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Old 07-02-2020, 12:13 PM   #1
Eagle43
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Default 1952 F1 with a FE 352

I have a 1952 F1 that I'm working on. It came with a 1963 FE 352 very poorly installed. As it is it will never pass a safety inspection. I have a 1951 Flathead that I have redone and hope to eventually install.

Just to keep my options open - I was wondering if it is possible to properly fit that FE 352 in this truck. Has anyone tried it? I've looked for motor mounts for this online and they don't seem to be available. Also the oil pan would need to be changed so that the sump is at the back since it hits the front axle. Is such a pan available? Anyone have any experience with this or any advice to give?
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Old 07-02-2020, 01:38 PM   #2
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Default Re: 1952 F1 with a FE 352

I think you may find a answer to your 352 question in the "Late V8" section on this forum or, one of these two Forums:

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/

http://fepower.net/simplemachinesforum/index.php

I have a 302 in my '48 F3. It fit well with the rear sump pan. I put the middle of the pan over the axle, on it.

You might check out oil pan supplier to see if their is a rear sump available for the FE.
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Old 07-02-2020, 08:11 PM   #3
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Default Re: 1952 F1 with a FE 352

Check with Speedway. For years I've seen ads for putting an FE in an early pickup using a crossmember. There is a Ford Truck site that may offer suggestions. Maybe some one here has the URL.
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Old 09-06-2020, 08:50 PM   #4
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Default Re: 1952 F1 with a FE 352

Just an update on this topic. I've done some more research and I've come to the conclusion that it is not possible to properly fit a FE 352 in a F1. LMC and Speedway sell motor mounts that will work for a 1953 F100 and later.

Yesterday we pulled the FE 352 out of my 1952 F1 and got a closer look at how it was installed and I thought I'd post a few pictures to show how poorly this was done. As you can see the weight of the motor was resting on the outer edge of the frame lip and the tail end of the tranny was resting on the skimpy remains of the center cross member which also supports the master cylinder. Not visible is the chunk cut out of the upper frame lip to accommodate the right exhaust. The sump is pretty bashed in since it is directly above and too close to the front axle.

I already have a replacement cross member and the two front motor mounts which got tossed so I'll be installing the V8 flathead after I finish cleaning and painting the rest of the frame. I'll have to move the cab to get the new cross member in.
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Old 09-06-2020, 09:00 PM   #5
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Default Re: 1952 F1 with a FE 352

I must have screwed up something since my pictures don't show up. I'll try again.
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File Type: jpg IMG_20200906_123006_0a.jpg (73.2 KB, 92 views)
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Old 09-07-2020, 12:27 PM   #6
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Default Re: 1952 F1 with a FE 352

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Trying to upgrade a '50 model truck to an FE engine is a very difficult task. The FE engines are very large, heavy engines and nobody that I was ever able to connect with could help me with mounts, bell housings, etc.
I know that in '64 the common V8 for a Ford truck was a 292 Y block, however, Ford had an option for a 352/332 FE engine with a T98 4 spd. The front motor mount was very similar to the Y block mount and the bell housing had the two mounts.
I had a '64 F350 with a 292 in about 1978 that blew up, broke the crank, a real mess. I had picked up a complete, low milage '76 390 that I had sitting on a shelf, awaiting use. I went to the Local Ford dealer, asked about the bell housing, et., for a FE engine to a T98 trans. Ford came up with all the mounts, etc., I needed, we installed the 390 into the '64 like it was a factory deal.
Of course that was in '78, when parts countermen knew their stuff and would take the time to look things up.
I had the same problem a few years ago trying to put a 351 W onto a T98 trans, in my '59 F100 4x... Finally gave up and had the 292 rebuilt.
Once you get out of the EFV8 era, with the one size fits all mentality, things get very difficult.
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Old 09-07-2020, 01:14 PM   #7
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Default Re: 1952 F1 with a FE 352

I have a friend that has a '64 F250, the last of the solid I beam front axle trucks. The truck originally had a 292 V8 that was used up. Matt replaced the Y block with a 390 Cleveland w/C6 auto trans.
Matt is an excellent fabricator, he made all of the necessary frame mounts and cross member.

Matt replaced the 456 rear end with a 373, had the drive line shortened.. The installation is very tidy, looking like it came that way.
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Old 09-07-2020, 07:07 PM   #8
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Default Re: 1952 F1 with a FE 352

Eagle that is some hideous fab work the PO did, but dangit the cab looks like new! Is the remainder of the truck that straight? And frnkeyor, I also put a 302, in a FHV8 truck, but it was a 1940 1 1/2 ton. Just like your F3, they sit 'way up firm and high' and afford extra clearance between that pan and the axle. I also think a 302 is a smaller block than the FE, but I'm no expert on the OHV ford V8s.
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Old 09-07-2020, 08:00 PM   #9
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Default Re: 1952 F1 with a FE 352

Plenty of people put 390's and 460's in 48-52 F-1's. They are a tight fit around the steering box but there are literally dozens of them on the Ford Truck Enthusiast site, https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum41/. Personally, I never liked either the FE's or the 385-series, an SBC drops in far more easily.

