Читать книгу Ford Big-Block Parts Interchange - George Reid - Страница 8

CHAPTER 2

CYLINDER BLOCK

The very heart of any big-block Ford build is the cylinder block. Block selection contributes to the success or failure of an engine project. Whether you’re building a mild 332 for a vintage Ford restoration or erecting a stump puller of a 460, it’s important to know the difference between a good block and a bad one. Because Ford has long been infamous for engineering changes, you can count on a plethora of block castings in a single model year.

FE Series

Although there are few differences in FE Series blocks it is important to understand what these differences are in order to choose the correct block for your application. Those first production 332- and 352-ci FE blocks were manufactured for mechanical lifters only, which means there are no lifter oil galleys. In midyear 1958, Ford upgraded the 332 and 352 to hydraulic lifters, which means you may opt for mechanical or hydraulic lifters. One exception to this rule is the 1960 352 High Performance block, which is not drilled for hydraulic lifters.

Another area to watch for is the FE engine mount bolt holes prior to 1965. FE blocks prior to 1965 have two-bolt engine mounts. Since 1965 there are four–bolt-hole engine mounts of which three holes are used. This isn’t a problem if you’re planning to use a 1965 or later block in a pre-1965 vehicle. However, there will be issues when you try to install a pre-1965 FE in a post-1965 Ford vehicle. A custom adapter plate or some drilling and machining will be required. If you unearth a block with four engine-mount bolt holes, you’ve found an FT truck block.