so what to do with my 352

[stephen44]

Finally did a compression test.

I took all the plugs out and held the throttle wide open at the carb

in my numbering cylinder1 is front left and cylinder 5 is front right.

1 = 138
2 = 140
3 = 50
4 = 138
5 = 145
6 = 145
7 = 132
8 = 136

all cylinders (apart from 3) hit 90 on first crank - and increased to final readings over next 7

cylinder 3 hit 148 when veg oil was poured down plug hole.

what do you think this means and what would you do to fix if anything ?

does this mean it will just smoke a bit ?

- Stephen

[flyboy2610]

Your rings are bad in cylinder #3. The oil helps them to seal better so the compression came up. Sorry, but this won't fix itself!
The only way to really fix this is to replace the rings in that cylinder.
Rebuild time.

[stephen44]

Your rings are bad in cylinder #3. The oil helps them to seal better so the compression came up. Sorry, but this won't fix itself!
The only way to really fix this is to replace the rings in that cylinder.
Rebuild time.

which means searching for 390 parts as it ain't worth rebuilding a 352

[torquemonger]

why not rebuild the 352? why wouldn't it be worth it. i'm just curious cause ive got a 67 merc with the 352 and it seems like a great candidate for a rebuid(bored & stroker ) tons of torque!!!

[torquemonger]

ah i see. cause i was thinking into the future for a build up of mine and i was thinking a stroker kit but basically keeping it a 352 (as much as possible ) the kicker on my end is i paid 100 buckazoids for the truck another 110bucks for fuel pump, plugs, wires, rotor, cap, and carb rebuild kit and she runs great.

[stephen44]

so - help me here guys (and galls ???) - please.

with my figures above - what is the minimum I would get away with -

Can I just swap rings - hone and be good ? - or are we looking at a rebore ? (I appreciate we have not seen cylinder wall yet )

These figures were with the engine cold - what will happen when it is warm - better or worse ?

What will I notice if I run it as is - whilst I build up a 390 over the next year ?

Also the stroker kits are for 4.080 (o.oo30 over 390 bore) - the 352 is 4.00 and it says can only bore out to 4.050 - but i thought the blocks ere the same- what gives ?

why can't i bore out my 352 to the same as a 390 and stick a stroker kit in it ?
http://www.survivalmotorsports.com/FE-Engine-Kits.html

thanks - Stephen

[ToughOldFord]

so - help me here guys (and galls ???) - please.

with my figures above - what is the minimum I would get away with -

Can I just swap rings - hone and be good ? - or are we looking at a rebore ? (I appreciate we have not seen cylinder wall yet )

If you pull the head and the piston and cylinder look good and ridge is minimal you should be able to get away with a light hone and re-ring.

These figures were with the engine cold - what will happen when it is warm - better or worse ?

Might go up a bit, but not enough.

What will I notice if I run it as is - whilst I build up a 390 over the next year ?

If the oil ring is okay so it doesn't smoke you'll be able to drive it. Probably won't notice it while driving and have a slight lope at idle. My 360 had a badly fouled plug when I bought my truck, wasn't firing at all, and I didn't really notice it.

Also the stroker kits are for 4.080 (o.oo30 over 390 bore) - the 352 is 4.00 and it says can only bore out to 4.050 - but i thought the blocks ere the same- what gives ?

why can't i bore out my 352 to the same as a 390 and stick a stroker kit in it ?
http://www.survivalmotorsports.com/FE-Engine-Kits.html

thanks - Stephen

I'll leave that stuff for the engine builder to answer.

[stephen44]

thanks - this bit



why can't i bore out my 352 to the same as a 390 and stick a stroker kit in it ?
http://www.survivalmotorsports.com/FE-Engine-Kits.html


confuses me - any views ?

-Stephen

[ToughOldFord]

Here you go, I remembered a discussion on this not too long ago so I did a search. Sounds like you can do it fairly easily:

352 to 390