FE leaks...

I'm working on getting my 63 1/2 Galaxie roadworthy by Woodward cruise up here in Michigan and I have turned my attention to the under hood. The car has 121,000 on it and it looks like it under there. I am planning on freshening it up this winter, pull it out, gasket set, bearings, rings/bearings if needed. I know you guys will tell me full rebuild, but eventually the 352 will be changed to a 390 that will get fully rebuilt(65 tbird 315hp). I guess what I'm asking is there any tricks on the FE to sealing them up good, I've heard block,head to intake is a issue on these, any good advice on sealing. Are there any other problem areas to worry about, this is my first FE and I would prefer to damage as little as possible, it will be a while before the 390 will get done.

P.S. I see alot more 40 over pistons for the 390 than 30 over pistons, is it a safe size

 

Built a lot of them and I didn't see or have any issues. ***y it clean and use the right parts and you will be just fine.

 

Buy good quality gaskets/seals. I always trim the part of the headgasket that sticks up where the intake sits. Also, get an aluminum intake manifold. Trying to install that 200 pound stock one with the engine in the car seems to always screw up the gaskets during installation and then it leaks. If you want it to look stock, then paint it. JMHO

P.S. If you've never messed with an FE, pay attention to the rocker arm bolts, there's a special one on each side that must go in the oil supply hole. If you get it wrong you'll be buying more rocker arms quickly.

 

Hope to see ya with it on 13 and Woodward on Friday or Sunday of that week!

 

I'm darn near around the block from you (Commerce Twp., Pontiac Trail & Haggerty). We build about a zillion FEs every year. Probably as many as anybody in the country.

The intake fit is a pretty big deal - but less of a problem if its all factory parts. We use the distributor as a locator and get all the bolts started before snugging them up. The rocker bolt is a good tip - the longer one with the necked down shank goes to the oiling mount. If you do a timing chain be certain to toss the original "split washer" if it's still in there - all aftermarket chain sets have the washer cast into the cam sprocket. Gray Motorcraft silicone is yuour freind....

 

When I got my FE I knew nothing about them. A friend that was a mechanic when they were relatively new said that his boss used an engine cherry picker to lift the cast iron intake when one needed to be replaced so all you needed to do is to guide it into place instead of pulling your guts out leaning over the fender and trying to get it in place. I never would have thought of that until after I screwed up a good set of gaskets.

 

right around the corner, hell....I work at Henderson gl*** on Haggerty across from the Kroger at pontiac trail, small world

 

I had read somewhere else about using the distributor to locate the intake( probly the fe forum) and an aluminum intake would be nice if I can fit one in the budget. I didn't know about the rocker bolt though, so its only one bolt on each side and can be identified easily compared to the others?

 

Use a center punch to dimple the rail in the front and rear of the lifter valley, help keep that gasket from slipping out. Put PCV on the engine even if it is a road draft setup, goes a long ways toward keeping the oil inside the engine.

 

Each set of the rocker shafts has three standard looking bolts and a shanked down bolt.The odd ball bolt is very evident. Enjoy the FE!!!!!

 

fe's are just like any other motor, take your time, keep everything clean and it wont leak a drop. be careful, damn fe's can be more addicting than drugs.

 

I'm having issues sealing my main cap with the nails......going to try some tricks I've read here and on the internet. Also which hole is the oil hole for the rockers, motor wasn't built by me and I'm just learning FE's.

 

I rebuilt mine myself in 2007 no leaks yet.The cherrypicker for the stock c.i. intake is a good idea.i used one cause that intake is HEAVY!!!!!

 

The oil hole is the second hole from the end..it has a bowl shape in the bottom...hard to describe, but easy to see when you get it apart.The bolt and the bolt hole are both different from the other three.

 

i know what road draft tubes are and i dont think it has one. Its got this weird tubing setup that goes from the back of the intake to the back of the heat spacer for the carb and it looks like theres some type of valve there. That would be pcv setup correct?

 

yes, thats what was on my 352 in my f100. When I went to the edelbrock intake manifold I ditched it and ran a pcv setup from my valve cover.