69 barn find motor help

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Mar 28, 2018 | 04:16 PM

bubbatime

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Joined: May 2017

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From: Fort Worth

69 barn find motor help

Hey FTE! I am new here and in need of some advice. I found an incredible 69 Ranger hiding in a barn for 24 years. I have taken my time replacing all the rubber and wearable bits to get it on the road again. Lowered the rear with a front shackle flip and put some meaty tires on the back. I was trying to get this going well enough for my son to drive. After its first long day driving at highway speed it was running great. The next morning I had an engine knock.

So now I have to decide whether I rebuild the 360 or replace with newer drive train. Any one have advice on what is easiest and most reliable option for my teenage son to drive when its complete? Wondering if I should turn it into a 390 or go for a 5.4 drive train. We live in Texas, drive the heck out of things and use mainly highways at 70MPH.

First day home:

last day of driving:

Mar 28, 2018 | 04:23 PM

willowbilly3

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Joined: Jun 2003

Posts: 8,209

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From: Black Hills of SD

You probably won't get any 2 people who answer that the same. Cheapest and easiest is rebuild what you have and do a few upgrades if it's in the budget.

Mar 28, 2018 | 04:42 PM

bubbatime

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Joined: May 2017

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From: Fort Worth

So, if I build to a 390 with a mild cam and headers, should I expect some highway drive-ability improvements like increased max speed and MPG? (are there headers that you can shove in this thing?)

Mar 28, 2018 | 06:59 PM

NumberDummy

Ford Parts Specialist

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 88,826

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From: Simi Valley, CA

These trucks have the aerodynamics of a brick. A gallon of regular gas was about 25 cents when they were new, and back then no one gave a hoot about MPG!

Figure 8 to 12 city, you might get 13-16 MPG highway if you drive 55.

I bought 3 of these FE gas hogs new (65 F100 352/T85 O/D / 68 F250 390/T-18 / 71 F100 390/C6), never expected decent MPG

Mar 29, 2018 | 12:40 PM

pchelp

Elder User

Joined: May 2017

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Welcome to the forum, DFW TX here. If you are looking for something to get milage above 12 mpg you might think about a straight 6

Mar 29, 2018 | 12:52 PM

MIKES 68 F100

Logistics Pro

Joined: Jan 2011

Posts: 4,762

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From: Antelope Valley ,CA

if MPG is a must opt for a modern EFI motor 5.0 /5.4 .... with a 5spd manual or AOD .

Mar 29, 2018 | 02:19 PM

'65Ford

Cargo Master

Joined: Jan 2016

Posts: 2,672

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I never quite got why the FE is known as a gas hog. Yeah, they get 12-13 mpg running empty. And they get the same 12-13 with the pickup loaded with all the payload it can carry. Towing a 10,000 lb trailer, my 390 got 7-8 mpg ... the same as a brand new ecoboost towing the same weight.

My experience with a 300 inline in a pickup is they get about 16-18 mpg, but will no way pull the 10,000 lb trailer at 65mph. Guess, what I'm saying is to size the motor for the job you want it to do. An FE will match a modern motor for power and mpg if correctly built and when you match them to the job.

For better mpg if you won't be towing then consider an EFI 300 or 302 with a 5 speed OD tranny.

For reliability and driveability, an FE is as good as any other motor ...can add EFI if you don't want to mess with a carb. I do a lot of freeway driving at a steady 2800 rpms on my built FE...one of the smoothest motors I've ever run.