239,256,272,292, and 312) is a different engine family than an FE.

"......I've learned never to say impossible with the gang on this forum......":LOL: :LOL:

Well you could bore and sleeve any FE to get more cubes. But it wont ever be a side oiler. Theres some combo of 428 and 427 internals that comes out to 454 CID with stock parts. And I think u could make a crossbolted FE with some machine shop work. Mostly depends on what you will expect the engine to do .

"Well you could bore and sleeve any FE to get more cubes."

You could bore the block larger and use larger diameter pistons or you could use a crankshaft with a longer stroke or do both to gain more cubic inches. You wouldn't necessarily sleeve any of the cylinders unless you had a bad cylinder wall that wouldn't clean up by boring. A sleeve is just a piece of tubing that is inserted into the block to act as a new cylinder.

"Theres some combo of 428 and 427 internals that comes out to 454 CID with stock parts."

A 427 block bored 0.030" and using a 428 crank will yield 454 cubic inches. (4.260" x 3.980")

"and I think u could make a crossbolted FE with some machine shop work."

You could, but I doubt the expense and effort would be worth it for anything other than a dedicated race motor.

PSE at one time made a conversion kit to convert a std FE topoiler block to a sideoiler. Basically three tubes fed oil through hollowed crossbolts to supply oil to the mains. Of cource the block needed to be machined for crossbolt caps plus the kit. I see them on ebay from time to time but they go for big bucks. I'm not sure how well they worked but it was an interesting concept none the less.

G.

Everybody thanks for answering my question about the Y blocks and sideoiler. I understand now that the side oiler is called that because it oils the mains and the other fe,s oile's the top and a sideoiler is crossbolted and the other one's isn,t at least I think if I am understanding right. I did not know that about a fe.But I understand the difference now. I know they make the power my friend has a cousin that has a sideoiler that he has in his monster truck, and it is pretty mean,it is beefed up to like 1500 hundred horse power and it really moves the truck when you see it in action.But I understand now to make one into a side oiler you would probably have more money in it than what it is worth to buy one and it would probably be better to bore a old fe that is not a sideoiler,a good bit and get a big crank and bigger pistons some edelbrock heads and have just as much fun.

All 427's have crossbolts mains be it top or sideoiler. A few exceptions are some industrial blocks that have been found used in irrigation and such. Other than that all production and service 427 blocks are crossbolted. As far as crossbolting goes you can crossbolt any FE block. You can use original or aftermarket caps. Both are selling in the $300 range today. For that money the billet steel caps are the better bet. To machine and install the caps figure $300-400 plus the price of the caps themselves. Some 64 and some later FE/FT blocks have the crossbolt bosses making it pretty easy to do. Blocks without the bosses just use a longer spacer with OEM caps. The billet aftermarket caps use no spacers and require a little more work from the shop to install because of the exact tolorance fitting needed.

G.

Okay thanks FFR428 I understand about the 427 now,do you know how much a C6 could handle I am wanting at least 420 or 425 horsepower out of my 390 do you know if the C6 can handle that or will I have to beef it up.

Does anybody know about the C6 question?

IM NEW TO THE SITE HERE. SO HELLO. I JUST ASKED THAT QUESTION OF A TRANSMISSION SHOP A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TRANNY COULD TAKE IT BUT........HOW HARD YOU WORK IT WITH HAMMERING IT WILL DEPEND ON THE LIFE SPAND OF A USE TRANNY.

ALSO THIS IS WHAT I HAVE DONE WITH MY FE MOTOR. I TOOK A MID TO LATE 60'S 390 TRUCK BLOCK (SONIC CHECKED IT) I HAD IT BORED .080 OVER. I PUT STANDERD 428 PISTIONS AND CRANK IN IT (MUST HAVE EXTERNAL BALLANCED DAMPNER AND OR FLYWHEEL,FLEX PLATE)(428 CRANK ONLY!!!) DUAL 4 BARREL OFFENHAUSER MANIFOLD WITH TWO EDELBROCK 500CFM CARBORATERS. I LOVE IT. BUT I DID HAVE TO UPGRADE MY RADIATOR TO A 460 4 CORE FOR ADDED COOLING IN THE SUMMER WHEN STUCK IN TRAFFIC.

Hi SCSTRANSPORT thanks, I better put a shift kit in it cause I would like for it to last a littel while and have some fun with it.Your engine sounds pretty mean I was thinking about doing something like a double 4 barrel or trying to find one of dose old manifolds that the 390 had in the early sixties that was 3 2 barrel carbs but I would probably have a time to find one.But I am foresure that I am getting some edelbrock heads and ain't decided how to build it yet, but want at least 420 horsepower I heard if you get everything edelbrock I could get that easily but don,t know if that is true.

my motor is all cast iron except for the intake manifold (alum.)for what i could but the alum heads for i could put 428 valves and springs in the cast iron ones and have the machine work done. the 3 2's would be cool. i bought my manifold new it cost me $470.00 plus shipping.

I should just do that with my heads but one of the main reason I wanted to get aluminum was take off some of the wait but it probably would not make that much difference if I would go with the 3 2 barrel carb manifold.I heard every hundred pounds you take off would give you a tenth of a second quicker in the quarter mile so it might take some off.

i just got a motor and i had the seller tell me it was a 390 and a friend say it was a 428 i wanted to know how to tell the Fe blocks apart

Quote:

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Originally posted by davidmitchem197
Does anybody know about the C6 question?

