Since my truck is my daily driver, I don't want to suffer the downtime of rebuilding the existing engine. So, my plan is to get a block and build it up, then do a swap. I have never tackled a project such as this before. This will be a whole new experience for me (and my son).

I currently have a 360, but was planning on building out a 390. This is going to just be a driving truck, so no need to do anything fancy. But I don't know where to start? I imagine getting my hands on a block is step one, and getting it to a machine shop to be checked out is a close 2nd. Am I on the right path so far?

Richard

 

Hello Richard. Another thing you might want to let us know where you are. Someone close by might have one to help you get started with.




John

 

Oops! Great idea! I am in (East) San Diego county. As I am still pretty new to these forums, some of this etiquette is still foreign to me

 

I recommend buying one or both of these two books first: How to build max performance Ford FE engines by Barry Robotnick found HERE, and How to build big block Ford engines by Steve Christ found HERE among many other places. These have a ton of good information and step by step procedures.

A complete 390 shouldn't be too hard to find. If you're going to rebuild anyways then you might as well get the whole or at least most of the engine at once.

 

Heres some quick reading for you as to what you already own. Comes right from this here forum.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...0-upgrade.html

 

If you follow the general build specs for the 428 cj you should have a good running street motor.

 

I went ahead and purchased the book from Amazon, still deciding about the other one.

Where is the best place to locate an engine? I have heard some bad stories about finding them on CL only to find they are not able to be rebuilt.

 

Welcome to FTE! A good place to start would be your local SoCal chapter here: California, Southern Chapter - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums

Lot's of great people there and much easier to find a good 390 locally.

 

i found the 390 i rebuilt on cl for $100.00 heads were off so i could check that cylinders were ok .
get the book first and do some reading before shopping for an engine .

 

1969 FORD F250 FOR PARTS

 

just make sure it is a 390 measure bore and stroke !

 

X2 Make sure it's a 390. It's been said many time here, a 360 magically becomes a 390 on sale day (stroke, 3.50"=360, 3.785"=390).

 

I bought a 390 all dissembled for $600. Had to get it bored .030 for $125 and one head on the exhaust side got planed, for $50. Did my own measurements and decided to take a chance on the crank and rods. Pistons were new in the box. The heads I got were not in too bad of shape. I think they'd had a valve job before so I just cleaned the stems and guides. Purchased new cam,lifters, gaskets, bearings and rings, e-bay for $250.

Had to buy/borrow an engine stand, engine hoist, power washer, impact wrench, ring compressor, spring compressor, wrenches, extensions and sockets, bore and micrometers, compression gauge, freeze plugs, galley brushes, antifreeze and rust removers, sealers, oil, zddp, intake manifold, motor mounts, wire wheels, drill bits, degreasers, paint, BOLTS, battery cables, hoses, gauges, books and paid the muffler shop to take off the bolts to the exhaust pipe. lost all my R-12, too... It was the tools and miscellaneous that ate into me, $1,000+ right there.

Then I made my own run stand, bought used flywheel, bellhousing, starter (new), timing cover, crank damper and spacer, exhaust manifolds, oil pump, fuel pumpfor $250. Put this stuff on the engine and was able to test it, the only thing I used fromn the 352 was the carburetor and battery. Then I swapped them out.

On my first test run I popped a freeze plug, draining 100% of the water and incurring severe detonation. I had no one to go back and blame for the bad install. Fortunately I don't think there was any real damage done.

Not saying I should have done it differently, just that DIY ain't all that cheap. I guess the good news is, if something breaks now, I have what I need to fix it.

Prolly took me 4-5 months to rebuild everything and get it in the car; might take that long again to clean up the garage and driveway!

puttster