Ford FE Engines: How to Rebuild

Learn what you need to rebuild a Ford FE Engine for reliability and durability from FE master, owner of Survival Motorsports, and veteran author Barry Rabotnick.

In Ford FE Engines: How to Rebuild, Barry shows you how to rebuild one of these legendary engines. CarTech's unique Workbench series format takes you step-by-step through the entire rebuilding process. Covered are engine identification and selection, disassembly, cleaning, parts analysis and assessment, machine shop processes, replacement parts selection, reassembly and start-up/break-in techniques. Along the way are helpful tips on performance upgrades, trouble spots to look for, special tools required, and professional builder's tips.

Ford FE engines, which were manufactured from the late 1950s all the way through the mid-1970s, were designated as the large-displacement engines in the Ford lineup. FE means Ford Edsel and reflects an era when Ford sought to promote the Edsel name. The design of these engines was implemented to increase displacement over its predecessor, the Y-Block engines of the previous decade. Early models were fairly modest in displacement, as were most big-blocks of the era, but they grew quickly to fill the needs of rapidly changing chassis requirements and consumer demand for larger vehicles. As it grew, the FE engine performed admirably as a heavy passenger car and light truck engine. It also became quite accomplished in performance circles, winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as powering Ford’s muscle car and drag racing programs in the mid-to-late 1960s.

Whether you are simply rebuilding an old truck for reliable service use, restoring a 100-point show car, or building the foundation for a high-performance street and strip machine, this book will be an irreplaceable resource for all your future FE engine projects.

Barry Rabotnick has worked at Holley and later managed the performance parts program at Federal Mogul. He currently owns and operates Survival Motorsports, which specializes in high-performance FE engine parts, machine services, and engine building. He built a 750-horsepower FE engine that runs on 91 octane for Jeg's Engine Master's Challenge. Survival Motorsports is based in Commerce Township, Michigan.