352? Please school me.

[Jeff Norwell]

I was just speaking with Jay about this last week(or maybe 2 weeks ago)
I have recieved  a complete 352 from a pal,He tells me it is a 58 or 59 true police interceptor engine.Got if free.
I was told there is a difference on a identification on the rear main are(not sure what that means.)Was ,is, there a difference on these engines? worth building?
Can someone give a little detail on these engines?good?bad? Ugly?I understand they were the first FE in form.I was wondering if the blocks were meaty,if the cranks were good?
thanks guys.

[Ford Blue blood]

Jeff the FE series started life as a 332.  The early blocks are good.  All FE cranks are cast iron except the Hi Po stuff.  Not sure if the 352 PI falls into that category.  The casting number you are looking for is just behind the starter on the block.  If it is infact a "good" 352 the combustion chambers will be machined.  There were Hi POs out there that had painted aluminum intakes.  The FE series ran a rope seal on the rear main, works well when properly installed.  Go to FORDFE.COM and they can better answer any and all questions.

[Jeff Norwell]

Thanks Bill.I will attempt to go to the FE Forum.I find it a terrible site to navigate.But I know a ton of info is there.
I got this engine for free,So that's not a bad thing.
There is a 428 for the taking if I wanted it, but my plans are not to build some stroked hunter/killer FE,but more of a period experimental FE that would have been done in that era(late 57-62)I would like to attain a honest 425-450 hp.(yes I know that would have not happened in the time era i want)I think to get to those numbers, it should be fairly easy.
Just thinking out loud here

Thanks again Bill.

[Jeff Norwell]

((and get torque too(FE are torque monsters))

[hiball3985]

Trying to get those HP numbers from a 352 may be more difficult then you think. You would be better off starting with the 428 in my opinion. If I recall the early 332/352 used a different cam retention set up and I'm not sure a later type cam can be used..

[Jeff Norwell]

Good to know Jim,I have 3 390's as well and one is a 68 GT engine.the others are just passenger car engines.

[Jeff Norwell]

I may use the crank of a 428 in the 390 and make a 410.
I dunnoJust planning my next move,I am going off on the 57 now, as the 32 is done.

[John Palmer]

It's my old memory (?) that the 332's also had machined chambers.  I used a set of these machined heads on a 428 that I built for a F250 camper back in the day.  It ran the CJ hydraulic cam and was a great trailer tow engine.

I also agree, you can't tell how big it is from the outside, so starting with a 428 core, is a much better beginning, IMO.  Look for some shorty cast iron exhaust manifolds.

[suede57ford]

Jeff,

You may be able to use some of the trimmings and sheet metal off the early engine to make a more vintage look to the engine.   The valve covers, pulleys, dist, and even the early style bolts could help with the factory installed look.

As mentioned, find a 428 block to start with.   With our modern day expectations of how a hot rod should run, you will be disappointed if you go with a small motor.

The early heads are machined combustion chambers, which at one time a head to look for, but some of the more modern stuff will work way better now.   The advantage of the machined chambers on a stock class racer was you could modify the heads and the tech inspectors could not tell.

[Jeff Norwell]

Interesting fellas.
Yes,I do have a 428,not a CJ OR SCJ, just a complete engine of domestic value.I have inroads with a contact to use Edelbrock heads and the attaining gear.
I really want the best value using competent parts.I just never really new anything of the early 332 or 352.

[Jeff Norwell]

(Sorry-I have Access TO THE 428 IF i want)**edit**

[MeanGene]

Nothing wrong with an early 352, and some were pretty strong. Converting to the later cam retention plate/ front cover is pretty easy, and one could use the SCAT stroker crank setup in there, as most 352 blocks will easily bore to the 4.05 360/390/410 size. If you got the whole thing, you should have some nice looking baldie valve covers that are similar, but not exactly the same as the 427 baldies. Probably has adjustable rockers- you can tell for sure if it's a true solid lifter block by looking at the back of the block, there will be no plugged holes in line with the lifter gallery humps in the valley. Stroker kit and a good cam, intake and exhaust will pull a 57 along nicely.
The 416 option using a 360/390/410 block is one of my favorites, can be very cheap as the later 390 pistons are actually 410 Mercury pistons with the 390 crank, down in the hole for low compression, and +.030 pickup 390/410 pistons are cheeep- just need the 3.98 crank. And you'll never feel the difference between a 416 and a 428 in the car

[BP57CUSTOM]

About a year and a half ago I bought a "Fred Jones" Ford remanufactured 406. Fred Jones was an engine builder in Oklahoma City that was a rebuilder for Ford (back in the day) this engine had the aluminum plate riveted to the block showing  406 inches ,ser#, std. bore , std. crank , std bearings etc. It was a used engine out of a barn , supposedly in good condition. I was going to install in a 54 Ford todoor I had. I proceeded to clean and paint the engine found correct valve covers , intake , manifolds etc. to detail it. Then I met the last person to run this engine and he said it was blowing oil and needed to be gone thru! WO , I didn't want to do that , so I sold the todoor Ford, and put the 406 on EBAD ,I was truthful about its condition but caught all kinds of flack that it couldn't be a 406 . "FRED JONES" and FORD said it was a 406 but the casting numbers didn't support that it was. A gentleman in a neighboring town bid on and bought it . when he came to pick it up ,he knew all about Fred Jones engines and already had a couple of these 406's. Turns out (if I understood correctly) that these were not reman but new 406's made from New 352 truck blocks. The point of this is ...... there is no point I was just remanicing

[suede57ford]

I forgot about the adjustable rockers.   If they are in good shape on the 352, they are a good option.  When changing cams pushrod length is not as critical with the adjustable rocker.

[Jeff Norwell]

all great info,thanks guys!