Which engine should I repower with?
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From: Gridley Ks
Which engine should I repower with?
Yanking the 390/C6 because simply put... I'm not Fan.
Been kicking around doing a 6.9/7.3 IDI diesel. If not a diesel then a 300 I6 or a 302. Either would be fuel injected. My delima is I don't know which would be harder vs benefit. The diesel would give me killer fuel mileage while requiring exstensive mods and suspension upgrades. It would also be more costly to repair. A 5.0 would sound the best but is so 10 years ago. The I6 is my fav but because I'm dying to hang a GT37 off one.
2wd 76 ECSB.
Been kicking around doing a 6.9/7.3 IDI diesel. If not a diesel then a 300 I6 or a 302. Either would be fuel injected. My delima is I don't know which would be harder vs benefit. The diesel would give me killer fuel mileage while requiring exstensive mods and suspension upgrades. It would also be more costly to repair. A 5.0 would sound the best but is so 10 years ago. The I6 is my fav but because I'm dying to hang a GT37 off one.
2wd 76 ECSB.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Ohio
I'd honestly just stick with the 390, well, cause I'm a fan. It'd require no work of removing it, and a few simple things can get more power out of it, while it already has more than sufficient power for a truck. Out of the 3 you mentioned for some reason you still decide to swap, I'd go with the 300.
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From: Gridley Ks
The market is dead for the FE, sorry but its a goner. I sell them to you if you want?
351 is a waste of time IMO. A 302 makes as much power and does better on fuel. If I need the grunt of a 3.50" stroke I'll just step up to the diesel.
How hard is it to wire the 4.9/5.0 efi? That's my only fear, hacking into my wiring.
351 is a waste of time IMO. A 302 makes as much power and does better on fuel. If I need the grunt of a 3.50" stroke I'll just step up to the diesel.
How hard is it to wire the 4.9/5.0 efi? That's my only fear, hacking into my wiring.
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From: Gridley Ks
Haha... I guess it just isn't my fav. I grew up driving and fixing these. After a while I just started replacing them with 351/400's. I've always loved the 6 bangers, even the 200/250's. I've had the best luck with the windsors but the last few got the fuel mpg of a 460 with 1/2 the power.
I saw a video of a couple inbreds that had put a psd turbo on a 4.9, it ran well and I could see myself pulling a scrapper to the crusher with that set up. Though mpgs on a 4.9 aren't much different than a 5.0 I feel like they pull better and with just a few lbs of boost could move a solid load.
I saw a video of a couple inbreds that had put a psd turbo on a 4.9, it ran well and I could see myself pulling a scrapper to the crusher with that set up. Though mpgs on a 4.9 aren't much different than a 5.0 I feel like they pull better and with just a few lbs of boost could move a solid load.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2010
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From: Axtell, TX
Replacing a 390 with a 351m/400 seems like a downgrade to me. And a 302 or 300 is moving in the wrong direction as well power wise. I would agree to just upgrade the 390 if you're not happy with the power. It's very easy to wake em up and won't attack your wallet as much as a swap + upgrades to the new powerplant. Have you done anything to the 390 or is just the stock 70s slug version of itself?? The FE aftermarket is the strongest it's been since it was still in production, maybe ever.
It seems like the main reason for a swap might be for fuel economy, which the FE and 385 series are not going to win any awards for. Both platforms have plenty of power potential, but neither is going to get more than 15mpg with the gears needed to tow.
The 300 would be the easiest swap and if you turbo'd it then you could have a real winner for both tq and mpg. If I had to swap, I think I would choose that over all the modifications needed for a diesel swap, but then I'm not experienced with diesel swaps so others may have more to say on that. JMO of course.
It seems like the main reason for a swap might be for fuel economy, which the FE and 385 series are not going to win any awards for. Both platforms have plenty of power potential, but neither is going to get more than 15mpg with the gears needed to tow.
The 300 would be the easiest swap and if you turbo'd it then you could have a real winner for both tq and mpg. If I had to swap, I think I would choose that over all the modifications needed for a diesel swap, but then I'm not experienced with diesel swaps so others may have more to say on that. JMO of course.
