360 big block???

[Bones_Big_F250]

Hey everyone, i got a 73 F250 i was told it had a 360ci big block. i really don't know anything about it. just wondering what you guys could tell me about it? also it's a 4x4 highboy, any knowledge bout the transfer case and gears would help out alot too.
Thanks Bone

[85e150six4mtod]

Originally Posted by Bones_Big_F250

Hey everyone, i got a 73 F250 i was told it had a 360ci big block. i really don't know anything about it. just wondering what you guys could tell me about it? also it's a 4x4 highboy, any knowledge bout the transfer case and gears would help out alot too.
Thanks Bone

Your 360 is of the FE engine family. Lots of info in the engine threads. In the day, it was derided as a gutless gashog, having replaced the 352 which, while thirsty as well, somehow seemed like a mover to some folks. (perhaps it was those 4bbl twice piped units in station wagons, which did run pretty good...) Alas, the poor 360 with low compression and a 2bbl and a smallish single exhaust used as much gas as the more energetic 390, but delivered not the snap of the bigger unit.

As for TC, not sure. Rear gears, you should have a tag on one of the bolts holding the cover on the diff. Look for a string of letters and numbers and post it here. (4L10 or 4L56 in the string would indicate 4.10 or 4.56 with limited slip) See the clutch/trans etc forums as well. Also, your vin will have an axle code in it. A couple (one in particular) members can decode those numbers. (numberdummy for sure)

This truck is all in one piece and runs and the 4x4 works, etc?

[Bones_Big_F250]

Yeah the truck is one piece, i just rebuilt the engine with all new gaskets and full tune up before i deployed. when i get back from iraq i'm gonna start the frame off restoration. just wandering if i should keep the 360 or lose it. i was thinking of swapping in a 351ci, thoughts on this?

[FordTrucksKickGM]

Id check with the guys in the FE forum on the engine stuff. Ive heard stories of guys swapping perfectly good 390s for 360s. I think the cylinder walls are thicker or the blocks are some how stronger than a 390 so theres more potential for a buildup. As a side note I dont think 390s were offered in a 4x4. Either way I woundnt swap a 360 for any of the 351s. For the transfer case it depends if you have a full time or part time one.

[tatonka04]

Hey Bones, glad to hear about the resto project. I just retired and am currently restoring a 75 F250 4x4 with the 360. Must be an Army thing. Anyhow, Wikipedia has some good info on them under the search Ford FE engine. It has the whole history of them. Also, this site is awesome for doing a project. These guys definitely know their stuff. I haven't got to the engine yet, (I'm still sanding and painting the frame and fixing 32 years of use and abuse), but I was planning on keeping the 360 and making it into a 390. I'm not a Ford guru, but from what I've read, they are pretty decent engines.

[Action4478]

I have a 63 ( Iwas told)390 in my 76,, bolted right in ,, seemed to be alot better on the bottom,of course , It may have been the fresh30 over bore......(all in my head)....

[76supercab2]

390s and 360s will swap between each other quite easily (as will any other FE). To change to another engine family (351C) would require quite a bit of spare parts (engine mounts, mount towers, bellhousing, accessories etc).

'Small block'/'Big block' is a chevy term that means very little (absolutely nothing) when talking about Fords. In chevy-land you could ask for a "small block oil pump" and get the right part. If you want an oil pump for a 351 Ford, there's the 351W, 351C, and 351M. And very few (no internal) parts swap between engine families.

[MintFord]

I really like the 360 in my '77 F250. Was a 400 truck but someone put a '73 360/ 4spd in there at some point. Its not super fast, but then again its got the stock 2bbl and single exhaust. Got loads of low-end torque though and it warms up quickly and runs awesome even in winter weather.

[condolan]

Yes, research on the FE engine's forum will provide tons of neat information for you.

Although I have no personal experience, I think those older F250's were well-known for being pretty tough pickups.

[Bones_Big_F250]

i've been reading alot about them and think i'm just going to go with a 406 when i start the frame off. theres so many different opinions on here though, anyone have a real plan and parts list for one? i want something with some power that picks up pretty good with decent torque. it's gonna be a daily driver that i can just go romp around in occasionally. any help??

[condolan]

Well, my truck is still stock. But here's what I want to do to it some day, no specifics though. Just to give you some ideas:

-360 V8
-4 barrel carb/matching intake manifold
-daily driver camshaft with some power
-390 crank and rods/360 pistons
-oil modification that everybody talks about for the FE engines
-dual exhaust with headers
-C6 tranny that works!
-31 inch All-Terrains or Mud-Terrains
-9 inch rear packing a Detroit TrueTrac and 3.73 gears

Like I said, I haven't done any of those things to my truck yet, but I personally think that would be a pretty kickin' pickup truck right there.

[Bones_Big_F250]

i thought the 360 pistons with the 390 crank would hit the heads on tdc?

[condolan]

Originally Posted by Bones_Big_F250

i thought the 360 pistons with the 390 crank would hit the heads on tdc?

Not from what I've researched. Now I could be wrong...but the best move for a 360 engine, when using parts from a 390, is to use the 390 crank and rods, but use the 360 pistons. Those pistons create more compression than the 390 pistons...but not so much that they kiss the valves on a stock cylinder head. But don't use the 390 crank with the 360 rods-that will create too much stroke. And the 360 rods are too long to be as strong as the 390 rods.

The best move is to use aftermarket 390 pistons...but those are pretty pricey. But, like many other things, you get what you paid for. And I imagine a good set of aftermarket 390 pistons would easily outperform factory 360 pistons.

But if you're building on a budget, then it's best to use the 360 pistons-considering they are still good.

This topic should be in the FE engines forum, but seeing as how it kinda' concerns the whole truck, I guess it's okay.

[fellro86]

The block is common between the 360 and the 390, the crank and rods are the only difference. Torque isn't a problem for a 390, haven't run a 360 yet, but the 390 I had initially in my 75 was pretty good runner, at least until it pitched a rod, due to antifreeze getting into the oil through the intake gasket, from the intake bolts not being tight from the PO swapping it.... Make sure to have the valve seats replaced if not already done, or you have to be careful to add something to lube the valves, unleaded fuel will ruin the heads, the FE motors were never factory built for unleaded.
Built right, a 360 or 390 should be a good thing. I have never heard anyone replacing 390's for 360's though, always the other way around, or converting. Main thing I ever heard was the 360 was a gutless gas hog, while the 390 has plenty of power, but still a gas hog. I got around 8 usually, with 4.10 axles.

[shelbysf150]

i have a 76 4x4 with a 360 4 speed and it has no problem pushing pulling or lighting up the 32 inch tires best running ford ive ever owned and the only thing done ti it is coil and dual glasspacks.