I'm pulling the E-400 out of a 58 Edsel Ranger and want to replace it with a 302. I'm just wondering if an early model 302 will bolt up to the stock E-400 bell housing and 3 speed trans. If anyone has any input on this it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
I have always found a few things about edsels: 1. They are like desoto's, almost nothing is interchangeable with the sister makes. 2. Modern engines need all kinds of adapters to go in. 3. Rear axles seem weak (that may be just me). Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
The E-400 was a 360 ci FE series motor rated at 400 ft-lbs of torque, hence the E-400 designation. You will have to spend a ton of money to get a 302 that will come close to 400 ft-lbs of torque, and if you do, its lifespan will be rather limited. There is a TON of aftermarket support for FE's, and I guarantee that it would be much cheaper to just rebuild the 360, then to swap in a 302 and whatever trans. Remember, it is not the cost of the motor that gets you, it is everything else that goes along with engine swaps that gets expensive. Motor Mounts, Trans Mounts, exhaust, radiator position, wiring, steering, oil pan clearance, etc all need to be addressed with an engine swap. If you are looking for a different (say Overdrive???) trans, there are bellhousings and adaptors available to put just about any trans you want behind that FE, Tremec's, AOD's, C6's, Top Loaders, etc. Good Luck.
A 302 is a great engine. Reliable and has power. If you are lookin for more power out of the gate, go with a 351w You will sacrifice some mpg, but hey, your lookin for power, who cares..... If not go 302... Either way, AOD would be my choice from scratch.....
From what I know , if your car has an automatic, The transmission is of the "cruisomatic" family, even with the tele-touch push ****on controls. These transmissions are of the same family as the FMX trans used through the 60's and 70's which were also used on 302's. I believe the bellhousings unbolt so finding a 70's FMX bellhousing might be all you need. ( the transmission guys may know more and/or correct my information if I am wrong, but this might be something to research. Engine mounts is a whole different thing, but they easy to fab. If you have a manual trans, it is much easier as an early trans should fit a 302 bellhousing.
If it's an FMX you should be able to find a 6 bolt 289/302 bellhousing. For what it's worth I have a 1968 Ford F100 that had a 360 in it with a 4bbl, got 8 mpg, and was a slug. Put a 302 with ported heads, 600 cfm 4 bbl, and a CompCams 268H camshaft, got 13 mpg with it, and it moves alot better than the 360 ever did.
Wrong. 405 hp at 6,200 rpm and 380 lb-ft of torque at 4,300 rpm. Very simple inexpensive set up. http://www.carcraft.com/techarticles/116_0307_ford_302_v8_engine_buildup/ Stroke that 302 to 331, put a mild E303 Ford Racing cam in it and you have 418 hp at 6,300 rpm and 393 lb-ft at 4,500 rpm. And that's with a small carb. Step up to a 650 and you'll get more power. http://www.mustangmonthly.com/techa...rtible_gets_331_ford_small_block/viewall.html
Don't get me wrong, I have no problem with a 302, but in this case it is not the best engine for the application. I would be interested in seeing the full dyno curves from the Car Craft build. They look like some fairly peaky numbers. The E-400 was rated at 405 ft-lbs of torque at 2900 RPM's, not over 4300+ like the two 302 examples you showed. That low rpm torque is what is going to get a 5000+ lbs Edsel moving. A 400 Hp 302 will feel down right weazy in that heavy of a car, I know, I have seen me do it, and it sure didn't last very long. My point still stands that a 302 swap will be more expensive in the long run then rebuilding the 360. The 360 also has the added benefit of being able to be stroked to 410 ci with a 428 crank, and 445 with a **** or Eagle stroker crank. No 302 will ever support those kinds of cubes.
The 390 can be stroked to 410 with a 428 crank, not a 360. I'm pretty sure a 428 crank can fit, but it would need machine work. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
Make sure the motor isn't MEL.... Not much performance parts and sadly ford made some MEL with similar displacement of the FE. Posted using the Full Custom H.A.M.B. App!
actually if you set a 360 and a 390 block side by side they would be twins. the only difference is the crank . a 428 crank will fit in both blocks without machining but you will need a new flywheel/flexplate and harmonic balancer as the 428 crank is externally balanced while 390s and 360s are internally balanced. btw both engines would end up as 410s
I doubt there is an E-475 in the Edsel Ranger he's posting about My advice for a "simple" upgrade is to go with the 390. Bolts right in. Pretty plentiful as well.
It's an E-400/ 361ci. I appreciate everyone's input on it. I decided to stick with the E-400, dropped the heads off at Boise Head Shop yesterday and have a rebuild kit on the way for the bottom end. Decided it would just be cooler to stick with the ugly *** yellow block and white valve covers. One thing about it though, you guys know your fords and things like this is exactly why I joined this forum. I really appreciate everyone's input on it.
That 361 is the same bore and stroke as the 68 to 76 truck 360 but hardly the same engine. It's basically an overbored 352, high compression and decent heads. Probably gets twice the gas mileage of the low compression 360. You could put a 390 crank, a 428 crank or even a 4.25" stroker crank and make decent power. The heads are not bad and larger valves would help and fix any sunk seats. Not sure on that 5 on 5" wheel patter. I think that's only on the bigger Mercury based Edsels.
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