I want to build my first motor.FE

[RACERAL]

Hello guys,
I have not been around in a while since I sold my car 3 years ago. But now I have the itch. This time it must be a FE. I'm gonna be a little like Cole Trickle...(have you ever raced nascar, No, but I watched it on ESPN)
No I have never built a motor before but I have read some books...

I want to build the 390/445 stroker. I don't need or want a killer motor. I'm not into the mine is bigger then yours crap. What I do want is it to crank every time, not over heat, make over 400HP and must have hyd. lifters.
Dependability is#1 priority.

I would like to buy my parts from one person. That person must answer emails or phone calls, not just take my money and thats it. Trying to build my first motor is a huge deal. I am a machinist by trade, so I know what a mess of this stuff means. I have order the books that most of you suggest to others, not came in yet, but hopefully any day now. Between books, you guys and ever who I buy the parts from, I am hopeful I can do it.
Im in North Carolina so I do have some connections to some good help. Its a couple of motor builders down this way.

Anyway, looking forward to your suggestions and getting back in the game.

[Bill D]

I would talk to Brent Lykins, a forum member

[Three Peaks]

Brent would be your guy if he's interested.

[Dimis]

I've only got lots of positive things to say about Brent Lykins at LykinsMotorsport (formerly B2mptorsports) also...

But I'm thinking you may want to jump on the fordfe forum for more specific information for your project. Lots of people there (including Brent) who would happily assist you also.

[redmt]

x 3 on Brent.

[undy]

Originally Posted by redmt

x 3 on Brent.

x4 on Brent.

He's the only engine builder around these parts that takes time to repeatedly help customers and non-customers alike. All the rest just do a once-in-a-while drop 'n run post. That speaks volumes, at least to me.

[patrickt]

If it were me, I would go with Brent too. Because I know at my skill level I would need a couple of tips along the way and Brent will take the time to really see what I am doing and help. If I ran in to a problem, because I couldn't figure out how to do something, or I wasn't sure I did it right, I know I could send him pics or even post a video, and he would take the time to study it and then tell me what I was doing right, wrong, or in between.

[Mr Jody]

Since you mentioned going the 390/445 route, I get the feeling you are familiar with what Barry Rabotnick has to offer at Survival Motorsports, and that his book is one of the ones you have ordered. Just haven’t seen him mentioned specifically so far, so I thought I would throw his name and what he has to offer into the mix just in case. In addition to stroker kits, he is developing his own heads for the FE.

You may already be doing this as well, but being in NC, right there in the heart of NASCAR country, I can’t help but think there are some local FE builders around who would be a wealth of knowledge. Although probably considered “old timers” now, they probably would be more than willing to pass their FE knowledge along to someone still interested in doing most of their own work. Ask around at local car shows, too. At a very small car show, I ran across someone with two Mercury Comet Cyclones there and another one that is a work in progress who highly recommended the builder of his 390s, and told me who to stay away from. As meticulous as this fellow was with his Cyclones (down to custom making the sticker on the AC compressor on one of them), I think if he had had any reservations about the builder, he would have let me know.

Here is a link to an article in Car Craft from a few years back…just something to gnaw on while you wait for the books to come in.
Ford 390 FE - Car Craft Magazine

[RACERAL]

Thanks all... Yes, I did send Barry a email and told him what I wanted to do last week. No reply yet. I do have that book ordered plus 2 others.
Yea, in my small amount of research here in NC... I am finding the "oldtimers" but it seems they have not keep up with the technology( at least some of them) and all the good stuff that is being made in todays shops. 15 years ago I would have never attempted this, but today... I don't see where it is any difference than a 302. Maybe just costing a little more.

[redmt]

My suggestion was going to give each one a call and see who answers the phone. When you get into your build and have a question or two you probably won't want to wait a week or two for a response.

[blykins]

I appreciate all the words here.

Race, I'll be more than happy to help you if you're wanting to start an engine project.

The very first engine I built was a 425 cubic inch Windsor. Never started with a small block Chevy, or a 302, or rebuilding a stocker....jumped straight into grinding cylinder skirts so rods would clear, drilling/tapping for lifter spiders, assembled bare aluminum heads, etc, etc. I was hooked. If this old bald-headed dummy can do it, anyone else can.

I will say a few words of warning...on the scale of "difficulty", I would put the FE pretty far up on the list. There are several nuances and pitfalls that can bite you in the hindend, but if you're aware of those and take your time, it can be done. Just accept the fact that nothing will fit ahead of time and you'll be just fine.

A couple of quickie FE points that separate them from the rest of the Ford engine world:

*The block is skirted, which means that the rear main seal has multiple pieces. Instead of just two seal halves, you have two seal halves, plus two side seals.

*The intake manifold makes up a portion of the cylinder head. The valve cover straddles them both. The pushrods go through the intake, instead of the head. Since there are multiple mating flanges here, you have multiple angles to check and modify to get a correctly sealed top end. The distributor also goes through the intake manifold, which means there's yet one more thing to check before bolting it on.

*FE cylinder head valve layouts are symmetrical about the vertical axis. This causes the valve reliefs in some pistons to be in different locations. A lot of the aftermarket pistons have symmetrical valve reliefs so it doesn't matter, but some of them are orientation-specific.

*The rear cam cup plug goes in backwards. This gets a lot of people and they end up driving them in the way that they're used to seeing on other engines and end up making a lathe out of the camshaft.



Sounds like a fun project.

[RACERAL]

Many thanks Brent. Responses like yours is what people find so appealing and sends folks in your direction.
Yes, I have been reading and reading. Let me get my books in the mail and do some more reading just to make sure I ain't chicken $hit. Then we will dive into this thing.

