Hey Guys I've got a 1968 F600 currently with a non running 391 which was not the original engine. It originally came with a 330 MD. I was curious as to what Engine would be best to replace it with, because there aren't any rebuild kits out there that are for the 391. So what are your opinions

 

Welcome to FTE.

330 HD, 361, 391 will all interchange. Intake and accessory drives should swap right over.

Overhaul kit:

Ford 391 3 Ring Piston Engine 1966-1978 | Northern Auto Parts

I found more on e-bay.

What are you going to do with the truck? What else needs a rebuild? Budget?

Checked the brakes and tires yet? You can easily "triple the value" of a truck like this with new tires and brakes, let alone an engine.

 

It's a family Airloom it's my Great Grandads Truck. I plan on clear coating it as the patina is very cool. It needs tires and brakes but there is NO Cab Rust. I was wandering if a 460 would swap,in a planning on making it a daily driver/ rod truck/farm truck.

 

You can put a 460 in there, but you will be on your own to fab up mounts and figure out a transmission. You could probably put a ZF in there.

The 460 will give you plenty of power, but if you are going to run this thing with max loads, you will have to be a little lighter on the load pedal so as to not overload the rest of the drive train or run the 460 so hard as to over heat it or worse.

Then there is the excellent steering and brakes. As OEM, these things were best held to about 60 mph. You'll figure that out.

IMO you need to budget a pretty fair amount of money on this. Brakes and tires will be pretty expensive. Does this already have tubeless? Not sure a '68 would still have the widow maker wheels. Are you familiar with those?

 

I'm not familiar with widow maker wheels, but I do know that brake kit is 90$ and I will be Getting New tires at my local CO-OP for a decent price, it's non power steering. Its a 5 speed with a two speed rear end. And I'm just looking for a direct replacement engine I read a,360 will fit as long as you change the,fly wheel.

 

360 is an FE. Your 391 is an FT.

FT has a larger crank snout, and uses a cast iron or steel front cover which is also an engine mount. The FT also uses the bell housing as the rear engine mount.

Wheels: second link in post 1, and the link in post 7 will give you pics of the dangerous wheels.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ification.html

Flywheel: This deals with the flywheel issues between FE and FT motors:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...ap-clutch.html

5 and 2 is a good set up.

Good luck with it.

 

I built my 391 into a 390/391...

lower is 391.. upper is 390.. which allowed me to use 390 heads... aluminum intake .. billet electronic distributor... stainless valves etc...

My build is nearing completion... look for project "lil bit"... youll be sure to like it.. my 1973 f600 resto

Pictures now posted under my thread "tie rod source 1973 f600"

 

Luckily mine are not the deadly widowmaker wheels, and Is the other poster correct, can I use the top end from the 390? This would be a huge live saver!

 

Any good machine shop can make this happen... machine the oil pump area.. use 390 block with 391 crank ...snout..rods.. front parts and accessories
Best of both worlds

 

So I can't use my 391 Block?I was hoping I could do a rebuild,in my Garage!

 

 

I would suggest.. based on money only a careful rebuild... in my case I had a 330 and I wanted a larger motor.. and the 391/390 combo was around 3500 dollars are dressed out and done right

I looked at just building the 391.. and done right it came in at about 2500.. so for me getting a better performing motor with lighter more modern parts made the decision easy .. I lost nearly 100 pounds on just the intake...

A 391 is an excellent motor.. my 390/391 will run away from one.. but Im also a one owner driver and the truck will be babied by me

 

He has another thread running, and I found an old thread talking about 391/390. I that thread they talk about problems using an FE distributor in an FT block. No side support. Any ideas on that?

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1375496-391-ft.html

Or can he use the FT distributor with an FE intake?

 

As far as swapping distributors between FE/FT here's how it goes . A FE distributor has a 1/4 in oil pump drive, the FT has a 5/16inch oil pump drive.
So to use a FE dist in a FT you must install a bushing in the block and change the oil pump and drive to the FE style 1/4inch. To use a FT dist in a FE block you must have the block bored to FT diameter and convert to FT oil pump and drive. At one time you could buy a oil pump shaft that was 1/4in on one end 5/16 on the other. As stated the difference in crank snouts is problematic in using a FT timing cover on a FE but it can be done. There is a seal that fits the FT cover and the FE seal sleeve. Also the FE seal sleeve must be machined deeper to fit. A 330 MD FT flywheel can be used on a FE when installing in a FT application. FT exhaust manifolds can be used on a FE if the center port is welded shut.


Have A Good Day ==== Hotwrench