did 360FE fords ever come with flat top pistons with valve reliefs, i'm haveing trouble deciding if this engine i have is a 390 or a 360 when i measure the stroke i get 3.60 ish with one tool, then with another i get a hair shorter than 3.75 with another. granted i am measuring piston down in the hole to the top of the deck so... i would assume a 360FE, if it matters it had C8 heads on it.

 

The 360 and 390 blocks are the same bore. While the 390 has a 390 crank the 360 has a 352 crank/stroke. While a few trucks had 390s they were few and far between. Most were 352 & 360. Look at the front of the block do you see 352 or a reverse image 105?


John

 

352/359/360/361 stroke = 3.5"

389/390/391/406/427 stroke = 3.78"

The 360's I have seen had flat top pistons with 4 valve reliefs cut in them.

If you are measuring to the top of the deck, you must have the heads off? If yes, do you have the oil pan off? If yes, what is the crank casting number?

 

stamped 352 on the front we pulled it out of a 72 F250 vin said 360 so..., yes i have the heads off do not have the oil pan off, i was hoping i got lucky and some ol boy threw a 390 in the truck, now that i think about it the stroke would be right for a 360 as i was forgetting to subtract the amount the piston is in the hole

 

Those flat top pistons with valve reliefs were originally found in 390 4V engines. The 360 uses the same spec pistons as the earlier car 390s. (people here report finding both the flat top and the dished top as OEM for the 390 2V in the cars). Ford put it on the longer rod with the shorter stroke and you have the down-the-hole low compression motor that we all know and love, the 360.

In the 390, they used the 410 piston to keep it down the hole.

So if you fiddle with your engine, remember pickup truck pistons are going to give you low compression. You have to check your compression height and make sure you are getting what you want.

 

What all can be done with a 360? some people say they are dogs, while some people say give them a small cam, headers and a 4bbl and you be extremely happy

 

Small 4bbl and headers has gotten good reviews.

I wouldn't fool with the cam. Being that the pistons are .120 or so down the hole, I think these would be detonation prone if you were somehow able to really fill the cylinders and raise the pressure in there. And then you are probably going to need springs with a higher lift cam.

IMO stick with the two external items, and see how you like it. If more output is needed, go 390 with some compression and a cam to match what you want.

ymmv, jmo, and in all cases, it will still drink about the same amount of gas. FE does not stand for Fuel Economy.

 

I might suggest head work, headers, rv cam, 600cfm 4 barrel, and you can have a very happy truck engine. A different plan if you are going to the track.

I second that "FE does not stand for Fuel Economy." but ***** to haul


John

 

When I tore down the 360 in my truck, it was the first time. Everything was stock Ford, this is what I found, four pistons were marked 360 and four were marked 390 4V.

 

I rebuilt mine and left as a 360. I went with Elgin cam, headers and currently have Holley 4160 on it. Love the way it sounds and is a blast to drive.


What are you looking to do with the truck? I just use mine as a weekend cruiser and it is great for that.

 

This is where you want to be without spending a lot of money and to keep basic tuning issues down. My 390, built from the block up, bored .030 over with stock heads ported/polished to mock to Edelbroc specs, RV cam, Holley 600, roller rockers, Edlebroc performance intake manifold, headers and 2.5 in exhaust makes one helluva difference from a stock 390.


Just replacing the intake manifold and exhaust can make a difference since it will be able to breath better.....

 

i'll be honest with ya, i was kinda thinking about throwing maybe a 125 shot of nitrous oxide on a stock 360, just kinda throwing ideas around... i currently have a 390FE .040 over with flat tops, surfaced heads, all it currently needs headers but one of my bolts in my exhaust manifold is gone and the hole has been drilled and it got off center( previous owner)
but i was thinking my 360 in the garage is standerd bore with good walls, i figured i throw standard bore forged pistons in it, clean the heads up, run like a 490 lift cam ( or a nos cam) aluminium intake and a mechanical 650 holley, headers and a electronic ignition, be a fun street motor i'm pretty sure stock rods would take a 125 shot.

 

Rods might survive but the valve train probably will explode with high rpm's if you use the stock girdle.


If it were me, I would use 360 block but borrow the crank and rods from the 390 and then you have a better platform to play with. Still have to be mindful of rpm's unless you have extensive head work done to make valve train bullet proof.

 

i wasn't planing on high rpm, i figure cam rated to 5500 and only rev it to 5200.

 

I am afraid to rev mine over 4500.....lol. My biggest issue is my intake, I have an old Offenhauser that is a 360 degree, it doesn't want to pull until 3,000 rpms and by then I am ready to get off the accelerator. Probably going to try to find a good used performer or street dominator this winter and see if that helps. I have manual 3 speed and it likes to break the tires loose going from 1st to 2nd but from 2nd to 3rd she is a turd until the rpm's get up close to 3,000.