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From: Brentwood,CA
Yanking the 390/C6 because simply put... I'm not Fan.
Been kicking around doing a 6.9/7.3 IDI diesel. If not a diesel then a 300 I6 or a 302. Either would be fuel injected. My delima is I don't know which would be harder vs benefit. The diesel would give me killer fuel mileage while requiring exstensive mods and suspension upgrades. It would also be more costly to repair. A 5.0 would sound the best but is so 10 years ago. The I6 is my fav but because I'm dying to hang a GT37 off one.
2wd 76 ECSB.
Been kicking around doing a 6.9/7.3 IDI diesel. If not a diesel then a 300 I6 or a 302. Either would be fuel injected. My delima is I don't know which would be harder vs benefit. The diesel would give me killer fuel mileage while requiring exstensive mods and suspension upgrades. It would also be more costly to repair. A 5.0 would sound the best but is so 10 years ago. The I6 is my fav but because I'm dying to hang a GT37 off one.
2wd 76 ECSB.
Having done the IDI swap twice now don't expect any huge MPG gains. Both of the trucks I did were F250 SC 2wd trucks. Both got about 11-12 mpg with the 390 before the swap and after the swap the MPG is near the exact same. If I would have gone with an OD trans during the swap the mpg would be better. I have a 87 6.9 5 speed and the best it gets is 16mpg. The IDI swap is very simple to do but if I were to do it again I would build a nice 390 for it.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Brentwood,CA
The market is dead for the FE, sorry but its a goner. I sell them to you if you want?
351 is a waste of time IMO. A 302 makes as much power and does better on fuel. If I need the grunt of a 3.50" stroke I'll just step up to the diesel.
How hard is it to wire the 4.9/5.0 efi? That's my only fear, hacking into my wiring.
351 is a waste of time IMO. A 302 makes as much power and does better on fuel. If I need the grunt of a 3.50" stroke I'll just step up to the diesel.
How hard is it to wire the 4.9/5.0 efi? That's my only fear, hacking into my wiring.
427 Ford Engine Block, Pond Engine Blocks FAQ the selection of NEW parts has never been greater. You can now buy all the parts including blocks brand new. These engines can just be a bit $$$ to build. The engine masters championship was won by a FE recently
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Joined: Dec 2011
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From: Round Rock, TX
Stroke a 351W to a 393 or 408, put some good breathing heads on it with a mild roller cam, along with your efi and you will have more than enough power and not that of bad milage either. You can get kits from $1200.00. If you really like the truck, ditch the c6 for a AOD and have overdrive.
Last edited by 77393; Jan 30, 2012 at 04:56 PM. Reason: needed
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I had a 460 and now I have a 360 I prefer the FE over the 385 block only because I have more parts available to me for the FE. I like the sound of a turboed 300 but your still needing to upgrade some things for it to live for a while. I would prefer diesel if I could afford the engine. People in my area think that since fuel prices are at $4.00 a gallon the old engines should be insane too. So since your hell bent on swapping go for the 300 and turbo it. If you can, get it with a 4 or 5 speed, it's more fun that way
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From: Gridley Ks
You think I'm a troll?
I'm not dissing the FE's, I just don't want 1 any more than I want to drop a 460 in it. I already have a big block ecsb, this is to be more everyday friendly. I've ask so many questions because I truelly don't know which way to go. I used to build Chevy race engine so the thought of another twin turbo'd 4.3 has even crossed my mind. Troll I'm not, curious I am as to why you think so.
And "the market is dead" was a poor choice of words, rather "that ship has sailed".
I'm not dissing the FE's, I just don't want 1 any more than I want to drop a 460 in it. I already have a big block ecsb, this is to be more everyday friendly. I've ask so many questions because I truelly don't know which way to go. I used to build Chevy race engine so the thought of another twin turbo'd 4.3 has even crossed my mind. Troll I'm not, curious I am as to why you think so.
And "the market is dead" was a poor choice of words, rather "that ship has sailed".