Im pulling an engine from a 1970s bus for my model A build. I've got it narrowed down to 361/391 FT engine in the 2v form... what can I do for a lil performance out of this ol girl

 

well since it won't have the weight and load of a truck you can definitely do things that most us here say not to do to a FT engine.

First I should tell you the FT engines, if I remember correctly have lower compression ratios than all there FE engines (I think like 7.5 to 1??)
so to get some performance you could really use more compression.
Bigger Cams bleed off some compression so keep that in mind if you do a cam swap without doing a compression increase.
I'm sure you are going to dump the factory carb and distributor.
I'm not sure how much RPMs a FT can REALLY Take before it gets ugly the heavier pistons add stains on the rods.

 

My thoughts are aluminum intake with a 4 barrel and a aluminum water pump to lighten it up some ... I read around 600 # with those 2 mods. If I go with a edelbrock or holly intake will I be able to use the stock distributor or need a a fe version?

 

I'm Not sure about where the size difference is on the dist.
good idea on the intake and water pump weights.
of all engines lord know a FE or FT can use some Aluminum components.

 

For a Model A build, toss everything but the block.

You can have the crank turned down to fit an FE front cover, and I think you can use the rods.

But the heads are not made for "performance", nor is the cam or pistons.

You will not be able to use an FE manifold on those heads as the FT motor has exhaust ports into the intake to keep the intake nice and hot.

Read more here:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-391-ford.html

 

There are 4 different FT engines, 330 2V M/D, 330 2V H/D, 361 2V and 391 4V

The 330 2V M/D uses the 352/360 FE crank, but most of the other engine related parts are FT.

Personally why you would want an FT engine, I dunno. These were designed for 500 and larger series trucks, some have a governor and weren't designed to drive much past 55 miles per hour.

IMO, find an FE engine and swap that in...or a 302 or 351W that weigh a lot less and get better MPG than the FE & FT gas hogs.

 

The FT was a freebie so I snagged it and it came with a carter 5 speed...
I also found a tag on my engine it's a 361 2v. Can the governess be removed?

 

Carter 5 speed? Maybe a Clark. A very un-hotrod transmission.

A 361? Governor would be in or on the distributor and on the carb. It's not going to like much over the original governed speed and certainly won't make any more power over that speed.

Like I said, take everything off the block and throw it away......

 

Yes a clark... it's only holding me over till I can afford to build a flathead