So,
My '74 Highboy has a 390/C6 in it right now. It has a 4 barrel on it. It runs ok, but I've found when towing it is alittle lack luster. Now, I have a 390 that I rebuilt and woke up in my '69 2wd and it runs pretty hard, but this stock 390 is a dog. I've got a '77 F-250 2wd that is serving as a parts rig. It has a 460/C6 in it (condition unknown). How hard would it be to swap in the 460? I'd probably want to rebuild that engine since I don't know what condition it's in.

I know I could put a cam and headers in the 390 and make it run better, but I'd still be fighting the low compression of a truck 390. I got around this with my other build by using 360 pistons. The other thing is, to put headers on a 390 in a Highboy you have to pull the engine, as the passenger side header wraps around the engine perch.

I'm kind of thinking that if I'm pulling an engine anyway, I just as well make the 460 go back in. From those of you who have done it, exactly how hard is it? Are the divorced t-case transmissions different from the 2wd transmissions?

-Jake

 

Is the highboy the main tow rig? If so just swap the engine from the 69 into the highboy and then rebuild the other 390 into a better and beefier engine. The local parts house will sell you a 428 crank and rods cheaper than a 390 set, I just looked today. A 410 in a 69 would be kinda nice and fun. The other up side to that is you don't have to change mounts or tranny's or really anything but the engine. Dollar for dollar I think you will spend the same for either the 390 or 460 so it will probably boil down to how much work your willing to do.

 

Not all headers wrap around the perch. I ran Hedmans and they were easy to deal with and there are others like them. Sorry for the bad picture but it's all I could find and the 390 isn't in the truck anymore. If you look close you can see that all the primaries are behind the perch.


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The transmissions have different tail housings with provisions for mounting the T-case shifter.

 

Just found another one that might give you an idea how the headers are routed.


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I was just going with how the headers were that I put on my '71. I think they were Flowtec's or something.

This will be my main tow/farm rig. Winter driver when the wife has to drive my GMC to work. Fuel mileage isn't a huge concern. I thought the 460 was cheap to build, so that's why I was thinking of going that route. I got some pretty stout numbers out of my 390 but it cost a little more to build than I want to spend this time. Maybe I should look into a budget 390 or 410 for this highboy......I'm open to all options at this point.

-Jake

 

I had a 460 and it wasn't much when it came to power in stock form. I looked into all aftermarket parts and then quickly decided to leave it stock and get rid of it. I have a 360 now and realized that with so many factory racing parts you can have a nice running engine for not that much money into it. Plus as stated before you will have to change engine mounts and tranny's and if your 460 doesn't have the accessorys on it you will have to get those too.

 

What parts house was this? I found a re-man 390 crank at Advance Auto for $215, but nothing for a 428. Checking Autozone now.....

-Jake

 

Orileys they had a crank and rods for a 428 for 270ish with 10 buck core and the 390 set was 230ish with a 74 buck core. I looked up a 67 merc cougar for the 428.

 

Can you send me the link when you get a chance? For some reason no matter what year/car I select I get the 427 and no 428. It says that it replaces 1U and 1UB cranks correct? Thanks

-Jake

 

I was digging on their computer system at the store when I found it. I'm in there so much they pretty much just let me roam the store and check on the computer for what I want. It took me about 8 different car to get to that one. ok good idea just hit me. How much are you looking to spend on the 390? Have you looked in to stroker kits? The one nice thing about the FE is you can stroke them out to a 4.250ish stroke without touching the block. Survival Motorsports has a 455 stoker kit that is reasonably priced.

 

I'm thinking $1500 tops. I ended up with about $2800 in my 390. That was before I was married and had any bills really.

Having said that, I like the idea of the stroking it. I've seen Survival's kits for around $1800-2000ish and thought that would be pretty sweet. Might have to look into them some more.

-Jake

 

Work some more overtime and get the stroker kit. If it was me I'd put the stroker motor in the 69 and the 390 in the highboy. This way you tow rig isn't down for too long, It sounds like it gets used more than the 69 anyway.

 

I had a set of headers on my old bump side high boy. 2 of the head pipes were removable so they would go on but I can't remember who made them.

 

I was planning to build an FE stroker myself and found that RPM offers a 4.375" crank that doesn't require any block clearancing. They sell forged stuff for the same price as Scat and Eagle's cast parts. Pop's and Precision Oil Pumps swear by them.

RPM International

 

here in a few minutes i'll film how my hookers go on my 73 highboy.

as a performance note: my brother in law has a (stock)97 f250 460 4x4 at the farm, i race him in that thing all the time...he barely beats me. it's auto and i dont know the gears in it.

my truck has an fe390: edlebrock cam, lifeters, valve springs, intake manifold, crappy carb, and 36x14.50x16.50 tsls' on 4.10's

im sure with a 460 it'd be a bit quicker. i just like the sound of the fe motors.

my.02