Help!!!! How to ID 360 vs.390
#1
Help!!!! How to ID 360 vs.390
Hi guys,
I am going to look at a 75 F350 1 ton, and the guy says he was told it has a 390 engine. Some years back, I had several 1 tons, a 74, which I bought new with a 360, a 76 which came with a 360 (later put a 390 in it), etc. Seems I was told at one time that they could be distinguished by the water inlet housing. Don't know. So, I figure there are a lot of you Ford experts on here, and undoubtedly you can tell me what to look for in order to readily determine which engine it is. I will say I was very dissappointed with every 360 I ever had, although the 390 was a good engine. Any help would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
I am going to look at a 75 F350 1 ton, and the guy says he was told it has a 390 engine. Some years back, I had several 1 tons, a 74, which I bought new with a 360, a 76 which came with a 360 (later put a 390 in it), etc. Seems I was told at one time that they could be distinguished by the water inlet housing. Don't know. So, I figure there are a lot of you Ford experts on here, and undoubtedly you can tell me what to look for in order to readily determine which engine it is. I will say I was very dissappointed with every 360 I ever had, although the 390 was a good engine. Any help would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
#2
Only way to tell is stroke:
360 = 3.50,
390 = 3.784
IIRC a '75 390 in a truck might have been available with a 4bbl.
If it's an original engine you can post the vin or data plate info for a read.
As far as the water inlet housing they are all the same on FE motors.
351m vs. 351w have different water inlet housings, so that might be where that came from.
There was a recent post I'll try to find from another source.
360 = 3.50,
390 = 3.784
IIRC a '75 390 in a truck might have been available with a 4bbl.
If it's an original engine you can post the vin or data plate info for a read.
As far as the water inlet housing they are all the same on FE motors.
351m vs. 351w have different water inlet housings, so that might be where that came from.
There was a recent post I'll try to find from another source.
#3
#4
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Pull #1 spark plug out and have a wooden dowl with you about 8" long smll enough to go thru the spark pluh hole and not catch on the sides...Bring #1 up to TDC (Top dead Center) drop the dowl in the hole and mark it at the plug hole.... and I believe #4 at this time is down at BDC...Pull that plug and repeat with the dowl in the spark plug hole (dont rotate the engine) and mark the dowl again....as you did on #1..
3.5" will tell you it has a 360 stroke and 3 3/4" will tell you it has a 390 stroke !!
So many things have been changed by there owners or Mechanics over the years you cant tell by anyone thing from the outside..
~Russ
3.5" will tell you it has a 360 stroke and 3 3/4" will tell you it has a 390 stroke !!
So many things have been changed by there owners or Mechanics over the years you cant tell by anyone thing from the outside..
~Russ
#6
They did, but you'd have to ask Bill about the last year it was offered in a 4x4...seeing as I can't remember what exact year they stopped putting them in. I want to say it's somewhere in the 72-73 range. It would make sense to quit putting them in with a body style change...but as we all know, Ford had a tendancy of throwing leftover parts in the next model year. For how many times Bill has posted it, I can't believe I can't remember what year the 390 stopped going into 4x4's.
#7
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#8
So it COULD have a 390.
But doesn't really matter.
Measure the stroke
#9
Thanks to all of you guys for taking time to reply. And you are right, on sale day, more often than not, somehow the 360 magically turns into a 390! Have no way of knowing if the engine has ever been swapped, although I agree, in 33 years, most likely. Doubt it's original. And yes, it is just a conventional 2wd 1 ton. Wish it was a 4wd, though. I'll take a wooden dowel along and check the stroke, as was outlined. Once again, thanks for everyone's input.
Sincerely,
John
Sincerely,
John
#10
Only way to tell is stroke:
360 = 3.50,
390 = 3.784
IIRC a '75 390 in a truck might have been available with a 4bbl.
If it's an original engine you can post the vin or data plate info for a read.
As far as the water inlet housing they are all the same on FE motors.
351m vs. 351w have different water inlet housings, so that might be where that came from.
There was a recent post I'll try to find from another source.
360 = 3.50,
390 = 3.784
IIRC a '75 390 in a truck might have been available with a 4bbl.
If it's an original engine you can post the vin or data plate info for a read.
As far as the water inlet housing they are all the same on FE motors.
351m vs. 351w have different water inlet housings, so that might be where that came from.
There was a recent post I'll try to find from another source.
Tim
#11
No 390's were ever factory installed in any 4WD.
1965/76 4WD engine availability.
1965/67 = 352 / 240 & 300 I-6
1968/74 = 360 / 240 & 300 I-6
1975/76 = 360 / 300 I-6.
------------------------
There is no way to tell by looking at any FE engine to determine what size it is.
Externally: 1958/64, they all look the same.
Externally: 1965/76, they all look the same.
1958/64's have rounded valve covers with no oil cap holes, and an oil fill pipe.
1965/76's have pent roof shaped valve covers with a hole in each.
----------------------------------------------------------------
The 4th digit of the VIN is the engine code.
1965/76 F100/350
1965: D = 352 2V
1966/67: Y = 352 2V.
1968/73: H = 390 2V / Y = 360 2V
1974/76: H = 390 2V / M = 390 4V / Y = 360 2V
1965/76 4WD engine availability.
1965/67 = 352 / 240 & 300 I-6
1968/74 = 360 / 240 & 300 I-6
1975/76 = 360 / 300 I-6.
------------------------
There is no way to tell by looking at any FE engine to determine what size it is.
Externally: 1958/64, they all look the same.
Externally: 1965/76, they all look the same.
1958/64's have rounded valve covers with no oil cap holes, and an oil fill pipe.
1965/76's have pent roof shaped valve covers with a hole in each.
----------------------------------------------------------------
The 4th digit of the VIN is the engine code.
1965/76 F100/350
1965: D = 352 2V
1966/67: Y = 352 2V.
1968/73: H = 390 2V / Y = 360 2V
1974/76: H = 390 2V / M = 390 4V / Y = 360 2V
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