I was recently inspired to try to do something with my 71 Ford Truck. It is a 360 with three on the tree and quite frankly I do not like how it runs...Although it has not been out of my garage in several year...the though of driving it without power steering does not appeal to me....I assume that this too, could be taken care of with money, but here in Western Oklahoma mechanics who do that kind of thing are few and far between. I would like to find a better engine for the truck as it is a nice vehicle and has been garage kept for years. My age limits me on what I can do at this point but I suppose selling it is an option as well. I did a lot of work on it before my wife became ill some six years ago and eventually passed. The problem, I suppose is the engine and the power steering and frankly speaking, I need the garage space for my chevy truck....!

 

If you have to pay to have this all done, you might as well sell it and buy a different truck or other vehicle that has the features you want.

An engine swap and power steering conversion done at a shop? I don't see how you get by for less than $5000.

And would you keep the 3 speed? You'd want an automatic overdrive with your new motor, right? Money money money....

 

As 85 said, if you have to pay to have the things you need done, the best thing is to sell it. That said, what is wrong with your engine and what kind is it? Have you taken a compression check. Power steering is not too difficult to DIY, but it entails crawling under the truck. I find it harder to do every year and I'm only in my mid 70's.

 

Me too. I like your attitude.

 

Thanks for your response to this...Alex and others....Yes I know about how hard it is to do as I just turned 70 and have some back problems....I don't know, it was just a thought....The old truck is nice, but people here in western Ok.....don't want to pay too much for these older vehicles nowadays....I don't know what the truck is worth, but like I said it has been garage kept for the past 15 years or so....I put some new parts on it before the wife took ill, but of course, this means little when selling...Maybe you could help me price it....I think it has about 80,000 miles on it, but I know that this means little...It has little or no rust...it is just so danged hard to steer....The old 360 has always been a little sluggish for sure....Help me price it if you can...thanks..rogue s.

 

Hard ta steer, sitting for 15 years. Sounds like kink pins and everything else in the
front is binding. When new they steered pretty good. Even for the elderly. But to change to power steering is not to hard or spendy.

Could we see some pictures? Here is how.


But I got ta say becoming a supporter is the fastest and easiest way to post pics right from
your whatever pad/cell thing or home computer.
Few of us look in the users Gallery or album as you can see by your recent visitors.


Quote:
Originally Posted by 76f350spercamprspeal

Welcome to FTE, Best Damn Forum EVER!
------------------------
Here's How to Post Pictures:
1. Login to FTE.
2.Click User CP (In the Top Left Hand Corner)
3.(On the Left, There will be a list, The 5th Option Down, will say "Pictures & Albums) Click That.
4.Then, Click Add Album, Enter a title, and description, if ya want to.
5. Click Upload Pictures, Then click Browse, Locate the Files of your truck. (You can add 3 files at a time)
5. Click Upload.
6. Add a description to the individual pictures, then click save.
7. Add more files if ya want.
8. Click The Picture you want to post, it will give you two codes at the bottom, Right Click The Second one (It say's BB Code, Then Say's [IMG]http:blahblahblah...[/IMG])
Then, Once that is highlighted, Right Click, Then Copy, Then Paste it into your post.
You can add up to 30 Images in one FTE Post.
If, Ya need any help, Don't hesitate to ask.


Quote:
Originally Posted by old_dan

You can also go to the "Garage" tab and start an album right here on FTE. After you post pictures to an album, we can look in your album, but you'll also be able to "insert a picture" by pasting in a link to the picture in your album.

It seems awkward, but whenever you "insert a picture" to one of these threads, the forum is looking for the picture somewhere on the web (which is always available) rather than from somewhere on your hard drive (which isn't always available).

Quote:
Originally Posted By Jolly Roger Joe

Welcome to FTE!

Go to Image hosting, free photo sharing & video sharing at Photobucket and sign up for a free account. Then create an album for your truck. Upload any pics you want to post on FTE to that album. Have this album open on your computer when you want to post pics on FTE.

While you're making a post on FTE, select the pic you want to post from your Photobucket album. When the large version of the pic is open, right mouse click on it and select "View Image Info". The image info will be highlighted and will look something like this:
The best photos and videos | Photobucket

Copy that highlighted info (right click / copy).

When you have the spot in your post where you want the pic to be placed, select the "Insert Image" icon at the top of the post (looks like a mountain) and paste (right click / paste) the image info you copied in the highlighted box (just shows "http://" when it opens).

Your pic will be placed in the post.

Hope that helps.

Here's a tutorial Bob put together: https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/67...-pictures.html

 

I have to agree with selling it if you can't do the work yourself. I have a 68 f250 it has a 460 ps/pb c-6 auto it drives great and I want $5000 for it. you should try for $3000 and take the best offer from there if it as good as you say.

 

Peckman, I have exactly the same truck, only mine's the camper special.

 

mine is too...the orig. owner had it dealer spec.ed with the 460..the largest offered was a 390 so the dealer swaped the 390 for a 460 when it was delivered to the dealership

 

I installed my 460 in about 1980 after blowing up my built 390.

 

I saw a local guy putting a $9000 engine in a $2500 long wheel base chevy today. The truck had no paint and no interior...So I guess the question is what engine could I put in the 71 Ford custom that would make it comparable to this chevy. The engine had all kind of chrome on it and he said that it will really be hot when he finishes. I am thinking that it will be used for possibly STREET RACING or something similar on a old stretch of highway close to town...I think he can do the job with this old lwb chevy. SO what engine would be the hottest if I want to spend the money? Racing or not, I think it would be pretty cool to have. I already have a nice chevy truck that I drive daily....Just wondering....Thanks in advance my friends.

 

Two possibilities:
1.Built 460
2.supercharged 351. Beat his little boy bow tie with less cubic inches.

 

360/390 share the same block, the bore is the same (4.05"), the stroke is different: 360: 3.50" - 390: 3.78."

So all that's needed to convert a 360 to a 390 are the 390's crank, rods, pistons and rings. EVERYTHING else is the same.

460: 1968/78 Lincoln/Continental Marks - 1972/76 Thunderbird / Optional: 1973/78 misc Ford/Merc Passenger Cars - 1973/76 F100 - 1973/79 F250/350 - 1975/79 F150 - 1975/97 E250/350 - 1983/97 F250/350.

351C: 1970/74 misc Ford/Merc Passenger Cars & Ranchero's only.

There was no such thing as P/S until 1951, when it was introduced as an option in Chrysler New Yorker/Imperial. Wasn't installed in all the other cars until the mid-50's, didn't become popular until the 1960's.

Consider that your relatives drove elephantine behemoth sized cars and trucks for decades without P/S, age and bad backs had nothing to do with it.

IMO, fix the worn out suspension and steering, inflate the tires properly, then you won't need P/S.

 

Thanks Bill. You said it so much better than I tried to do in post #6.
If all is in good shape they really steer great. Even in a parking lot.
Ya just have to be rolling a little bit is all.

 

I had a 64 Ford with a 390 engine years ago....something happened to it and I knew not what, but I had to put another engine in the car. I got a nice low mileage 390 from a salvage yard that proved to be a great engine, but neither the old engine or the one from the newer 67 Ford proved to be very snappy...dependable for the most part but not snappy. I guess I would have to check on some upgrades to make a good and fast 390 with a local mechanic...I would prefer the smaller engine as opposed to the 460, but I am not sure at this point.