What is the best way to get more power out of a 360 on a budget

 

swap the crank/rods/pistons out for a 390 set.

Or just install a set of headers, dual 2.25" to 2.5" exhaust with good flowing mufflers, intake and 600 carb.

 

You will need to define "budget" for us to give you an answer.
It would also be helpful to know the year, make, model and intended use of the vehicle in question.

For starters:
"straight up" timing set
Headers
Dual Exhaust or a properly built single exhaust
Properly tuned 2 barrel carb
Or, Properly tuned 4 barrel carb and intake
Make sure your ignition system is in good working order
Timing and vac advance set up correctly
Make sure your chargiing system is working properly

 

Its a 1976 f150 and is going to have a 4 inch lift and 35s.

 

2x with NW and AK.

Here is a phased recipe:
<TABLE style="WIDTH: 334pt; BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse" border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=445 x:str><COLGROUP><COL style="WIDTH: 25pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 1206" width=33><COL style="WIDTH: 121pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 5888" width=161><COL style="WIDTH: 95pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 4644" width=127><COL style="WIDTH: 45pt; mso-width-source: userset; mso-width-alt: 2194" width=60><COL style="WIDTH: 48pt" width=64><TBODY><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; WIDTH: 25pt; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=17 width=33></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; WIDTH: 121pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl33 width=161>Part</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; WIDTH: 95pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl33 width=127>Brand</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; WIDTH: 45pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl24 width=60></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; WIDTH: 48pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl33 width=64>Cost</TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; mso-ignore: colspan" class=xl31 height=17 colSpan=2>Stage 1</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=17></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Headers</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Flowtech</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl23 x:num="180"> $ 180 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=17></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Exhaust tubing, 2.5"</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Jeg's or Summit</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl23 x:num="220"> $ 220 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=18></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Mufflers</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Your call</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 2pt double; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl27 x:num="100"> $ 100 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=18></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl29>Subtotal</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl25 x:num="500" x:fmla="=SUM(E3:E5)"> $ 500 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; mso-ignore: colspan" class=xl31 height=17 colSpan=2>Stage 2</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl30></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl23></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=17></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Open Element Air Cleaner</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>3" x 14"</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl30></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl23 x:num="25"> $ 25 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=18></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Open element air filter</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>14"</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl30></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 2pt double; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl27 x:num="50"> $ 50 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=18></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl29>Subtotal</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl25 x:num="75" x:fmla="=SUM(E8:E9)"> $ 75 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8; mso-ignore: colspan" class=xl31 height=17 colSpan=2>Stage 3</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl30></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 12.75pt" height=17><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 12.75pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=17></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Intake</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Edelbrock Performer 2105</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl30></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl23 x:num="280"> $ 280 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=18></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Carb, 600 cfm/650 cfm</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22>Edelbrock or Holley</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl30></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 2pt double; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl27 x:num="275"> $ 275 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=18></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl29>Subtotal</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl26 x:num="555" x:fmla="=SUM(E12:E13)"> $ 555 </TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=18></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl30></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: windowtext 2pt double; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl28></TD></TR><TR style="HEIGHT: 13.5pt" height=18><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; HEIGHT: 13.5pt; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22 height=18></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl22></TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl29>Total:</TD><TD style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #d4d0c8; BORDER-LEFT: #d4d0c8; BACKGROUND-COLOR: white; BORDER-TOP: #d4d0c8; BORDER-RIGHT: #d4d0c8" class=xl26 x:num="1130" x:fmla="=E6+E10+E14"> $ 1,130 </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

Better if you can fab the exhaust yourself or have a buddy do it for beer and pizza... afterwards of course.

 

You would be better off making your motor a 390 or just buying another 390 and getting rid of that 360. All the bolt on stuff will only make a marginal difference. A bone stock 390 won't even know what 35's are.