Need an FE wizard

OK, so, have a 58 Edsel under the knife. It's got the e-400 361" FE engine. We 're monkeying around with the heads (needs a valve jaerb and headgaskets). An FE is an FE, right? Should I encounter any unforseen issues,390, 427 and 428 parts would fit ja? Like, for example, heads or valvetrain stuff?

 

If you put big valve heads on that little motor, you need to check for valve to bore interference.

 

Well, I don't claim to be an FE wizard but to my knowledge most everything you mentioned interchanges. As long as you don't get into more exotic 427 stuff. You do have to watch valve sizes with smaller bores.

The biggest thing I know is pre-63 uses a different cam with a "****on". The later ones had a plate on the block to hold the cam in place. So the timing or front covers are different because of that.

 

Your '58 may have adjustable rocker arms and even may solid lifters. I've not had an FE that early. I know in '58 Fords the early heads had fully machined combustion chambers instead of just cast and adjustable rocker arms. By '59, almost all were fully hydraulic with non- adjustable rocker arm. Only actual solid lifter motors had the adjustable rocker arm setup later on - some 390s, the 406 and 427s.

If yours has the adjustable rocker arm stuff and you don't want to use it, don't throw it out. Other FE guys will want it.

 

I'm not planning to swap the heads out. or ditch the original parts.It's just that no one lists part for an e-400, but if I can order seals and valves and whatever for a 360 or a 390, we can get the car rolling. The 361 is pretty stout for a small motor, 303 hp and 400 lbft

 

If you edsel has the original mel engine with the fuel pump at the front near the distrubuter, there isnt any parts ( other than the spark plugs dist cap & rotor and oil filter )from a FE that will work. Post a picture of your engine. OldWolf

 

The correct answer for all Ford interchange questions is Maybe!
But, for your valve job project, a quality FE gasket kit should have everything you need.

 

You dont need to order valves for an E 400 engine. Measure them, overall diameter, stem diameter, and length, and order like valves from the book.

 

The MEL was the 410 in the Citations and Corsairs, aka the E 475. The 361 aka E 400 is an FE. no?

 

Supposedly the top of the block is angled 10 degrees

 

361 is a FE. Pull it apart and see what you need and let us know.Most of the parts should be easy enough to get....

 

Yes it is definitely an FE engine. It will not have solid lifters or adjustable rocker arms. Head gaskets will be the same as other FE Fords. Try to find a head gasket set for a 64 or older FE engine to get the correct port size intake gaskets. The combustion chambers are fully machined. The intake valves will have a 30 degree seat as opposed to the more common 45 degree seat that later FE engines had.

 

We are also considering headers if I can find them. These manifolds look awful for flow. I've been looking at stuff to fit a Fairlane with an FE, but there aren't many options. The rest of the engine has a slight performance build from the factory. I bet some headers and dual exhaust will help a lot.

 

Ford powertrain sells headers for that Engine/Ch***is, they are 550$ a pair Uncoated.

 

^^^ Yep, Run with the FPA headers.

 

Its pretty much the same as a 352 with the bore of a 390 or the 360 used in pickups.