ok so hope im in the right place. I have a 76 f-150. need to replace the engine, not sure how to tell what size it is, pretty sure its a 360, and possibly a 390. Anyone have any advice?

 

Welcome to FTE!!
Post your vin number and/or a picture of your motor.
Also... Post a pic of your truck.. I like my truck ****

 

Pull a spark plug and insert a dowel rod. Have a friend turn the engine over by hand. Make a mark at the lowest and highest point of the stroke. Measure the recorded stroke. A measurement of about 3 3/4" is a 390, a measurement of 3.5" is a 352/360. The 360 has a 4.05" bore where as the 352 has a 4" bore. No way to know bore for sure without removing the head. Unless you know the truck there is no guarantee what is in there is what it came with, so a vin is almost useless for IDing your motor. I'm guessing you've already easily seen that its an FE by the intake.

Oh and Welcome to FTE!

 

Welcome to FTE

The engine code is the 4th digit of the VIN:

1975/76 F150 V8's: G = 302 2V (2WD only) / H = 390 2V (2WD only) / J = 460 4V (2WD only) / Y = 360 2V (2WD/4WD).

360/390''s share the same block. The bore is the same (4.05), the stroke is different.

Stroke: 360 = 3.50" / 390 = 3.78"

While it might have a 352, it's only possible if the engine's been swapped, cuz the 352 was cancelled after the 1967 model year run ended.

352/360/390 and etc FE engines have 5 valve cover bolt holes per side. The 302 has 6, the 460 has 7.

 

If you are going to replace it with another FE, it doesnt matter if its a 360 or a 390 but I wouldnt consider replacing with a 360, go with the 390.