Fe 352....keeper or not????

FINNAALLLYY...I just picked up my 57' F100...it's my first ride of my own! Anyway..the motor in it is a FE 352..(yes I know its not the OG Motor) I really am a rookie with rebuilding motors and motor knowldge (have help) But know NOTHInG about the "FE" motors. It seems to run great and has some good juice to it..but I havnt really stepped on it. Anyway, it makes a loud inconsistent rattle/knock. Its NOT the lifters I'm told, and sounds like the nuts are loose near the tranny??? If this problem is fixed...is this motor a good one to beef up, but a daily? If NOT...I have a 302 waiting for me for free!!! Thanx for the help..Im friggen jacked to get going on this thing!

 

A 352 is better than nothing at all! Ha! Just read up on the FE engines.....you'll get a nack for what makes them run.
The 302 would be the way to go though.......but I'd check out the engine really good first, the 352, I mean. to make sure it isn't doing the rattling.
If your really lowbuck, you can do it with a broken broomstick, with your thumb over your ear, touch the broomstick to the head or the block, put the bone in front of your ear to the stick.....and you can 'hear' if there's anything knocking in the engine.

 

Put FE in search, lots of threads. After some valve float problems Ford got 1:1 HP/CID out of them right @ the end of production. On the bad side, you have the weight of a 390/428 w/o the CID & HP of those bigguns. www.webrodder.com for an FE build

 

Hmmmm....may be easier to just to run it til it croak's...but build the 302 up as I wear out the 352??? Or could I will I just end up thrashing the tranny doing that?

 

Don't know what tranny you got but its not likely that the 352 is going to destroy it. Well not without your help.

I like FEs well enough. They are not a cheap motor to build but that make good torque and are as dependable as a hammer. I probably wouldn't build the 352 but I may build a 390-428 in motor in a heartbeat. You might consider trading your 302 for an FE that you can learn to build a motor on.

If trad is what you're after the FE is a more traditional motor than the SBF and was a common swap in the older ford trucks.

The hammer will cost you more to build that the fly swatter but in the long run you'll be way happier that you did.

 

Ok nice...then slowly but surely I will build up the 352..if its a better lasting motor. I posted I was getting this truck long ago...but the guy took off out of state. Well Finally got back and got the truck. Ill post some pics soon. Thanx for the help. Any advice appreciated as to the fixing of that loud as rattle/knocking noise....

 

Well look at it this way. Decent CI Big valves Big ports All it really needs is a fair cam to make some good ponys.

 

Have somebody that knows something listen to it. The FE will move the truck
better than a 302.

 

As much as I like the 302 they won't make the torque of that FE 352,I would keep the 352 in the truck.Keep your eyes open for an Edelbrock Streetmaster intake they work very well with the FE's and save a lot of weight,the Crower Baja Beast cams also do do well in these.

 

I with the stick to the 352 crowd, especially if you plan on towing.

You could swap a 390/428 later, a 'bolt-in'.

 

Run that thing into the ground and when it blows you always have a great back up

 

Actually there is a fella here in town that has a 390 HP 390 (one year only mustang/thunder hawk) in pieces that he would probably be willing to trade for the 302. he like the little motors and has an Effie with a small block.

its a long distance to trade for one but it is worth looking into.