360/390 questions
#1
360/390 questions
hey all new to the site and Im helpin out my brother (no computer) anyways he's got a 77 highboy with a 360/4 spd, we wanna do a longblock or crate engine install. So my question is what motors are compatible with his exsisting bell housing, does the 390 have the same bolt pattern. And if he decides to go crate motor (on a budget) what motor would you all suggest. I'll be here alot asking question, so thanks ahead of time. Im into the bike building scene and what do you think of the high hp 302 crate mtrs?
#5
#7
Trending Topics
#8
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Victoria (North Saanich)
Posts: 960
Likes: 0
Received 9 Likes
on
7 Posts
You can't tell a 360 from a 390 based on external examination. You have to measure the stroke. There are lots of threads on that subject.
Couple of other things - why stop at at 390? You can't get much more bore out of an FE without checking the block, but you can get a lot more stroke. If you are buying a rebuild, it isn't that much more to get a stroker.
If you do get a long block, the motor mount positions were different between car and truck engines, but the mounting holes for both are present. Just don't wait till you are dangling the engine over the bay to notice. Also, some of the high performance heads came with four bolt exhaust manifold configurations. Trucks had two bolts, again you don't want to find that out when you are trying to mate your headers or manifold.
Last, 2WD engines had a front oil pan resevoir and pick up. The 4WD had them on the rear. You need to move the pan and pick up over to the new engine and move the front main bearing cap bolt to the rear because it has a bolt hole threaded into it to attach the pick up.
All in all trivial stuff. Last thing to watch out for, lots of shops can rebuild a 302 or a chevy small block, not that many builders know the FE. Look up FE oiling mods on this site, if the builder can't show you they were done, get your engine elsewhere. Buy your long block from a known FE builder and they will know the quirks of the FE. If you can, get an engine dyno on it before you take delivery. It costs a few extra bucks, but it will tell you everything you need to know about your engine.
Last thing, when you get your new engine in the truck, kick the crap out of it to break it in. Hard runs from zero to 60 back to zero for 50 miles, then change the oil and just run it hard for the first thousand.
Couple of other things - why stop at at 390? You can't get much more bore out of an FE without checking the block, but you can get a lot more stroke. If you are buying a rebuild, it isn't that much more to get a stroker.
If you do get a long block, the motor mount positions were different between car and truck engines, but the mounting holes for both are present. Just don't wait till you are dangling the engine over the bay to notice. Also, some of the high performance heads came with four bolt exhaust manifold configurations. Trucks had two bolts, again you don't want to find that out when you are trying to mate your headers or manifold.
Last, 2WD engines had a front oil pan resevoir and pick up. The 4WD had them on the rear. You need to move the pan and pick up over to the new engine and move the front main bearing cap bolt to the rear because it has a bolt hole threaded into it to attach the pick up.
All in all trivial stuff. Last thing to watch out for, lots of shops can rebuild a 302 or a chevy small block, not that many builders know the FE. Look up FE oiling mods on this site, if the builder can't show you they were done, get your engine elsewhere. Buy your long block from a known FE builder and they will know the quirks of the FE. If you can, get an engine dyno on it before you take delivery. It costs a few extra bucks, but it will tell you everything you need to know about your engine.
Last thing, when you get your new engine in the truck, kick the crap out of it to break it in. Hard runs from zero to 60 back to zero for 50 miles, then change the oil and just run it hard for the first thousand.
#13
#14
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
68 f250
1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
27
10-21-2020 09:27 AM
Scott-71f-250
1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
11
05-10-2009 12:07 PM
gcfisher75
FE & FT Big Block V8 (332, 352, 360, 390, 406, 410, 427, 428)
2
06-22-2004 08:16 PM