You know, this post sounded really good until I heard some bad comments about my personal favorite engine series - the Ford "FE" Y Block. The one in my '73 has more power than I have ever been able to harness. True, I should have a 300 gal gas tank for the messing around I do, but it starts anytime everytime I want it to, it always has. Unless of course the gas tank was empty.
FE's are not "Y blocks" they are a 90 degree V like most V engines. The Y block was the tiny lifter 292/312 and other smaller displacement engine that preceded the FE. The FE was loosely based on the MEL motor, but shares nothing whatsoever with the Y block.
Besides that, I do agree. FE's are my favorite V8. No other engine series in history has been used very successfully in everything from passenger cars, light trucks, medium duty trucks, heavy duty trucks, Chris craft boats, stationary pumps, generators and made a mockery of the 426 Hemi in Nascar and NHRA with the SOHC.
I won't ramble on too much, but I've pulled 34,500 GCVW up a 6% grade for 5 miles at 65 MPH and 2600 RPM with a mild, built right truck 390. Put 140K on that engine as a DD and extreme heavy towing regularly and it never missed a beat besides some crap DSC pushrods failing. The guy I sold the engine to pulled the heads and pan to check and it was perfect inside, looked the same as the day I assembled it. It's still going running better heads and a lopey cam pushing a fairlane to high 12's at the local strip.
FE's don't get bad mileage used as intended. They're meant to be worked and they have a lot of iron in them. Cold they get crap mileage, but thoroughly up to 195 temp with 10/30 oil, a thermostatic clutch fan and an exhaust crossover they do excellent and last a very, very long time.