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Hey, I'm looking to build the 360 engine in my Highboy, I'm wondering what the quickest way to increase horsepower and torque is. Im looking for around 350-400 Horsepower.
Crank, rods and pistons. IF your current pistons are in good condition and in spec with the bores, you can reuse them. The crank and rods would be 390 crank and rods. With your pistons you would increase displacement to 390 and raise compression from the low 8s to the mid or high 9s, depending on the piston top and actual combustion chamber size.
Add headers, a decent 4bbl intake and carb, and the old 390GT cam, and you would be in the ballpark power wise.
If you don't want to go that way, just install a smallish 4bbl and headers, fiddle with ignition timing and call it a day. Several here report noticeable gains with that set up.
For more on the 360 and other FE variants, read on here: