All About Engines

[Carnutt73]

I decided to start this thread since i was enjoying my conversation with johnnyreb but didn't want to take over someone's thread. Tell us what is your favorite engine and why, If you have had problems with a certain type of engine and what it was, what you did to solve it and just general info. If you have any tips or tricks for an engine please share them as they might help someone here. If you are building an engine i would love to see it here.

 

[Carnutt73]

For me i pretty much like all the ford engine line up. Though my overall favorites are the FE series and the 385 series engines. I run them in several trucks and have been good work horses. The only trouble i have had is my 460 had collapsed lifters from sitting so i am using that as an excuse for some more upgrades.

Here are some pics of the engines i am doing or will be starting on soon

 

[Carnutt73]

Another project i got done with is a full port and polish on a set of windsor heads for a friends race car. Even did some combustion chamber work on them. Here is a side by side of the done head and the other one that i still had not done yet. A small piece of advice for some one porting heads for the first time is to do the porting before you send the heads to the machine shop for the valve work. It sucks to nick a valve seat after you had them done.

 

[paul rondelli]

I have mostly just been a pull and replace mechanic since the early 90's. I have been a Ford guy most of my life …. owned two F150's (1983 and a 1985). Both were 300 Six cylinders .. they never let me down .. or left me stranded. Well apart form the fact that the gas tank sending units always tend to fail … And I ran out a few times.

Bought my first Bronco in 2005 and my second in 2012. I jut started dropping tranny's and motors .. and look forward to cracking open a motor for a rebuild very soon. Next up is replacing the E4OD the 1993 .. I have just been on the fence about whether to drop 2,000 on a nice rebuild .. or maybe find a F250 with a 351W and a ZF5 for around 3,500 … and just swap out the E4OD for a stick.

I like all the small block motors Ford makes … i haven't owed a big block yet … or a diesel .... but a 1996+ EFI 460 would really look good in the 1996 Bronco

 

[Carnutt73]

I have mostly just been a pull and replace mechanic since the early 90's. I have been a Ford guy most of my life …. owned two F150's (1983 and a 1985). Both were 300 Six cylinders .. they never let me down .. or left me stranded. Well apart form the fact that the gas tank sending units always tend to fail … And I ran out a few times.

Bought my first Bronco in 2005 and my second in 2012. I jut started dropping tranny's and motors .. and look forward to cracking open a motor for a rebuild very soon. Next up is replacing the E4OD the 1993 .. I have just been on the fence about whether to drop 2,000 on a nice rebuild .. or maybe find a F250 with a 351W and a ZF5 for around 3,500 … and just swap out the E4OD for a stick.

I like all the small block motors Ford makes … i haven't owed a big block yet … or a diesel .... but a 1996+ EFI 460 would really look good in the 1996 Bronco

Those 300 Six's are great engines and are very versatile. The first bronco i ever owned was 68 with a 300 six with a 3 speed. I have even used one in a rat rod. A 96 460 efi bronco would be interesting.

 

[johnnyreb]

Mine has mostly been 390-360-289-292 . I have noticed to me--the small block have taken more punishment over a longer period of time. Plus the older motors didn,t have all the junk on them like the newer motors. That itself is alot bigger plus.

 

[johnnyreb]

Mine has mostly been 390-360-289-292 . I have noticed to me--the small block have taken more punishment over a longer period of time. Plus the older motors didn,t have all the junk on them like the newer motors. That itself is alot bigger plus.

Also on the 360-390-428. Notice the exhaust manifold on them. Most of the trucks have a sort of square outlet and not near as big as the round exhaust on the cars. The cars exhaust will let it breath better and run a good bit better. Especially if you can find a set off of a 390 GT in the 66-67 models. They are a good bit bigger. I sold a 66--390 hp to a guy one time and he had it put in his pick-up. When they took it for a spin. The top speed was about 90 .The mechanic (a well qualified mechaic) told him the reason was. The car exhaust manifolds were alot bigger and it let the motor breath better. Without them or headers the motor won,t last near as long. The truck owner never believed him and wanted to hear my side.They called and I went up and told him. He didn,t believe me either and he eventually burnt the motor up.

 

[Carnutt73]

Also on the 360-390-428. Notice the exhaust manifold on them. Most of the trucks have a sort of square outlet and not near as big as the round exhaust on the cars. The cars exhaust will let it breath better and run a good bit better. Especially if you can find a set off of a 390 GT in the 66-67 models. They are a good bit bigger. I sold a 66--390 hp to a guy one time and he had it put in his pick-up. When they took it for a spin. The top speed was about 90 .The mechanic (a well qualified mechaic) told him the reason was. The car exhaust manifolds were alot bigger and it let the motor breath better. Without them or headers the motor won,t last near as long. The truck owner never believed him and wanted to hear my side.They called and I went up and told him. He didn,t believe me either and he eventually burnt the motor up.

How did it burn up? I think it would be something good to know as a reference. I have a set of 410 FE mercury marauder manifolds and you right they are a little bit bigger but not by much. I think the GT had different manifolds depending if they were mustang, fairlane or even cop cars. I do tend to go headers on most of my vehicles though.

