Hey y'all,
I have been looking over my new truck and it needs a few things. So that being said I need a little help. It has a 360 v8 with the 3 on the tree. Its pretty much bone stock as far as I can tell. It needs a new exhaust manifold on the passenger side cause the stock one is cracked. The carb is leaking extremely bad. The plug wires and dizzy cap look like they have been on there since 73. Plus I need a headlight switch and new door panels. So here is what I need help with. I want to go with headers but not sure what will be the best ones to get. I wanna put an aluminum intake as well as a 4 barrel carb. And I also need to replace the steering gear box. Can anybody help me out with part numbers or suggestions for these parts,
Steering gear box
Headers
Aluminum intake manifold
4 barrel carb
Door panels
Headlight switch
Also I wouldn't mind buying some parts off of the members here as long as it is what I need. Thanks for all the help.

 

Welcome to FTE.

For a steering box, go with Redhead Steering, not a 'rebuilt' from a parts store. It will cost just a bit more, but it will be a TRUE rebuild and will last much longer.

The last time I needed a headlight switch, I got one from my local NAPA, or you could order one from Dennis Carpenter. You can get door panels from DC as well, or try the buy/sell section here at FTE. Ebay is another option.

 

Thanks voca I'll have to give them a call. The main reason I want to switch to a 4 barrel carb is BC it gets horrible gas mileage right now and I was told that a new intake and 4 barrel carb along with headers would put me around 10 to 12mpgs. Is there any truth to this?

 

Anybody got any advice as far as the carb and intake goes?

 

Holley 600-650cfm with electric choke. Edelbrock 2105 if you're going to run stock exhaust or the 7105 if you're going to run headers.
Steering box REDHEAD !!!!!!!! They are competitive with the chain store "spray and pray" rebuilds Red-Head Steering Gears - Custom Rebuilt Steering Gear Boxes in USA
Door panels, Dennis Carpenter is top of the heap, so to speak. Dennis Carpenter Ford Car, F-100 Pickup Truck, 8N, 9N Tractor and Cushman Scooter Restoration Parts
The biggest weak spot of the 360 is the really anemic compression ratio. If you think about rebuilding it, the biggest bang for the buck would be to swap the crank and rods to make it a 390 and use the stock 4bbl pistons to really bring the compression up. If you have the heads off look at one of the pistons that's at TDC, you'll see it actually sits down in the bore by .100". This was an emissions thing to reduce the comp. ratio but it killed MPG and any performance hopes.
Something else you can do to the 360 to give it a little help is to replace the timing chain and gears with a pre-72 set. The stock cam gear runs 4 degrees retarded (again, it's an emission thing) earlier sets run the cam "straight up".

 

Carb...Edelbrock 1406 or 1405 600 cfm carb. Alternatively, a Holley 4160 or Summit's house-branded 600 cfm carb. Stay with vacuum secondaries on the street.

Intake... Edelbrock Performer PN 2105.

Headers? Ya get what ya pay for. Sanderson FF427 shorties for ease of installation! Motivated? Then Hedman, Hookers, Mad Dog fendewell exits, Ford Powertrain Applications, or Stan's. Google'em and see what fits your budget.

3x with Redhead.

Btw, the swap meet season is coming up so ya might wanna hit 'em up. First work on the exhaust.. you'll feel the difference. Then work on the induction.

 

I've got flow tech headers on my 76 F-100 2wd 360. They were cheap and have worked out well. A bit of a pain to install but not too bad. As far as a 4bbl getting you better mileage, it may. Based on experience with my truck, expect around 10mpg average. If I drive mine on a 150 mile trip on highways going 55mph I have gotten a max of 15mpg but that was being very gentle with the throttle. However, if you get your foot in it much then the 4bbl will actually hurt your mileage.