Technical Ford FE 352 ID help

I could wade thru several results of Google word salad but I prefer to ask the brain trust that is the HAMB. I only know that lots of FE blocks say 352 on the front, but where, how, etc, can you tell what you have beyond the door tag? All I can see is an FE with an iron 4bbl intake (adapted to a 2bbl). Casting numbers, stampings, anything that I can see in the car would be helpful. This is a 1960 with a Y code, and thank you for your help.

 

Casting numbers help, the Engineering number (C0AE-....) is a good start, and you'll likely find a casting date code also, format number letter number, on block, heads, intake

From what I can tell, you can positively identify an FE by measuring bore and stroke....good luck...

 

I doubt a lot has been done if ever, she's 14,000 original miles. Trust but verify, right?

 

I'd start by looking for casting dates, and compare to the production date of the car on the body tag.

 

1960 Y code should be a 4 bbl 352, 300 Hp. That said, any FE after 60+ years should be measured to verify. Even with only 14,000 miles, some one dinked around with it by swapping a 2 bbl on, so who knows what else was changed. Pull a spark plug and measure stroke with a straw.

3.5" = 352 or 360. 3.75" = 390, 406, or 427. 4" = 410 or 428.

The 352 cast into the block means absolutely nothing. My 1962 Mercury 352 doesn't have that particular casting mark, where as my 1976 390 did. Go figure.

 

In that year range it ain’t a 360
Crank numbers might help
If it still has a tag from the factory near the coil.
My 352 did.
But bore x stroke is how we normally figure em out

 

Why Not? Edsels came with 360's starting in 1958.

 

wasn't that a 361? (at least that's what they called it, I know Ford liked to play with the numbers on FE engines depending on what they were installed in)

 

When I picked up an old ford truck it had either a 352 or 390, they couldn't remember which motor it had at this time, several motors in and out of it I guess....

Anyway I was told by many that the only way to be surr was pull a spark plug, put cylinder on bdc, drop a long plastic straw in the hole and mark it. Then carefully turn motor over by hand and bring it to TDC and mark it. Then again go back to bottom dead center and double check mark on straw, if it still lined up pull straw and measure between marks, this would be the stroke and tell me either 352 or 390. Any other way was futile without dropping oil pan...

..

 

Head numbers are easy, they are in between the two center ports.*

 

I'd bet that it's a 352 because 390's weren't common fare for fullsize Fords in '60. Most V8's were either 292 Y-blocks or 352's. Still nothing to sneeze at if you put the work into it. Not as easy to find as they once were (I had about ten of them at one time, all over the place; 352's, 360's, 390's... gave 'em all away)

 

The date code in day2's picture, 0E6, is May 6th, 1960, eh?

 

390 wasn't an option until 1961

 

the 361 E-400 Edsel was a .040 overbore on a Ford 352.

 

Nope. Referring to the 360 truck engines.

 

For what I can muster so far it's a 352 4bbl, likely yes, the original. I recall those OEM 4bbls being problematic for some folks, and fuel mileage wasn't great with these land yachts. I can't see a lot of changed out fasteners or such, exhaust still intact, etc. We hope for special but a low miles 4bbl Starliner is special enuff...

 

FE - 352 is the engine series, 332,352 390
351 Cleveland - 335 series, 302, 351
429-460 - 385 series

please correct if I am wrong

 

Casting numbers on the block will sometimes only get you into the ballpark, although in this case the 352 was the only FE motor available that year, so a C0AE number will pin it down.

FE engine availability by year...

'58-59 332, 352, 361
'60 352
'61 352, 390
'62 352, 390, 406
'63 352, 390, 406, 427
'64-65 352, 390, 427
'66-67 352, 390, 410, 427, 428
'68 360, 390, 427, 428
'69-70 360, 390, 428
'71-76 360, 390

The 360, 390 and 410 all used the same block (except for the '61-62 390 HiPo motors, those were solids lifters only). The 406 and 428 share bore size, but the 406 is solid lifters only.

There are some bits of weirdness on the early FEs. A late block can be installed in place of any early block but not vice-versa as Ford added motor mount bolt bosses over the years. There's an indexing pin for the intake manifold to the right of the distributor on the block that got deleted later, that has to go away if using a newer intake manifold. And the biggie, the early ('58 to '61, maybe '62) motors didn't use a thrust plate for the camshaft but rather used a 'button' similar to what SBCs used. This part is long obsolete (along with the matching timing set), I believe if you need to change the timing chain you have to replace the cam also, as well as drilling/tapping the block for the plate. Look for a steel timing cover, that's usually the giveaway. Ford switched to an aluminum cover when they added the thrust plate.

One good thing about the early blocks is they aren't thinwall castings (up through about '61?). There are credible reports of boring these .130" over for 428 conversions, although sonic checking is recommended. Ford bored them .050" over for the '361' Edsels...

 

If I had the ending letter off the distributor it might narrow it down unless the last number is an A

 

The 332-428 fe engine forum can probably help you more than any other place on the net, but to be sure, the bore and stroke will need to be measured, a borescope through the oil pan drain plug might get crankshaft numbers. My 1966 428 also has that "352" cast into it.

 

Is it a 2 or 4 bolt engine mount block, as that narrows it somewhat. 427s are easier as they're cross bolted. 428 information attached.
The best way to identify an FE is to measure bore and stroke. Block castings 352 was used in a few engines. www.mustangtek.com
There is a pad on the right rear of the block on the vertical surface below cylinder head. If there is a stamped serial number and 4 engine mount bolts, it would be circa/post 1968.


Check casting date on underside of oil filter adaptor


Look for casting number on block

 

I looked for that casting #, someplace say it's in one spot, some in others, I do have a latent fondness for some Ford stuff but thier numbers can make you feel like Wiyle E Coyote sometimes. Still, I'd raise a rt hand about 90% up at the moment that it's the OG. Frankly the rest of the car really helps too.

Maybe not the place to shift into another gear, but at some point somebody was going to pull all the window moldings and replace them with chrome vs painted red. I'm seeing Starliners in my head when I lay down I've looked at so many. Not a 1 with interior chrome but they're OEM parts, not somebody's haul to the plater. Lots of cases to solve here.

 

One of my all time favorite Fords. I hope something similar to this is what you are looking at, Highlander.

 

Ok, fuck it...

FE, auto, 14k orig miles. Original paint (yes it's as good as it looks there). Gotta cut, polish, reassemble the interior (weird) and get those old man Tom Terrific wheel covers swapped to smalls and blackwalls.

 

That hood ornament is kinda rare I think. Nice looking car. My dad had a 60 Ford. I hated it, the doors were 2 feet thick. But after all these years, I like 'em now.

 

I’d drive it

 

Re: the 352 casting on the side of the block.
Years back a guy pulled a 390 out and stored it at my dads place. Was under the bench covered in a tarp.
Fast forward 20 or so years and I have a buddy over that “was all Ford”. He asked what was under the tarp, told him a 390. He wanted a look at it.
So he spots the “352” and tells me “not a 390, see that “?
I’m like damn, I don’t want a 352, let him haul it home.
Years later found out that yes, was a 390.
Not that I had any use for it, but dang it pissed me off.