Small Block vs Big Block FE Ford

a quick comparison of a small block ford engine to the FE engine

[@bobwhite4344]

good.side by side comparison.

[@johnsheetz6639]

The only time I wouldn't go big block is if I had to turn corners or stop in a competition type setting . Straight line, big block everyday. But mostly if that's what I had.

[@80sfordguy]

First off, the Ford Edsel “FE” engine has not big or small block, it was named by Ford as the FE (Medium block) and offered 332-428ci all with same block. The (big block) of the day was the MEL or “Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln” (Superduty block) and offered 383-462ci all with same block. The predecessor to the FE was the “Y” block or (small block) and offered 239-312ci all with same block. The “Y” & “FE” blocks successor was the 335 series (small block) or Cleveland engine, offered in 351C-Cleveland, 351M-modified and the 400ci all with same block. The MEL (Big block’s) successor was the 385 series (Big block) and was only offered in 429 & 460ci all with same block except a one year 1969 429ci HEMI built for nascar. The 335 series (small block) successor was the Windsor and offered 260, 289 & 302 and 351W-Windsor that were 3 different engine blocks the 7.5 deck 260, 8.2 deck 289 & 302 and finally the 9.2 deck 351W. Second, All blocks were different and not interchangeable except the Windsor block and only for certain parts. The only oddball was the BOSS 302 which Ford did first before any aftermarket was a 302 Windsor block with 351Cleveland heads that were machined to fit the Windsor block and was revered to as the Clevor engine. Every block is largely different except the two Windsor 302 & 351 blocks and only to a point and still are very different. All other Ford engines that shared one engine block were only differences in bore and stroke only with heads that were built for different applications. All of them used heads that could be swapped only on their specific blocks they were designed for and none could be swapped from blocks of different designs.

[@RegulerShowTV]

this is a great chunk of information

[@StarlightWorkshop0z]

I had a 71 (aus) fairlane that had a 302 windsor and c4 auto. When I got the motor rebuilt the timing cover was different to normal 302 windsor. Also the c4 when it got rebuilt had some different parts than a normal c4. All I was told was the engine and trans was the same as some of early mustangs. Never really understood it all. Any ideas?

[@johncarden2823]

FE Ford are some strong engines

[@mschiffel1]

Darn near bullet proof!

[@jaco5187]

You shouldn't think of Ford engines as small blocks or big blocks. That's more of a Chevy concept. Think of Ford engines as 'families'.

[@royderouin7510]

Don't say unprofessional ,...I highly appreciated your commentary, it was excellent, make more videos !

[@anthonytomaro8278]

Their isn't a better sounding engine than a crammed FE.

[@urnestt2555]

Anthony Tomaro what did you cram on ot

[@zombie95xx]

Anthony Tomaro 383 Chevy stroker 363 ford stroker

[@lynndempsey4096]

@@zombie95xx fuck a piece of shit Chevy!!

[@jamesbascombe8274]

Oh yea. That cast iron intake weighs in at like 90 lbs. A big weight savings when you switch over to an aluminum intake. And if you also go with a set of aluminum heads you can get the weight down to a small blocks weight. With a lot more torque and HP potential.

[@theone5716]

Wasn't the FE actually a mid-size block? Because the true Ford Big block was the MEL (383,430,462) from 1958 to 1968 until the 385 series (429, 460) replaced it.

[@RSDX99]

The LS is a small block version of the FE block, who would have thought of cross bolted mains first. Certainly not GM.

[@jamesbascombe8274]

If I remember right the intakes on the FE's weight like 90 lbs.

[@ryan_poul757]

I'll keep my Fe..

[@jonah.c.strickland8400]

YOU HAVE THE BEST LOOKING FORD EVER MADE !! 73-79 BABY !!! I OWN A 80 F100 , 93 SVT LIGHTNING, & 99 4X4 5SPEED LIFTED F150 AND I'D KILL TO HAVE ON OF THAT BODY STYLE

[@zombie95xx]

Ever since I got my f100 about 2 months ago the fe has grown on me but never the less I have a love hate relationship with it.

[@chrismontreuil2206]

Uncle Moe Lester thats because they are a gas sucking pig.

[@chrismontreuil2206]

Uncle Moe Lester i replaced my fe with a cleveland. Much happier.

[@lawnmowermanlawnmowerman9930]

@@chrismontreuil2206 Yeah maybe,but the FE will pull like a tractor and with a good high volume oil pump,you can't hardly blow it up. I've owned several of them and I can attest that they are as tough as nails.

[@caterpillar6nz310]

385 is the big block 429 460

[@Survival427FE]

Best to assume that NONE of the 390 blocks can safely be bored to 4.130. I have built literally hundreds of them over the past years and have sonic tested them all. We have found exactly TWO that were safe to go to 428 bore. The 105 blocks were cast in Ford's MCC foundry, the DIF blocks were cast in Cleveland.

[@ProfessorGrimm]

If I keep my Dentside with a Gasoline engine I will get mine from you Barry, just on the fence about a 4BT conversion

[@edge2sword186]

Had an early 427 with 12.5 comp +.60.and it ran without problems . Bored an early 428 CJ +60.no problem . 406 also thick wall cylinders . Some replacement 428 blocks were actually truck blocks and had the boss foe the rear sump pickup .sonic test is the way to go .

