deciding on engine
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: in the double wide traile
deciding on engine
I'm looking to buy a 73-79 ford truck and I need some help on buying.
I want to have a 360 or 390 in the truck but I can't decided if I should buy a truck that has one of those motors or buy a truck then find the motor and put in it.
Either way I'm gonna take the motor and have it rebuilt and have some mods done to it so do u guys think I should buy a truck with it and drive it around some and make sure it runs good and has good compression and oil pressure and don't make knocking sounds then pull it and have it rebuilt.
Or since I'm gonna have the motor rebuilt should I just buy the truck then get a motor and have it built then put it in and trust whoever I buy the motor from didn't rag on it and tear it up.But my thinking was if the block looked good wasn't leaking oil and if I pulled the heads on the motor and looked at the pistons I could tell if their cracked and those would be signs of abuse.But I'm not sure what else to look for when buying a motor.
Any help please???
Thanks,
Dan
I want to have a 360 or 390 in the truck but I can't decided if I should buy a truck that has one of those motors or buy a truck then find the motor and put in it.
Either way I'm gonna take the motor and have it rebuilt and have some mods done to it so do u guys think I should buy a truck with it and drive it around some and make sure it runs good and has good compression and oil pressure and don't make knocking sounds then pull it and have it rebuilt.
Or since I'm gonna have the motor rebuilt should I just buy the truck then get a motor and have it built then put it in and trust whoever I buy the motor from didn't rag on it and tear it up.But my thinking was if the block looked good wasn't leaking oil and if I pulled the heads on the motor and looked at the pistons I could tell if their cracked and those would be signs of abuse.But I'm not sure what else to look for when buying a motor.
Any help please???
Thanks,
Dan
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,624
Likes: 8
From: Missouri
If you are looking to rebuild the engine I would get the nicest looking old truck you can find and pay no heed to how well the engine runs. Just make sure it is an FE. Hope that it is a 390 but a 360 can be easily converted to one. Once you get it home pull the engine and rebuild it to your specifications. When I bought my truck it was knocking so hard I coulda swore that the rods were going to fly right through the pan but I didn't care. There wasn't a hint of rust on the truck. Now it has a fresh paint job and the engine runs just like I wanted it to. I doubt you find an FE that you can't rebuild. Parts are plentiful and cheap for the 390 in the junkyards so you can always find replacements for whatever you need.
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 73
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From: in the double wide traile
Well I'm not really wanting the truck to be good looking when I buy it.Just as long as theirs not much rust and the rust can be fixed because I want to buy the truck and do a frame off restoration.Beat up trucks are alot cheaper then one's that have been taken care of.
But I'm now leaning towards finding a truck with the motor I want because then I wouldn't have to worry about finding a motor and paying for it seperate then it might cost more then buying a truck with the motor already in it.Cause I'm not sure how much junkyards around here charge for motors but I'll some friends.
Thanks,
Dan
But I'm now leaning towards finding a truck with the motor I want because then I wouldn't have to worry about finding a motor and paying for it seperate then it might cost more then buying a truck with the motor already in it.Cause I'm not sure how much junkyards around here charge for motors but I'll some friends.
Thanks,
Dan
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 2
From: Conway Arkansas
Beat up trucks may be cheaper, but they cost the same or more in the end.
If your wanting a FE motor... buy a truck that looks good w/ a piece of crap motor... rebuild the motor.
Cheaper, and motor work is so much easier than body work
If your wanting a FE motor... buy a truck that looks good w/ a piece of crap motor... rebuild the motor.
Cheaper, and motor work is so much easier than body work
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,833
Likes: 5
From: Jefferson, Iowa
I personally think it is harder to do body work than a simple engine rebuild, but that is me. I would put a 390 in the truck, the rod were a little tougher, and the over all engine was better.
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,775
Likes: 2
From: Conway Arkansas
I agree 78Fordman... Just like I stated above...
Body work is harder to do.
Also, mechanics are a bit cheaper than Body workers
It may cost you a few grand to have someome totoally build your motor if your not willing to do it.
But it will cost you a ton of money to have rust removed and body panels fixed...
So go w/ a better looking truck
and have a motor built, or do it yourself
Body work is harder to do.
Also, mechanics are a bit cheaper than Body workers
It may cost you a few grand to have someome totoally build your motor if your not willing to do it.
But it will cost you a ton of money to have rust removed and body panels fixed...
So go w/ a better looking truck
and have a motor built, or do it yourself
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