Ok shooting this out looking for different takes on how to go about this - Have a 1970 F 250 original mostly stock 360 - has an aluminum Edelbrock dual plane manifold,Holley 600cfm 4 barrel,MSD igniton - mechanical advance distributor/6a box/blaster coil,merged collector headers - When the time arrives to put together another motor i may look for a 390 but whatever 360 or 390 i'd like to go thru it and end up in 350-400 horsepower range - something with low enough compression to run on regular or mid grade pump gas.Something streetable with good all around power its not a daily driver but it will get used on a regular basis - Suggestions?

 

Sounds like ya got the typical bolt-on so go to the next stage with a performance camshaft complemented with aluminum heads.

 

HIo - Theres a ton of different options - i'm relatively new to American Full Sized iron most of my experience is with air-cooled VW stuff and i still have a sand rail - which is one of the uses of the truck along with working around the house and side jobs as i'm an electrician.Its not a daily driver thank god with the douchbags making the decisions on gas prices currently anyway - I've heard many different recommends on cams not so many on heads and i have to think really i need to look at what the truck is used for - which is mainly low to mid range - but i like to hot rod as well as the rest its just what the intended use will be.In aluminum heads what are you thinking Edelbrocks? why? i'm doing research at this point so in asking questions bear with me its a learning curve for me.I've heard and am aware of the fairly easy crank/rod swap to get a 410ci motor - i may not be able to get in the horsepower range i mentioned without having to run premium which is not what i want to do.I believe a stock 360 is in the 8 1/2 to 9 range compression ratio is'nt it? i can run 87 now with no issues.I've got if you consider the age and i'm sure this motors never been apart decent compression all in the 140-145 range dry - 150-55 range with oil - but if it sits for a bit i've noticed now it'll sometimes have whats got to be a slight rod knock when you first start it up that goes away very quickly - its not a lifter as its a lower tone you know the sound you can tell when a lifter pumps up this is not a lifter.Ideally i want to be able to use the truck long enough to be able to find a good donor engine have it down what i want to do with it in regards to mods and be able to go thru it as money allows.So any suggestions are much appreciated i will ask you specifics what cam - what heads things like that -I'm learning..