My son recently bought a 76 F-150 with a 360, 4spd , etc. the guy claimed the motor was rebuilt and had about 35k on it. It was leaking oil from everywhere you could think of. So we pulled it down to just the short block. It was leaking from the intake both front and rear. The cylinders look great, and so do the bearings. So we are gonna just have the heads cleaned up. I've read so many threads on 360's and decided go just ask the questions I have.
1. He would like to put in a cam to give him a nice lopey idle. What cam have some of you used and been happy with.
2. Can there be much done with the stock heads to make them flow better? I've read you can upgrade valves with little to no machine work. I read something about the heads pooling oil in the valve covers too.
3. We have an edelbrock intake, Carter afb carb, and are going to invest in headers, and a good exhaust system. Which headers have been the best?
4. It does have the factory electronic ignition, is that a pretty good system to run?
Thanks for helping us out here. I came from the "dark side" being a Chevy guy my whole life. I love this old truck and hope we can build him something he can hold on to for awhile.

 

360s suffer a sunken piston, and therefore low compression. Higher compression pistons are not easily available, and nothing you do with heads will fix the problem. A lumpy cam might just make things worse, as it will result in even lower cylinder pressure.

If you are going to tear into it, go the distance and install a 390 or 428 or aftermarket stroker crank up to 445. (serving suggestion, ymmv)

An RV cam might be a better choice. Remember springs, stockers might float over 3500 rpms or bind with a different lift.

The stock heads probably flow enough for what you are doing.

Headers and a good exhaust system correct the second worst feature of the engine, the exhast manifolds. Buy good ones vs. the cheapest you can find. I'm sure these are good--they better be for the price:

HEADERS CERAMIC FORD at Doug Thorley Headers dougthorleyheaders.com

Your carb and intake will be a good upgrade. Stock ignition is ok also.

You have any smog inspections to worry about?

 

When we get the heads done I was hoping to upgrade the springs. I can just buy a 390 rotating assembly right? Is it worth the money to upgrade all of that? And yes we have smog testing but we already got that done and with collector car plates we are good for another 10 years.

 

You could take the stock net HP rating of 145 hp/264 torque, and gain maybe 50 hp with the headers and intake. Or, convert to a 390 with the headers, cam, intake and 9-9.5 compression, and pick up 100 hp and 100 ft/lbs. And use the same amount of gas.

ymmv, but that's the rough difference.

 

do the 390 switch , i did it when i found out my 360 was on it's last leg .
my truck is a blast to drive now .