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my C6 has handled 500 ft/lbs....slightly modified

bbfordhp I know I am probably going to be alright if your C6 could handel that much.Thanks Dave

Ya I wanted to get a orginal four speed but I could not find one around my area or a couple hours from where I live.So I am going to put a shift kit in my C6.

EBAYMOTORS.COM IS A PLACE TO LOOK FOR THAT 4-SPEED.PROBABLY NOT CHEAP BUT IF YOU WANT A 4-SPEED YOULL LOVE IS ONCE ITS THERE. SCS

I really should try it out I could always go to the automic again if I wanted to make it original again but if I am going to do all that stuff I was talking about doing, it really should'nt make a difference, anyways cause that ain,t going to be original, so I should just have fun and just keep my parts if I ever wanted to go back.There's A guy I know around here that doens't live that far from where I live he has a bunch of old 60's ford stuff he probably would have one of those T-10 toploaders.

I GOT LUCKY THE TRANNY I GOT HAS A 1 3/8 INPUT SHAFT. ITS THE BIGGEST ONE. SO KEEP YOUR I OPEN FOR ONE. KEEP ME POSTED ON YOUR PROJECT. SCS

I see lots of used toploaders in the $400-600 range that are still pretty good. Just note the different tailshaft sizes when shopping. David where are you located?

G.

I DONT KNOW ALOT ON THE TAIL SHAFT LENGTHS, DO YOU KNOW THE DIFFERENT SIZES FFR428?? I WOULD BE INTERESTED IN WHAT SIZES CAME OUT OF WHAT OR DO YOU KNOW A PLACE THAT I CAN LOOK UP WHAT MY TRANNY CAME OUT OF?? THANKS SCS

SCSTRANSPORT I will have to keep you posted I am kind of working on the 71 and the 69 I am going to try and rebuild the cleveland this spring the one in the 71, I got a buddy who is going to help me rebuild it.The 69 is tore down it needs painted and a littel body work but all the sheetmetal work is done on it and the motor is out of it.That is why have not really decide about the stick shift or not and how to do the engine.I will have to pay attention for the shaft sizes guy's.I live in hedgesville, west virginia FFR428, I might be able to find one at this one guy,s house,that I was talking about early. I had a chance to get one, one time but I had to buy a torino with it but we never bought it and I think it would only bolt up to a cleveland, but I could of probably changed that.There is this one junk yard around here that haves a lot of old toploaders but he wants like 1500 to 2000 just for 1 because they are old and came out of muscle cars but that is a rip, just because they are old he wants a lot of money for them.But if I would get a stick shift in it I would take alot of wait from the c6 off if I am wright you guys really got me interested not only that it just goes right with a big block.Would I have to beef it up any if it was a originaly a big block 4-speed. With the 425 horsepower, but if I would find one that came from a cobrajet I know I probably would not have a problem at all.Thanks Again Guys Dave

I MUST ADMIT I DONT REMEMBER WHAT CARS,TRUCKS YOUR WORKING ON???? I DONT KNOW FOR SURE BUT I THOUGHT SOME ONE TOLD ME THAT THE TRANNY I HAVE IT WOULD LAST UP TO ABOUT 600 HORSE BEFOR THERE WAS ANY PROBLEMS. WHEN I BOUGHT THE TRANNY SECOND GEAR WAS SCATTERED IN THE CASE AND THE GUY THAT REBUILT IT FOR ME SAID THAT THAT WAS THE ONLY WEEK GEAR. BUT I DONT KNOW ANY FACTS ON THAT. SCS

Sorry about that I just realised that it doesen,t have the cars under Hot Rod Make & Engine.Under the icon and next to where you post your thread, I thought it had that.I thought it had everybody's but just realised it doesn,t at least not on mine.But there,s another website I go to and it haves it .Dave

The Daivd Kee site has a toploader ID chart. www.4speedtoploaders.com scroll to the ID charts section then toploader ID. Also a section on tailshafts and sizes. Very good info.

Dave I have a good bud down in VA. I can talk to him and see if he knows of anything local for sale. Forget that junkyard that wants $1500-2000. David Kee sells and complete rebuilt tranny for like $1800. I think he casts new cases for them also so your pretty much getting an all new unit. Good used like I said should be around $600 tops. If you do go used do a little reading on Dave's site to become familer with the different trannys. Also while in the toploader ID section click on the toploader imposter link for the difference on the 3sp OD toploaders from trucks. This might save you some headaches. G.

Okay thanks again FFR428 I am saving up good bit, after christmas I know if I could not find one around here I know carlisle, PA someone would probably have one at the all ford national's and that is only about a hour and a half away so I could probably get one from there or check out the site that you gave me.I am on the eastern panhandle side of the state so your friend might not live that far from me.Thanks Dave

Dave I'll let you know if my bud finds anything local. If he does I'll put you in touch with him and you can go from there....

G.

okay thanks FFR428

sounds good

I fount me a 4 speed it is coming out of a 60's model galaxie mydad told me about a friend that he havesthat lives not to far from us I didn't know about him,but called him and he has a junk yard with a lot of galaxies and different stuff and he has some with a 390 and 4 speed.So when it warms up this spring I will go get one with the motor and the 4 speed.Just keep the motor for something fun later.Thanks for information guys but finally fount me a toploader,I thought I would keep you guys updated.Thanks Dave