Customer Reviews

High-Performance Ford Engine Parts Interchange (S-A Design)

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Hi, I just read the new book that was advertised in a recent "Mustangs and Fords" magazine.

The Book is entitled "High Performance FORD Engine Parts Interchange" by George Reid

The book covers 9 small blocks and 12 big blocks from the 221 to 460 CID. The book is well organized with the first 9 chapters on small block engines and chapter 10 thru 18 on the big ones. Chapter 19 is all about Gaskets and Fasteners. It offers alot more on these subjects than you might think. It gives long tabulated lists of gasket dimensions and Mfgr. part numbers.(FEL-Pro). It does the same for ARP and AMK fasteners and full Kits.

Chapter 20 is devoted to Stroker Kits and 21 shows the reader how to calculate the Compression Ratio, Cubic inch Displacement, and the optimum carburetor size in C.F.M.

Let me say that alot of the tables listing identification numbers is really going to help me put the correct part on my correct restoration (1970 Torino).

For instance, the table for radiator FANS lists the Ford Part no., ID no.,No.of blades, Clutch type or non, diameter of fan, and diameter of center hole.

That same level of detail or more is given in tables for the following:

-Engine ID tag decoder -Engine Block ID's and Specs. -Crankshaft ID's -Flywheel/Flexplate -Heads and Valve specs. -Intakes -Carbs. -Connecting Rods -Distributors -Alternators & Starters -Harmonic Balancers -Radiators -Exh. Manifolds -Water pumps

I quickly realized this book has alot more to offer than just "interchange" information. Very rare facts come out in the text and subtle features and changes are shown in lots and lots of photos ! I have never seen as many pictures of rare and super-rare FORD Performance engine parts, gathered in any one book as are shown here.

If I could say anything about this book that stands out.....it would be that there is very little "glossing over". The book is rich with detailed information with emphasis on "detailed".

Oh, one last comment. If you think of yourself as one of those "absolute authorities" on "FE" engines or "small blocks" or any other family of Ford engines........... Think of this book as something that has pulled together the knowledge of hundreds of experts just like you ! You are very likely to run across something you either didn't know or totally forgot about !

Truly yours, Kevin Casto

ps - this is NOT a promotion, it is a book review and it is my honest opinion. I am not connected in any way to the Author or the publisher. Yes, I really am restoring a 1970 Ford Torino (as time permits).

I bought this book for information on 429 and 460 engines (it includes 460 in big letters on the cover). The information on 429/460s especially the heads is weak, tables are partially complete and the casing numbers are inconsistant and sometimes just wrong. It would be foolish to buy parts based solely on this reference. There no material for 429/460 engines after 1975. For the price it is a good value, I just wish it was more accurate and complete.

This book is a wonderful source if you're looking for STOCK interchange info on FE or small-block motors. However, if you happen to be a fan of or are seeking information on the 429/460 (385 series) motors, I think you'll be disappointed. While almost entire chapters are dedicated to the FE motor family, more often than not the last 1 1/2 pages refer to the 429/460's. Sure, that wierd one-off NASCAR 427 motor is neat to look at, but you're highly unlikely to see one at the local swap meet. And even if you do, you probably don't want to buy it anyway, due to lack of aftermarket support. This book reads like an art museum guide, extolling the virtues (or lack) of obscure parts that we'll probably never see. Interesting, yes. Helping with building a performance motor for a street or strip car , no. Good coffee table book, but not recommended for the average info seeker.

Even with a publishing date of 1999, most of the information is about pre-1980 Ford Engines. For anyone working on 1986 to 1995 Ford 302's there is little information. Many of the Spac. tables end prior to 1975. For me rebuilding a 1995 5.0L to a 1986 Mustang GT, not much help.

I had flipped thru book at the bookstore, but did not really get at the details. I am really into the 60's Ford engine builds and components. I have not looked into all the engine families in this book, but right off, the book makes a glaringly important omission. They go into great detail on the 302 Tunnel Port build-up and its background and design rationale, but they totally omit the 289HD head (essentially named the original gt40 head circa '65/'66) that started the whole Ford Trans-Am presence. This head was the pre-runner for the 351W design in '69, as well as the essential blueprint for the modern gt40 casting, making it extremely relavent to the history of the small block. They were sold over the counter, along with its companion camshaft "lemans" solid lifter camshaft. The Ford Motorsport program even retained the 1.88 and 1.625 valves in their inventory for years. If the book was focusing on production vehicle engine components, it would not be an issue, but they obviously aren't, as they chose to hit on the tunnel port pretty well. I will even let the Gurney-Weslake conversion pass since it was technically not a FoMoCo part.

The camshaft section on the small blocks is weak too, and is flat incorrect. They refer to only one performance camshaft being offered being offered for the 289/302/351W. I guess they completely forgot about the Lemans solid lifter camshaft, the 302 trans-am camshaft, and the Pro-Stock 351C camshaft that could be bought directly from Ford in the '71/'72 time frame. I have not gotten past the small block section, but I have already formed an opinion about it. If these were obscure part omissions, it would be one thing, but these are major omissions and incorrect data, that a writer of true Ford heritage would not have missed.

The first edition was much better
no new photos just reprints from the first edition and from other publications
If you have the first of the series DON'T buy this one

this book was a bunch of bs. its more of a parts description then parts interchange. it doesn't tell you barely anything about what parts can swap with what

Fairly good book. What I don't like about it is that it doesn't have the information about each engine in one point. You have to read all through the book to gather up all the info on one engine. For this to have been a GREAT book, each engine should have been addressed individually, not scattered throughout the whole book.

Always wanted to see what parts were interchangeable on your engine. This book has a lot of it. Sure, since it's original printing many of the numbers have changed (if you are going to buy them), but if you attempting to do a full restoration of your old Ford, this book could save your butt with the judges.

The author references to many of the OEM numbers and casting numbers you find on engine parts. It is necessary to have the matching part numbers to get the original part for some ground up restorations on vehicles. It is a good reference book for restoration, but not much else. Most of the numbers have been now superseded with Service Numbers (replacement part numbers) which the judges at most shows frown upon. Although it might be an official Ford replacement part for the engine, if the numbers don't agree to the OEM numbers, points are taken off.

High Performance Ford Engine Parts Interchange has been very helpful. When I purchased it I was interested in finding out the inter-changeability of engine parts and what to look for and it has been very informative. Very glad I made the purchase, great for future reference.