When it comes to the car modding community, the Ford 385 big-block V8 is still held in high regard. Even today, many years after it was discontinued, the 385 engine is a go-to unit for a swap. Between 1968 and 1997, the 385 engine, also known as “Lima,” was one of the biggest engines built by Ford.
Originally launched as a replacement for the Ford MEL (Mercury Edsel Lincoln) engine, the 385 was one of the largest engines to power a production car, following in the footsteps of the MEL that came before it. Unlike most American V8s that are named after their cubic capacity, the Ford 385 takes its name from the unit’s 3.85-inch crankshaft stroke length. Its big displacement and strong torque made it a favorite for industrial applications where it powered large pumps and generated electricity.
Even though it wasn’t initially intended as a performance engine, the 385 has come a long way. Upgraded versions of the engine found their way under the hood of performance Fords, and hot rodders quickly discovered that this huge engine could be tuned to produce a lot more power than stock. Ford improved the engine several times over its almost three decades of production, introducing a 460 cubic-inch version and adding electronic fuel injection (EFI) in 1988. Its drag strip success in modified Fords helped spread its renown, and even today, over 20 years after the 385 was discontinued, you can still buy a brand-new crate version of the engine for performance applications.
[Featured image by Sicnag via Wikimedia Commons | Cropped and scaled | CC BY 2.0]