Here's the rub,

I recently purchased a 1976 f150 explorer from a buddy of mine at work for $400. It is currently running the 360fe with a c6 behind it.

My plan is to fix it up a little bit, (carb leaking, change fluids, wires, plugs ect....) and drive it as it is, then I'd like to swap the 360 for a 390.

The guy I bought it from has a 390fe with an FMX transmission behind it that he said I could buy for $185. The engine came out of a 1968 or 69 Ford Fairlane so it should be signifigantly more powerful than the current 360.

When I looked at the FMX trans and how it bolts to the 390 it has a rounded shape where the trans and engine mate as opposed to the C6 that has more of a flat top where it mates to the engine.

My question is if I can remove the 360fe from the truck and install the 390 work as a direct bolt in or will I have to get some kind of adapter or something else to make it work with my current C6?

Thanks!
Dferg

 

The 360 and 390 have the same bellhousing bolt pattern- so any transmission that fits one will also fit the other.

 

Cool. Thanks!

I'll probably go ahead and purchase the engine and trans from him and get it ready to be rebuilt.

Thanks again,
Dferg

 

That '76 with the flat top on the trans....you sure it's a 360?

Intake under the valve covers?

Or is it a 351m?

Look at the bell patterns here, scoll down to see:

Forum Faqs

 

Hmm, I'll have to check. It's still at his house so I don't have ready access to it.

The VIN says it has a 360fe but it's a pretty old truck so there is always a chance something has been switched. I don't think it has though since it was my co-workers dad's truck and he thinks it's all stock. Only got 90,000 miles on it.

Dferg

 

Thanks for the info though! That is a great resource!!

Dferg

 

The engine with the flat top bell is not a FE. Measure the bolt spread on the flat top. 5 1/2" or 7 1/2".

As stated previously, ALL FEs are round top.




John