Ford Engines

Ford Engines

ABOVE: King of Ford Engines: the 1970 Boss 429.

FORD ENGINES POWERING A FLEET OF CARS & TRUCKS
Ford has always been an innovator in the automotive field. Old Henry Ford applied mass-production to building cars and changed the world, while at the same time, literally creating America’s middle class. Of course he went on to build some 17 million Model Ts, changing the world again by putting it on wheels. Then, in 1932, Ford figured out a way to mass-produce the world’s first V8 in the budget class. And the first to be cast in one piece. All heady stuff back then. This was of course the legendary Ford flathead V8 engines that powered Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars and trucks until 1954. By then, GM had come out with OHV V8s for both Cadillac and Oldsmobile, and across town, Chrysler had introduced its new (first-gen) Hemi V8. The pressure was on for Ford to come out with a high compression OHV V8 of its own, and being Ford, they wanted to do it right.

FORD’S FIRST OHV V8 ENGINES
Ford’s first modern OHV V8 was the Ford launched in the 1955 Thunderbird, grew over the years to a max of 312 cubic inches, until it was replaced in 1960 by the FE Big Block engine family, a bruiser of an engine that Ford punched all the way out to 428 cubes, creating one of the most iconic muscle car engines of all time, the 428 Cobra Jet. Small blocks arrived in the early 60’s to power Ford and Mercury’s smaller cars, and sporty entries like Mustang and Cougar, including the big names in small blocks, the 289, 302 (aka 5.0) and the 351 in both Windsor and Cleveland versions. Ford’s venerable 5.0-liter small block (302 cid) powered nearly Ford’s entire fleet of cars and trucks well into the 1990s when it was replaced by the OHC and DOHC Modular engine family, starting in 1996.


Ford Engines by ENGINE FAMILY


FORD FLATHEAD V8
1932-1953

Ol’ Henry Ford did it again: the world’s first mass-produced V8 in a low-priced car. Cast in one piece, it was a miracle of engineering at the time. Powered nearly every Ford car & truck for 21 years! Still loved & hot rodded today.

 

 

 

 


FORD Y-BLOCK V8
1955-1960

So-called because deep side skirts on the block gave it a Y-shape. Very strong & light for the times. Used in all Ford, Lincoln & Mercury cars from 1955-1960 & trucks thru 1964.

 

 


FORD FE V8 ENGINE
1960-1978

Often referred to as a Ford Big Block, the FE was Ford’s workhorse big engine. 390s powered nearly every car Ford made, with 427 and 428 high-performance top-dog engines for street & track.

 

 


WINDSOR SMALL BLOCK V8
1962-2000

Ford’s true superstar was the Windsor Small Block, in production for nearly 40 years, powering nearly every car & truck Ford built. Famous engine sizes: 260, 289, 302 (5.0) & 351W.

 

 


FORD BOSS 302 V8 ENGINE
1969-1970

Built exclusively for the ’69-70 Mustang Boss 302, it was a wicked engine at high RPMs, but not much torque down low. Underrated at 290 hp.

 

 

 


FORD MODULAR V8 ENGINE
1991-PRESENT

Ford’s new Modular V8 engine family includes OHC & DOHC, 2-, 3- & 4-valves/cylinder, supercharged or not, all the way up to 662 hp & climbing!

 

 


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