FE Poll

[CSX 4027]

Lets see who knows

[bmercer]

I've heard it referred to as "Ford Edsel" as well

[misfit41]

I am anxious to hear the answer since I have heard it called a few different things,,but it is the fairlane engine,,and not really because the car of the time was a fairlane.,,Tk

[CSX 4027]

Good O ol chap, Good O

[REAL 1]

None of the above

[Rick Parker]

I think "FE" is the symbol for Iron (as in heavy!) on the Atomic Table.


..................Rick

[Ken Oikawa]

None of the above!

F@#$%&* expensive!!!!

[misfit41]

I rememebr reading in some company propaganda lots of years ago when I was in my teens working in a ford dealership parts department that the car and the engine series got their name because they were brainstormed at the famed henry Ford estate "fairlane" ,so I pretty much took it as "word",,,Tk

[Woodz428]

I think bmercer is probably correct, at the same time the FE was introduced Ford also introduced the MEL engines (Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln) which uses the same pattern of car lines for it's initials.

[Edley Rondinone]

My "R" code Ford expert says it stands for the symbol for iron (FE) on the Periodic Table of Elements...although "F&#@in' Expensive " makes sense too!

[blykins]

It means Ford Engine. What do I win....?

[TerrysSPF]

.......I thought it had a referance to the gas tank (from constantly mashing the go pedal!) FE = Forever Empty ;-)

[Turk]

Why would Ford designate this group of engines as FE for Iron.
What were the OTHER engines of the same era were made out of? Ceramic?

I don't know, but My guess would be iron for FE.

TURK

[CSX 4027]

So ya think the FE designation was the reason the lighweight aluminum block FE 390 that was destined for the flippy top never made it

[Turk]

Weren't ALMOST all the engines of the period iron?
I can't understand why they would designate this one as "Iron" not to be confused with all the aluminum blocks out there in the early 60's?

I can see AL designations being used for the aluminum, but not the other way around.
Like I said I don't know.

TURK
I don't think you do either.

[CRZN427]

The research I did during my first build, which had an FE 390, was that "FE" stood for either "Ford / Edsel" or "Foundry / Engineering".

The author was not sure which was correct and made no claim to absolute knowledge.

Most people I have talked to believe that it stands for "Fairlane Engine".

[Cal Metal]

BTW, "R", as is in R Code, stands for robbed. The way someone must feel after having sold their car years ago for peanuts, and seeing the same car for sale at around $200K today.

[misfit41]

The info I read was a fomoco publication,some kind of anniversary thing ,,, I wish I still had the book,but I remember bits and pieces.Cars were rapidly changing in the very early 50's,over head valve was a new thing,new car lines were being introduced into the market ,Ford felt it needed a new motor to power these sleds into the "jet age",all this was dicussed at the fairlane estate.as I said I just always took it as word,,Jim Dove says the same thing although I am not sure where he gets his info..would be great to hear from an old ford engineer,,Huh ? Tk

[rdorman]

'forgotten engine'?
'f&^%ing enormious'?
'ford's enigma'?
'fathers engine'?
'for elderly'?

COME ON AND HELP ME OUT HERE! THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME!

Rick

[CSX 4027]

While I do not have the ultimate answer to the question either, here are the facts.

Experts say both that the FE label stood for both;

FORD EDSEL because it was the 352 that came out in 1958 and went in the Edsel as well as the Fords.

Ford Engine for various and obvious reasons

Also, The Farm Engine was more of a slang used but it was popular back then because the FE WAS USED AS AN IRRIGATION PUMP in the 50's and 60's. High torque at low revs.