I've heard that the FE has it's special needs, so what does that actually mean ?

[427HISS]

FE heads need for flow, valve size etc ?
The cam for duration, lift etc ? (I've heard big duration)
Compression etc ?

What's the magic ?   

[GerryP]

Vague nonsense.  The FE is by any standard a fairly conventional design.  There are some really funky engine designs out there -particularly in valve layout- that were actually used in production vehicles.

The one thing about the FE that is an advantage for the typical user is that a substantial bit of the port entry is in the intake manifold.  So you can get a noticeable power bump with the FE.  With other engines, the intake's role is more to keep the carburetor from falling into the lifter valley.

 

[Drew Pojedinec]

It is an excuse for an engine builder that only builds small block chevy engines. When basic issues arise they blame the Ford voodoo as the cause.

[Joe-JDC]

FE heads need for flow, valve size etc ?
The cam for duration, lift etc ? (I've heard big duration)
Compression etc ?

What's the magic ?   ;)Three things come to mind, cam bearing orientation, rocker shaft orientation, rocker arm bolts proper placement, make that four: the camshaft plug goes in backwards.   Joe-JDC

[427HISS]

I don't think I've ever heard from Chevy engine builders, or anyone, that they have special needs in a derogatory fashion, maybe why the pushrods go through the intake or the oil mods, but really nothing else.

Joe, "cam bearing orientation" ?

What about the wide duration ?
I've read anywhere from 230 to 340 ?

[67428GT500]

230@ 50 isn't considered long by any stretch. I am in the 245@ .50 and it's relatively mild.

[blykins]

I could literally write dozens and dozens of pages on cam selection.

There is no general statement as to what duration works.  It all depends on displacement, how the heads work, and about 20000 other variables.

[My427stang]

If you are building an engine to specifications based on use, no engine is different.  It's just different data to get you there. 

However, if you are talking quirks, every engine has them.  V-6 GM and V-8 Mopars have external oil pumps, Chevy small blocks require main cap replacement for big power, Chevys have odd nylon oil pump drive collars, FEs have intakes and rockers that have to be assembled in a different way, they are all quirky.  Small blocks, low HP especially, of all types, seem to have a little less weirdness, but in the end, nothing fancy, physics is physics and machined parts are machined parts

The heads are a little less "good" than 460 and Rat motors, and a little less supported by aftermarket than SBF and SBC, but that is just supply and demand.

As far as big compression and cam, again, depends on use, not the FE specific, the dyno run I just did was 10.4 and 237 @ .050 114 LSA.  That's a truck cam in my world LOL but made over 500 hp and matched the use of the car.

[Falcon67]

I just seems that you have to "know something" to work on Ford engines because there are several families with specific design characteristics.  They don't fit in the simple "small block/big block" Chevy slots at all.  Even to fitting a trans on the back end - flex plate tooth counts, converter bolt circles, correct engine plate, pan fill or case fill transmissions, 5 bolt, 6 bolt, 351M/400/460 block pattern, etc, etc.  Block deck heights 8.208, 9.206, 9.480 9.503, 10.17, 10.300 and so on. Makes the casual Chevy engine assembler's eyes glaze over. 

Chevy guys squawk about 5.0s spitting out the mains, the SBC stuff uses the same thin wall casting and isn't really any stronger than a production 302 or 351W block.

I like it.  The fun thing about sticking the 351C in the dragster was talking to potential suppliers - "Hey, that's cool!  No, we don't have any parts that will help you."  Roll your own, it's part of the fun.   

[427HISS]

Ross, what do you mean by "FEs have intakes and rockers that have to be assembled in a different way" ?

So by what I've heard, does the FE need a lot of breathing in the heads ?
And not big duration numbers on the cam ? One guy said he goes over 330 or so.

[My427stang]

Just intake first, rockers second, chance for pushrods hitting, that’s all.  As far as question 2, all factory engine designs need better (not always bigger) heads and the right cam, it’s just not how kids think.  Making power with poor heads and big cams is never the right idea unless budget or rules limited

[chris401]

FE heads need for flow, valve size etc ?
The cam for duration, lift etc ? (I've heard big duration)
Compression etc ?

What's the magic ?   

I have heard Ford Vodoo. I think it had more to do with the spark plug and intake layout. In line with what Joe Crane said the production heads from just before the fuel injected era have different combustion chamber and spark plug design than the previous generations. There are a lot of opinions on intake and head flow. It all depends on what you are using the engine for.