Heya,

Long story short my 73's 2x4 360's compression test left me pretty disappointed. all in the 100's, so I'm looking at my options for a rebuild or replacement. The truck could definitely use a bit more grunt specially since I intend on towing a 20ft camper and I live at elevation. Headers and a full exhaust will be part of the final equation but since I would also like to get better than 9mpg I'm considering keeping it two barrel. The rebuild would be stock say for maybe an RV cam and the overbore.

Trans is a stock C6 in good shape, I assume stock converter and the Dana is running 3.73's which I'm very happy with.


How much are you guys spending at a machine shop to fully rebuild these Fe longblocks?






There is a oil pan-intake 390 out of a Bird "Rebuilt 2 years ago" with paperwork on a stand/ never fired on my local craigs. guy is asking $2,500 obo

Worth it?

Oh yeah I'm in California and understand the CA "Tax"

 

Machine work is expensive. That and do you want a bone stock, or a little above or something built to peel rubber? I've heard quotes of anywhere from $3000 to $9000. The previous owner of my '74 F250 had its 360 rebuilt with new pistons and the works but didn't require a lot of machine work and the tab was $2800. My '69 will be getting one but since it will mostly be babied in fair weather, I'm going to do it the cheap way and get a long block form Autozone or O'Reillys for about $1800 which is largely a re-ring and bearing job but anyone I've talked to has never had a problem with theirs, plus there's a 3 year guarantee. I just don't need a bunch of performance or speed stuff, Edelbrock, etc to be happy.
As for CL ads I would insist on hearing it run. You never know what you're getting. A good sign is someone who has multiple Fords sitting around his place which would indicate that he's really into them.
There are a lot of options. It's your call but don't get taken.

 

Machine work will typically range from $800 to $1400 depending on what the block needs. And that is undetermined until the engine is disassembled and inspected. And the more you do yourself, like the disassembly and reassembly, the lower the total cost.

I believe it is penny-wise but pound foolish to rebuild stock heads. Edelbrock aluminum heads are a better value for your dollar input. Yes that means swapping to a 4v intake and carb with vacuum secondaries. Yes, upgrade the cam.

In terms of MPG, it can improve based on efficiency but the 'best' way would an overdrive trans. Since ya tow, Consider a Gear Vendors overdrive or a 4R70W.

 

Assuming that you can get a reliable estimate on the cost of your rebuild, a good reality check is to look at the cost of "crate" engines. Just search the internet with "Ford 390 crate engines" and you're on the way. Phoenix Engine was among the top pf the list Google handed me. They offer 330 to 410 HP for $4490 to $6390. Stock rebuilds will be lower so search on "remanufactured" or "rebuilt." Locally (middle Georgia, USA), I got a quote of $1700 to rebuild a 360 long block a couple of years ago.
There's lots of good stuff to read on this topic here, at DIY Ford and elsewhere.
Short answer to your question: In my neck of the woods, $1200 is a good average for quality work. YMMV

 

2x on "you can take your chances with a CL motor"
as far as with Phoenix Engine even if you pay up in full from the word get go.
remember that there are ALOT of others ahead of you in having theirs built or rebuilt
had a coworker pay up front and still had to wait almost 8 months to get his motor
Me... I took a machining class at my local JC and did mine for a little over $800
(including class, book rebuild kit etc)

 

I rebuilt the short block on my 360 a couple months ago (had a spare set of reworked heads on the shelf). It was $192 to bore/hone with a torque plate, $15 each to recondition the rods, and $50 for new cam bearings/freeze plugs installed. I had to buy a $200 crank kit because the original was junk/couldn't be turned. Other costs will vary simply due to what other components you choose, but my machine shop costs were pretty reasonable.

 

Way to go dads1977! I'm currently reading a book written by Charles Morris entitled, "How to Rebuild Big Block Ford Engines." The main focus of this book is on the 385 series and it uses an exotic 429 out of a NASCAR Torino Pace Car for its most detailed discussion. The FE series, including the 390 and 427, is then discussed in lesser detail. Not completely satisfied with that, I have ordered "How to Build Max-Performance Ford FE Engines" by Barry Rabotnick. Barry is widely considered one of the most knowledgeable FE engine builders alive today and is a principal with Survival Motorsports.

 

My recent 360 build was $100 to polish the crank. $250 to bore the block .040 over and plane the cylinder decks. Another $200 to line bore the block. Another $75 for hot-tanking block and heads. Got my master rebuild kit from Northern Auto which is $370 now.

So I guess I'm into it for about a grand.