I am in hopes I can get a ever whom I deal with to do all the machining for me. I just want to have to bolt together, do all the measuring etc. I am a machinist, but I don't have a machine shop. Besides... all the machine crap I do, you can't hardly see it.
Now, if you guys need any micro holes, I am the one to see. I have made some injector tips for a race shop or two that are crazy...

[rodneym]

I'm certainly no expert but I'm glad that Brent came out and said that the FE isn't the easist 'beginner', that much I do know.

I like what your thinking, RACERAL. Keep us updated.

[RACERAL]

Please guys, don't hesitate to chime in on anything. We all learn from these post. I have put a big flag on all the things that Brent said, I had not read about the pistons tho. Geat head up.
I have two buddies that work for Roush/Yates, although they don't do FE stuff, its still fun to pick their brains.

Just for talking out loud purpose, I have made spray bars for Nascar mopar engines, that is a long tube that ran the length of the valve covers that sprayed oil on the rockers. I have EDM'ed holes in rocker arm studs for cooling and to lighten the load, I have drilled micro holes in shock parts that let the shock loose their oil on the restrictor plate tracks so the spoilers would be lower to the ground..... not to mention some micro drilling some holes in some carb parts... and NO Nascar never did catch it. HA HA!!

[philminotti]

Hi Al-

Getting back to your original premise of wanting to build an FE as your first build- go for it! I built my motor from the bare block on up, and I had little more than tinkering experience on small block fords. You're a machinist, so you're ahead of where I was right out of the gate.

I started by reading everything I could, including books by David Vizard, Tom Monroe, and Rick Voegelin. Although Steve Christ's book is often criticized for inaccuracies, it does cover many basic pitfalls of FE assembly. Old posts on this web site as well as on feforum.com are invaluable. Barry Rabotnick's book is getting rave reviews although I haven't read it myself.

Getting all your parts from the same vendor does make some sense but isn't crucial. Every single clearance and tolerance needs to be checked…you know that far better than me, I'm sure. I got my block, heads and cam from KCR, my rotating assembly from Barry and my bell housing, clutch and tranny from Brent. Everything needed at least some "massaging" and sometimes more. Yes, the FE can be a PITA with regards to certain issues, rear main seal and intake manifold sealing coming to mind, not to mention valve train geometry, top end oiling, and on and on and on. I had my intake off THREE times before I was happy.

I strongly suggest running a finished motor in a test stand before dropping it in a vehicle. Trust me on that one.

A lot of mystique surounds the proper assembly of this motor, but most of it is just doing your homework and not being afraid to take something apart and redo it. I freely admit that I stood on the shoulders of far more experienced people than myself, many of whom frequent this website. (Looking at you, Rick L!)

Damn the torpedoes, and full speed ahead!

And BTW, ignore everything, and I do mean everything your hear about how great solid lifters are and how they sound like angels singing in the Vatican and go with hydro rollers. You won't regret it.

Phil

[RACERAL]

When i built my first car... other then just a very few minor odds and ends, I was done. Hence the hydraulic lifters. I want that sucker to crank and go. I would like to with EFI one of these days... but dang, those things cost a butt load.

I got Barry's FE book today along with Steve Christs book... glad to know about the inaccuracy. Plus I got that FORD motor interchange book. Time to start reading.

[DAVID GAGNARD]

Al;

My 2 cents on the matter......definitely go for it and don't look back, it's the only way to learn how to do it,you'll likely not get it right on the first try,few do,but not to worry,that's part of the learning curve.....

As Phil said, DO beg/borrow or steal a test/run-in stand,it's worth it's weight in gold,don't ask how I know this,but I built my own in an afternoon and don't know how I did without it......

I'd suggest that you buy a stroker rotating assy. from any of the many reputable dealers and then find a machine shop you trust and are comfortable with and have them do the machine work on your block/heads....It's even better if they are knowledgeable on FE's and have built or still building them, you could rely on them for advise if/when you have a question or problem......

Bottom line, jump in,it's the most satisfying thing when you do get it like you want it and have it in the car and can say:"I built that engine".....

Good luck and keep us posted on how things go...

David

[Barry_R]

Biggest challenge for me these days is the phone and the computer. Or perhaps its better stated as being "the clock". I get an unreal number of calls (5000+ minutes on the cell plus the land line...) and emails every day and it's kinda "hit or miss" catchin' me at any given moment. It takes a few tries but I do attempt to make it worth the effort...

It got bad enough since the book came out that I simply had to back off of the forum stuff for a little while so I could try & get caught up in the shop. We still have more than our share of "stragglers" but an awful lot of engines have left the building this past 6-8 weeks...

Ohhh - if I am on the dyno it'll take a nuclear strike to pull me away - that's my idea of havin' fun!

[MOTORHEAD]

Al:
I'm still working out problems on my first build, with help (and parts) from both Barry and Brent, both have been invaluable in this endeavor !
Oddly enough, the problems I am dealing with are the rear seal (leaks), and intake fitment (gaskets not sealing intake to head, high vac conditions pulling oil in, fouling plugs).
I can add one other "heads-up" to the list: DO NOT COMBINE your first FE build with your first WEBER installation !!
Ted

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by MOTORHEAD

the problems I am dealing with are the rear seal (leaks), and intake fitment (gaskets not sealing intake to head, high vac conditions pulling oil in, fouling plugs).

Al, you should be familiar with the FE forum 332-428 Ford FE Engine Forum -- those two issues that Ted mentions just happen to be the topics of today. The site's software is antiquated, the personalities different from this forum. I've read it constantly, meaning every post, for over ten years, but I've posted maybe a half dozen times. The actual, hands-on knowledge is extensive. Probably the best in the world when it comes to FEs.