Rebuilt the 352 !

Sixfootfour · Post by **Sixfootfour** » July 13, 2010, 5:09 pm

Well I didn't want to throw it out , and it was sitting there on an engine stand, so I took it all apart and cleaned it up.
It looked pretty good inside, so I got out the hone and the drill. Honed it, cleaned it up, new rings and bearings.
It was running when I took it out of the truck, and low miles according to P.O.

I added a small XE series cam from Comp, 206/212 duration at 50, with .468/.487 lift. A little more than stock, but should idle nicely.
I put on a Performer 390 intake and an old Ford carb I got at a swap meet, the guy said it was from a 390. A local hot-rodder had some valve covers he was not using (he went with a small block).
Now I had planned to stuff a 460 in the truck, but the original engine is looking kind of good, too.

What is your opinion, original 352, or 460?

Keep the aluminum valve covers or the stock valve covers?

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pj's64F250&66F600 · Post by **pj's64F250&66F600** » July 13, 2010, 5:10 pm

I'm biased....there clear winner would be the 352... - Paul

Thunderboy · Post by **Thunderboy** » July 13, 2010, 5:16 pm

I'm in over my head in engine swaps at the moment. That 352 looks pretty sweet!

Sixfootfour · Post by **Sixfootfour** » July 13, 2010, 5:47 pm

I sent the heads to a local shop for clean-up and inspection.
They were in good shape, we shaved the head .030 for more compression and shaved the intake face of the head for better sealing.
I shimmed the spring in the oil pump for more pressure, and put restrictors in the oil feed to the rocker shafts. I used Holley carb jets, for restrictors ,so they can be removed.

jakdad · Post by **jakdad** » July 13, 2010, 6:09 pm

Got to dance with who brung you...............................

Sixfootfour · Post by **Sixfootfour** » July 13, 2010, 7:15 pm

I got the carb at a swap meet for $50, it's a 4 barrell model 4100.
I don't know much about the carb, like where to get jets, and how to tune it.

Uncle Skip · Post by **Uncle Skip** » July 13, 2010, 7:20 pm

Rickybobby, aka WinR, is the resident 4100 expert.
And you ain't goint to like the FE, you're going to love it.
Nice job.
U@ss

Brian Taylor · Post by **Brian Taylor** » July 13, 2010, 8:27 pm

Go with the 352 and I will be up to get that nasty 460 out of your way.

Sixfootfour · Post by **Sixfootfour** » July 13, 2010, 8:45 pm

That " Nasty" 460 has flat top pistons, and a lot more cam than the 352.
It would probably rumble at idle, put out 400 HP.( If you can believe the computer program.)
The FE might look cooler, and suit the truck.
I'm open for more opinions.

Post by **Greg D** » July 13, 2010, 9:20 pm

You could always buy another truck and run them both.

rcb1020 · Post by **rcb1020** » July 13, 2010, 9:44 pm

You are my hero ! I'm planing on pulling my 352 this winter for a rebuild. Very interested in everything you did to it , I'm a first time engine builder that will have experienced help along the way. I like keeping it original with slightly over stock features and power. If you get the time email me @ rcb1020@comcast.net with your build info ..Thanks !

Sixfootfour · Post by **Sixfootfour** » July 14, 2010, 1:49 pm

This engine had low miles, and just needed a re-ring, bearings, and gaskets. It didn't need the cam and intake, but I keep finding intakes at swap meets, and the cams are not expensive.
I got an interesting intake called Holley-Street Dominator.
The name sounds cool, has anyone used one of these?
It is a small single plane.[img][img]http://i748.photobucket.com/albums/xx12 ... tor005.jpg[/img][/img]

jakdad · Post by **jakdad** » July 14, 2010, 2:39 pm

Good intake for the upper RPM range.

Michelle · Post by **Michelle** » July 14, 2010, 2:45 pm

I vote for the 352 also.

winr · Post by **winr** » July 14, 2010, 11:28 pm

Oh yeah...352 Baby !!!!

IMHO you will be happier with the Performer 390 intake....if the 4100 is up to snuff you will be happy with it also.

One thing, the 4100 and the 4100 spacer will over hang the Performer intake carb mounting flange and leak vacuum or suck vacuum.

Pony Carbs sells a thin metal spacer plate for $20.00.......or I can point you to a guy taht machined a spacer plate with a PCV fitting on it that works great.

If you were to use the factory 1" spacer with PCV tube on back, it will raise your carb higher than on a factory intake.

Ricky.

Ricky.

DV65CustomCab · Post by **DV65CustomCab** » July 15, 2010, 5:24 am

If the valve covers are taller than the steel ones they may not clear the throttle cable on the driver's side.

Sixfootfour · Post by **Sixfootfour** » July 24, 2010, 5:14 pm

O.K. I'm putting the original 352 in the truck. I am going to clean up the engine bay , and I am getting a C-6 built for it. The truck came with a 4-speed, but is going automatic. I have a set of headers ( swap meet again), and I will install them.

I am hoping that with the small carb and headers, mild cam, that I could get some decent gas milage, and still have plenty of power.

randyr · Post by **randyr** » July 24, 2010, 7:10 pm

Sixfootfour wrote: I am hoping that with the small carb and headers, mild cam, that I could get some decent gas milage, and still have plenty of power.

I guess that depends on your definition of "decent." I have a 352, cruise-o-matic in mine with Edlebrock performer intake, Edelbrock 600cfm carb, Pertronix ignition. I've been consistantly getting a whopping 8.75mpg! Sometimes with strictly highway driving I might get 10mpg.
If you figure out how to get better mileage out it, I'm all ears. One guy has made claims of 18mpg with a 352 but he's the only one I've heard of.
The performance is nice. Gas mileage typically sucks! JMHO

Mellvis · Post by **Mellvis** » July 24, 2010, 10:40 pm

My 66 F100 with 352, 3 speed, 3.50:1 rear, and 235/75/15 tires averaged about 18 mpg. I drive about 50 mph so I don't work one very hard. That truck had a Holley four barrel of unknown size.

It was nice to be able to get into 3rd gear and never down shift until toy stop. Pure torque! It felt more like a diesel to me than a gas engine, but would still jump if you stomped the pedal.

Post by **Greg D** » July 24, 2010, 11:22 pm

Randy,
That is pretty bad mileage even for a Slick. MPG isn't just moving it around with less engine - more of a total efficiency package thing.
I am usually pretty good at getting good MPG from stuff (my Jeep that's supposed to get 21 does 25 and I have a few things left to do).
What rear end ratio do you have?