PS -- I can't believe what the PO did to the trans crossmember! That must be one flexible frame!
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Old 09-07-2020, 10:16 PM   #10
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Default Re: 1952 F1 with a FE 352

Actually there is very little rust on this vehicle considering that it sat in the bush for years. The frame only has light surface rust. The sheet metal is nice and straight. The cab roof needs some work and I found a little bit of rust-out on the floor on the passenger side. Very little body work is needed. I started cutting out the welded in motor mount and I got one side done. Tomorrow I hope to get the cab loose and pushed back out of the way so I can get to that mangled cross member.
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Old 09-08-2020, 02:03 PM   #11
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Default Re: 1952 F1 with a FE 352

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Originally Posted by Ross F-1 View Post
Plenty of people put 390's and 460's in 48-52 F-1's. They are a tight fit around the steering box but there are literally dozens of them on the Ford Truck Enthusiast site, https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forum41/. Personally, I never liked either the FE's or the 385-series, an SBC drops in far more easily.

PS -- I can't believe what the PO did to the trans crossmember! That must be one flexible frame!

I have to agree with the above comment about the FE engines.. The Ford small block engines, 289, 302 or the 351 windsor's, which are an over grown 302 hooked to a C4 trans makes a nice setup.
The nice thing about the 351W engine family is that they are very friendly to modern fuels where-as the 289, 302 is not..
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Old 09-08-2020, 02:54 PM   #12
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Default Re: 1952 F1 with a FE 352

289 and 302's have a problem with modern gasoline??? Please explain.
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Old 09-08-2020, 03:17 PM   #13
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Default Re: 1952 F1 with a FE 352

Using a FE engine in the F-1 pickup is do-able; just not the way that one was installed. I ran an Olds 394 in my 50 panel truck for years, a real "sleeper".
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Old 09-08-2020, 04:02 PM   #14
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Default Re: 1952 F1 with a FE 352

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Using a FE engine in the F-1 pickup is do-able; just not the way that one was installed. I ran an Olds 394 in my 50 panel truck for years, a real "sleeper".
I have a friend with a Caddy 500 in a '49, it's an easier fit than an FE. Same for nailhead Buicks.
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Old 09-09-2020, 09:52 PM   #15
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Default Re: 1952 F1 with a FE 352

This is the one (a 40 1 1/2 ton) that got the 302. If it was today I would have rebuilt the nailhead (so cool), but a neighbor /farmer offered me his 302 for free and my tape measure said it would work. At least the loud knocking nailhead core went to an enthusiast in Oregon.
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Old 09-10-2020, 09:16 AM   #16
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Default Re: 1952 F1 with a FE 352

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289 and 302's have a problem with modern gasoline??? Please explain.

Head and valve problems are very common with the early 289-302 engine's.
Ford switched to value engineering when they migrated from hardened valves and seats in '53. The problem got bigger with the small block Fords. I had several in my company fleet that were done at 40k. I have a '56 T-Bird with a 68 302, heads were toast at less than 40k.
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Old 09-10-2020, 09:23 AM   #17
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Default Re: 1952 F1 with a FE 352

'Back in the day' the Buick nail-head and/or a Cad's were very common upgrades to Early Ford vehicles.
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Old 09-10-2020, 05:12 PM   #18
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Default Re: 1952 F1 with a FE 352

It looks like someone just cut a cross member out of an old Ford car and chicken scratch welded it in or tack welded it since it's not tied down worth a damn. Using an old cross member can work but some folks need to learn more about fabricating things and getting sound structures together.

I am a flathead fan myself so all the other stuff may give more power but those old F1 pickups were classics just the way they were from the factory. The F2 & F3 pickups are another story. Stuff is getting hard to find for those old Timken Detroit rear axles and the brakes. They are better off with upgrades. A person should be able to find a rear cross member but folks are using them for AV8 hot rods these days. It will take some searching but they're still out there.
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Old 09-10-2020, 05:57 PM   #19
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Default Re: 1952 F1 with a FE 352

blucar,
I never had any of the troubles you stated with 289's or 302's. Back in the 90's I put a '74 302 [pre unlead] in a Ranger just to see if this evil modern fuel would kill it. Guess what, I junked it about three years ago and the engine was still running fine. I put almost 100K miles on it but, the rust got the body and frame.
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