Some FE interchangability questions...

[Brent Mills]

Since my 427 will not likely be done this year, I am seeking alternatives to at least try to have some fun in my car in 2003.

If I go with a 390, will my bellhousing and all that business bolt right up?

What about the balancing of the flywheel, etc, as I'll probably just find a good running 390...Will I have to worry about anything there?

Any other considerations for this temporary swap?

Thanks for the help.

[Ron61]

Brent,

The bell housing should bolt up as they are both Fe blocks and essentially the same. If you get the flywheel with the 390 I would think it would be ok but some of the other guy's that know more can help you with that. I once changed out a 390 to a 427 tunnel port and my 4 speed bell housing bolted right up to it. I did change the flywheel as the tunnel port had one already on it from the builder and never had any balance problems.

Ron

[427 S/O]

Brent, I did a search on Olympia, Wa. and found 25+ machine shops, one of them might lead you to a good 390?. I also noticed you have few marinas, keep an eye out for some of those 427 marine engines, some of them are left hand rotation but, with careful checking you could possibly come across a few useful parts. A 'good' machine shop can reverse the knurl
on a L/H crank.

[427 S/O]

Sorry, change that to reverse rotation

[chuckbrandt]

Brent,
Everything should bolt right up without much problem. One area to look at is pre-65 blocks had different motor mount bolts. Look for 4 bolt holes instead of 2. Or do whatever will match your 427.
I am planning to something similar with my 352 out of my pickup and I do have one question about that. When you put on your lakewood scattersheild you are supposed to adjust it to be centered on the crank within a certain tolerance. I wonder is this need for adjustment due to the bellhousing manufacturing, or differences in the block? There are two methods to adjust this, you either use offset dowels that you can turn into different orientations, or you weld on new "holes" for the standard dowel that are in the right spot. Maybe we should use the offset dowel method in our case since it's less permanent and we are planning on switching engines? That's assuming blocks could be different, which seems less likely than the bellhousings coming out different. Maybe someone will comment that really knows...

Thanks, Chuck

[Excaliber]

Curious. Is a 352 the same block as the FE? Would it work also?

Ernie

[bmalone]

Ernie, the 352 and even the 332 are FE's. Back in '59, I think, you could order a 352 Hipo w/ solid-lifters and 360 HP.

[Excaliber]

There you go! I was just thinking about the same question on the 332!

Ernie

[cobra427hp]

Watch out on the 332 while it is an "FE" the valve stems are longer and installation of a 427 cam will push valves thru the pistons (voice of experience!). The 360 Horse 352cid was 1960 only and was essentially the fore runner of the 406 and 427 (had several of these also). The cam was the same lift and duration as 427 R code I found out when I rebuilt the 352 in 1963 but at 4 times the price due to it being " an experimental engine".

[Pete C]

Brent,

Duane Cooney' s Engine builder does a lot of 390's. Duane once commented on how robust the engines appeared to be. You might want to post Duane and see what the guy has. The builders name is Tom Lucas @ FE Specialties
916-339-0427. Now that Duane has a few miles on his engine he might be able to give you an informed opinion the work.


Cheers, Pete C

[Brent Mills]

Thanks guys....

Since I would guess automatics would be behind most 390's, the flywheel won't work, so will I have a serious balancing problem?

[chuckbrandt]

I think it depends on if the 390 was balanced and if to acheive the balance they changed the flexplate or not.

If the 390 had been balanced and modifying the crank counterweights was not enough to get it in balance they may have modified the flex plate. In that case if you bolt on a zero balanced flywheel you could have a problem.

But if you are getting a running stock or stock rebuilt motor I think you will be fine and the above scenario is unlikely. In fact I did exactly that in my pickup. I bought a running '65 352 4V out of a galaxie and put it in my '66 F-100. I took off the flex plate, added a pilot bearing and flywheel and put it in. I had no problems at all with balance.

What do they call it, "detroit" balance?

That's what I'm assuming by my experience, please someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Chuck

[SFfiredog]

the 352, 390, 410, and 427 are all internally balanced from the factory.
This means the flywheel is dynamically balanced to itself.
They are interchangeable and should pose no vibration issues.

The 428 is externally balanced .
--Mike

[Brent Mills]

Ok, so I had the flywheel on a 1u 428 crank in my 427. So I actually might have problems it sounds like. Maybe just get a new flywheel and that's it?

[Excaliber]

Those old Fords were pretty flexible. When I was young (and didn't know better) we'd swap out trans, flywheels, auto to stick, stick to auto. Heck we were always goofing around with "parts". Never noticed a balance problem. But that old early 60's auto tranny let go at about 110 mph one day. That got exciting!

LONG streak of red oil and parts for about a mile, lol.

Ernie

[SFfiredog]

Originally posted by Brent Mills


Ok, so I had the flywheel on a 1u 428 crank in my 427. So I actually might have problems it sounds like. Maybe just get a new flywheel and that's it?

Hi Brent,
I would guess that your motor is externally balanced if it has a 1U crank in it and this would cause big time vibrations on the back of a 390.
When you look at the back of your flywheel see if it has either a pie shaped wedge cast or machined in the surface or if it had a bunch of holes drilled in it for balancing. This would be a sign of external balancing. If there is only a few small holes it my be internally balanced.
Can you post a photo of the back of your flywheel?
I might be able to tell by looking at it
--Mike

P.S. Thanks for doing such a great job as the admin of C.C.
My hat's off to you!

[PatBuckley]

Mike -

If Brent had a 428 crank in his 427 I bet it is now internally balanced by the use of mallory metal -

pb

[chuckbrandt]

It's not zero balanced and has an extra weight on it.

Chuck

[Turk]

George has Brent's motor, I assume the flywhel is there with the motor. Maybe George can post a photo.

TURK

[Brent Mills]

I sent mail to George earlier, so he'll likely respond soon.