so I have a 360 4 speed but Im alot more familiar with 302s
I know my carb sucks, but i get a feeling a decent 302 would run circles on this 360? am i crazy? what motor do you think makes the best power and torque and effeciently. Im a efi guy I dont do carbs normally

I6 300
302W
351w
360FE
390FE
460

4.6l lol?

 

I'm thinking you should go with the 300. From what I hear it is the best truck engine ever made by Ford.

 

ive had a few, it might be, but i dont think it makes as much power as any other option

 

Regular gas is fast approaching 4 bucks a gallon nationwide (it's all ready over 4 bucks a gallon here in LA LA Land).

Some people predict a gallon of regular will be 5 bucks a gallon nationwide by this summer.

These trucks have the aerodynamics of a brick, usually average 8-12 MPG city, regardless of what engine is installed. You might get 17-18 MPG hwy, if you drive 55.

Now, y'all want to install a gas hog 390 or 460?

Go right on ahead, but your next thread will be: "How to improve MPG."

I voted for the 300, but the expense to install it (not to mention all the labor involved), will buy one hell of a lotta gasoline.

 

3.69 tonight at arco and and 3.89 at chevron

 

so what do you think is the most efficient for the power motor? i have even considered the 4.6l mod motor as they are readily available . i would think the 302 would be the best performer. i would go 86-93 mustang HO efi route as i know those like the back of my hand, 86 being a odd year with heart shaped combustion chamber heads and flat top pistons. fyi any motor I use would be efi if at all possible, efi 300, efi 302, 351, efi 460 lol

 

The guys in the 289/302/351W forum generally agree that the 302 is a bit underpowered for a truck, especially a heavier F250. Probably okay for a daily driver but not good for towing and hauling. They also say that there's virtually no difference in mileage between a 302 and a comparably set up 351W.

I'm a 289/302 fan myself, but I tend to agree. I've parked my '68 F250 for now as the 360 has gotten pretty tired and the oil pressure is virtually non-existent (hey, it's an FE...they run fine with no oil pressure!) but also because I just can't justify 10 MPG right now. There's an engine swap in it's future and if I were staying with gas (and I'm not) I'd consider an EFI 351W, truck motor with the longer intake runners. It's about the same displacement as the 360 but a slightly more fuel efficient and modern design engine, and one I'm more familiar with than an FE anyway. Not to mention that it would take 100+ pounds off the front end. Probably more...

I've heard stories of FEs in bumpsides getting 16-17 mpg, but I figure that's probably downhill with a tailwind (and the engine off!) Whatever, it's certainly not my FE!

 

Im with you guys on this one. gas is getting outrageous......The 300 I6 is the way to go to help "some" there......

With the others engines, here are my thoughts. Before going with a 289/302, you might as well go with a 351W 2 or 4 barrel carb....little more HP for about the same amount of money. 351C is good but they are also gas hogs, as well as the 360, which is worse! 390 2 barrel is my choice if going with a V8, and from my experience you also get a little bit better gas mileage than the 360, especially if you can find a 390/335 4 barrel engine. Anything over a 390 is really over kill to me, and you will stay at a gas pump.

 

had a 300 in a 94 f150 short bed , lots of torque , loaded 2 harleys for a show in San Diego didn't even feel the weight . but you're not going to win any races . even against a prius !!
even with gas prices i'd go with the 390 just don't drive it every day.
$4.25 for reg unleaded here ...

 

I am a fan of the 351c 2v but as previously mentioned they are not mpg motors. If I wanted a sort of happy medium between mpg and power, I would go windsor. At the end of the day though, a well thought out 300 with an overdrive is the ticket. I just sold my 79 F-150 4x4 300 and I feel lost already That truck got a pretty consistent 14-17mpg on the highway running 55-60 which makes gas a little more manageable.

 

Hi guys, try $11.15 an imperial Gallon here in the UK!!!!think that works out at $8.92 a US gallon... I'm running a 2.5L 5 spd Ford Transit Diesel in my '72 which gives me around 28mpg US.. I know they don't do the Ford transit in the USA yet, mines from a '99 but are there other 4cyl diesels you can get your hands on?? Isuzu, nissan, toyota etc.... just a thought.

 

+1 on the diesel

but if you want to stick with gas, have you ever thought about the 400M. From what I have read it can really be a torque mongrel if built right. I heard that by putting 351C 2v heads on it will waken it up along with a new cam and timing set.

 

I like the 7.3 in my F250
The built 360 moved nicely, but got 12mpg tops. The diesel gets mid 20s in mixed driving.
My old 300/C4 combo got 20-22 in mixed city/rural roads (45 tops), but only got 16-17 on the highway. That's mostly due to 4.10 gears. It was OK at towing, heaviest thing I towed with it was my old Galaxie, and it would still do 60-65 and about 13mpg. Acceleration was a challenge though.
A Mercedes OM617 would be an option, it's about the same power as a 300, and I have adapted one to a Ford small block pattern. It can be turned up a little bit fairly easily, and with some work can make some pretty decent numbers. It's a high rpm diesel, it redlines at 4500.

 

The best performer is the 460 and they don't use anymore fuel than the FE if you keep your foot out of it. I put one in my '68 F250 in 1981.

 

I like my 428. Not shure of the MPGs yet.