 

[johnnyreb]

How did it burn up? I think it would be something good to know as a reference. I have a set of 410 FE mercury marauder manifolds and you right they are a little bit bigger but not by much. I think the GT had different manifolds depending if they were mustang, fairlane or even cop cars. I do tend to go headers on most of my vehicles though.

The manifold on the 390 hp is a good bit bigger. They are also round running down the side of the motor. The ones on the truck are flat and more square. More restrictive . HP exhaust manifolds are more like headers. They also cost alot more if you can find them.

 

[johnnyreb]

The manifold on the 390 hp is a good bit bigger. They are also round running down the side of the motor. The ones on the truck are flat and more square. More restrictive . HP exhaust manifolds are more like headers. They also cost alot more if you can find them.

Good day Carnutt and have a safe day

 

[chrlsful]

yup, w/Paul here:300/4.9 tho never saw 'em in a bronk oe.

"Y?" Look @ connecting rods offa circle. The degree phases produce more tq ona i6 for same displacement (no i8s any more, shucks). Less tire spin off rd, "The gasser that's a diesel."; "Million mi motor."; etc. I just love the history'n development of the ThriftPower (falcon) motors. All i6 - european, japanese, the slanty (I had 2 170s in succession over the yrs) but am into all 6 Falcon Motors now...wanna turbo the 144/2.36, gota 4.1 in the bronk. Would love the alloy head ona 200 w/6 Kehiens ina SCCA livery '60/3 ranchero. But no - the '96 EFI 4.9 might B the tops fr my application (can say, as U did not cite which application. "Every automotive Q is answ by application"). Thnx 4 askin~

 

[Carnutt73]

yup, w/Paul here:300/4.9 tho never saw 'em in a bronk oe.

"Y?" Look @ connecting rods offa circle. The degree phases produce more tq ona i6 for same displacement (no i8s any more, shucks). Less tire spin off rd, "The gasser that's a diesel."; "Million mi motor."; etc. I just love the history'n development of the ThriftPower (falcon) motors. All i6 - european, japanese, the slanty (I had 2 170s in succession over the yrs) but am into all 6 Falcon Motors now...wanna turbo the 144/2.36, gota 4.1 in the bronk. Would love the alloy head ona 200 w/6 Kehiens ina SCCA livery '60/3 ranchero. But no - the '96 EFI 4.9 might B the tops fr my application (can say, as U did not cite which application. "Every automotive Q is answ by application"). Thnx 4 askin~

Thanks for that. There are alot of good strait six's out there. I know i would like to play with the ford barra from australia. This was more a general question more than a for what application.

 

[chrlsful]

then we answ "Any".
It is usually asked "For What?"
What's the best money? Well in us of a, dollars. Not so good in Oz.
Al a' the application necessity...
If ford...for an oval race - a 460 w/modern cam. Ina truck, for wrk? not so much eventho developed 4 that. 12v would B my answ if for a guy like me. No puter, plenty power, etc.

I like a Lima in a daily (4 cyl) that's turboed.

 

[Jimbo26]

Those 300 Six's are great engines and are very versatile. The first bronco i ever owned was 68 with a 300 six with a 3 speed. I have even used one in a rat rod. A 96 460 efi bronco would be interesting.
[/QUOTE

Always wanted to piddle with a 300/6- do a 4bbl setup, cam, 3.88 gear and drop it in a old model mustang with a 4 spd just to see what it would do.
One of those 'someday' projects.

 

[johnnyreb]

I don,t go rock climbing and would like to take a full size bronco. Put a six with a carb--posi rear-end and remove the 4 wheel drive. and see what kind of mileage a person could get.

 

[Jimbo26]

That would be another interesting project. The right setup should do well.

A lifted 2X in the hands of a skilled operator has near the same chance of getting anywhere a 4X can.

I'm curious if anyone has ever developed a aluminum head for the 300/6?
A DOHC (like the Toyota supra) head would make for a killer 300.

 

[johnnyreb]

That would be another interesting project. The right setup should do well.

A lifted 2X in the hands of a skilled operator has near the same chance of getting anywhere a 4X can.

I'm curious if anyone has ever developed a aluminum head for the 300/6?
A DOHC (like the Toyota supra) head would make for a killer 300.

I read where a guy had a six cylinder Falcon. He took 2 v-8 heads from a 351 (don,t remember which 351) and I think theyclaimed it put out about 500hp, but anymore I try to find ways to help mileage. I used to run alcohol and it helped alot.

 

[Jimbo26]

I read where a guy had a six cylinder Falcon. He took 2 v-8 heads from a 351 (don,t remember which 351) and I think theyclaimed it put out about 500hp, but anymore I try to find ways to help mileage. I used to run alcohol and it helped alot.

Hey J-R,
That falcon v-8 heads deal does sound a bit familiar. Will have to look into the archives. I hear ya about the econo thing. I could knit a flag about that but then this would get political real quick like.
Alchy is a multi-tasker, it's good for racin And drinkin. One application is better with moderation, the other- 🏎no mercy
Cheers!