[@randomologist77]

0.060 over on a 427 FE is not believable. That's double what the average top oiler will max out at.

[@edge2sword186]

@@randomologist77 I bought the block from a guy named John Uniman who used to race of 57 Thunderbird and he replaced it with a big block Chevy. It had a set of JE 12.5 2 1 Pistons 60 over bore. I also had an early 69 428 CJ lost a wrist pin lock and board that 60 over with TRW Pistons. I worked on a lot of Fe engines Panda never had problems. Cuz a lot of people that are talking about how these engines were nothing but trouble but the biggest problem I ever saw was where they got overheated real bad and the cracks developed in the valley. I due know where the short block is now . We put it in a 69 Mercury Cyclone CJ and the guy still has the motor block with pistons and all. Because it's an early style motor we had to fabricate motor mounts for that application

[@fomoco1454]

That FE BBF is the mirror 105 block. They have additional main webbing like the 428 CJ & SCJ engines.

[@TheBigmark75]

Dam man what kind of motor work do u have done to that 289 at the end of the video?

[@jossephcruz9513]

i have a 89 f150 5.0 efi i want to know if i gt40 heads fit on it

[@williameltringham9999]

Yes they will fit

[@sorshiaemms5959]

small ford oils the mains first

[@MrSmartass89]

I didn't know the 429 was considered an FE block? I thought the 429 was all new for 1968. Didn't the FE designation end with the 428?

[@johnterpack3940]

The 429 is a 385-series, like the 460. Just a 460 with a 3.59" stroke instead of a 3.85" stroke.

[@jamesarchuleta4806]

This FE is thec105 reverse block. What is the significance of the 105 block casting over the 352 casting. Do you know?

[@ThunderHead289]

James Archuleta couldnt tell you honestly, i run small blocks primarily for fuel sake. . .

[@jclaysf350]

supposedly the 105(501) are 73-76 FE Blocks and 352 blocks are the pre-73 blocks 501 are supposedly stronger and suffered less from core shift.

[@scottford1091]

@@jclaysf350 heavy truck motors... sometimes they are built with an .080 overbore. I've built 3 over the years and they are still doing great... well 2 are don't know whatever happened to the third. It went away in a gt500 clone I never finished...

[@zombie95xx]

The only problem I have with the Ford fe is part availability. They really don’t have much of a selection

[@justinw.2376]

Uncle Moe Lester ya just gotta look more. They got a lot of shit available for them. It’s not like your $100 Chevy 350 engine lol. An FE is the Mona Lisa lol.

[@Samsgarden]

long skirt y-block

[@n5ifi]

I love the way the FE sounds but I'll take the small Ford any day of the week over the FE.

[@skyfix9813]

Big blocks suck

[@lawnmowermanlawnmowerman9930]

Depends on what your using it for,when I was young and farming with my father,I would use my FE powered Ford pickup in the fields all week long 12 to 16 hours a day and drag race it on the streets on Friday,Saturday nights and all day on Sunday. I'd average 50 to 60 races during the average weekend. Ole truck never complained or left me stranded ever. The windsor v8s are great but not nearly as tough as the FE was.

[@chrisp2876]

Been staring at Ford small blocks my whole life. Sometimes I just want to see something different.

[@RSDX99]

I have owned FE side oilers, 302 Fords, 351 Fords and Coyote Fords. The Coyote is the most HP per CI of any Ford engine. and the best racing engine.

[@lucckino]

The newest and most advanced motor out of those listed makes the most power efficiency ? Say it aint so lol.

[@Ken19700]

Technically Ford never made a big block or a small block. Those are GM terms.

[@Papa7Bravo]

I've seen some stupid comments but you're winning so far for 2016.

[@Ken19700]

It's true. Small block and big block are GM designations. Ford had windors, FE, and 385 series engines. None of which were designated big blocks or small blocks by Ford. Chevy fans called them that and it stuck.

[@Papa7Bravo]

+Ken MacMillan small block and big block is self exanotory though, Ford has big blocks and small blocks just like in the video, saying that they never had a small block or big block because it's a gm thing is silly. That's like saying a chevy never had a full size car because that's a ford term.

[@Ken19700]

The fe engines were as small as 332ci. That's hardly a big block. It's technically a Y block, which simply means that the casting extends below the centerline of the crankshaft. The 351W had a deck height of 9.5 inches. All fe engines have a deck height of 10 inches, even the 332ci. Does that make the 351W a big block?

[@Papa7Bravo]

+Ken MacMillan as small as 332 and went up to 427 or even 460, a bigger block is just a bigger block even if slightly different.

[@CA1911Shooter]

There is no such thing as a small block or big block Ford. Those designations are Chevy terms. Ford does not use the small block / big block designations, they just use engine series or families. Even if they did use those terms, the bore spacing on the FE block would make it a mid block rather than a big block.

[@jameswil7687]

Ford's, Chevy, and Dodge all made great and bad engines. Me personally I like a dodge over anything. But if I need a truck to go a million plus miles then give me a chevy 350 (but not a vortec).

[@lynndempsey4096]

James Wil bull fucking shit

[@chrismontreuil2206]

350 junk cam will go flat.