Advice regarding purchasing a 390
Super Moderator
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 34,493
Likes: 2,809
Welcome to FTE!
Most FE motors in pickups will be 360s. Check the FAQ at the top of the FE forum for how to measure stroke, and all the other hints and helps that are listed there.
Since I haven't been in a junkyard for decades, I have no idea what you can find or where when it comes to older cars and trucks.
'61 to about '68 T-birds had 390s and 428s. All the mid and full size cars had them until '71. Lots of Mercury cars had them.
But you really need to be able to check the stroke. Which takes us back to the FAQ.
Or you could just buy a crank, rods and pistons, since that's the difference. The pistons in a 360 are actually car 390 pistons, but I would bet it's time for an overbore.
A fellow traveler, just for reference:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-sourcing.html
Most FE motors in pickups will be 360s. Check the FAQ at the top of the FE forum for how to measure stroke, and all the other hints and helps that are listed there.
Since I haven't been in a junkyard for decades, I have no idea what you can find or where when it comes to older cars and trucks.
'61 to about '68 T-birds had 390s and 428s. All the mid and full size cars had them until '71. Lots of Mercury cars had them.
But you really need to be able to check the stroke. Which takes us back to the FAQ.
Or you could just buy a crank, rods and pistons, since that's the difference. The pistons in a 360 are actually car 390 pistons, but I would bet it's time for an overbore.
A fellow traveler, just for reference:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-sourcing.html
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 2,240
Likes: 23
You know the 360 and 390 share the same block right? Since you'll probably have to rebuild any 390 you find.... might as well just rebuild your 360 into a 390. Save yourself the headache of finding and gambling on another engine.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 26,007
Likes: 575
From: Brentwood,CA
Not happening, you won't find many blocks that can take that bore size without making the jackets to thin. Best you could do is a 410 and even that requires no core shift and thick cylinder walls.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,029
Likes: 891
From: East Central Ia
390 and 410 have same bore. Just 428 stroke. Some of the 390 light duty truck engines used 410 pistons with 390 crank for low compression.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 324
From: Central Florida
Converting a 360 to a 390 is a simple matter of swapping in the 390 reciprocating assembly (crank, rods and pistons). Thus, a very cost-effective option to consider is to buy a new reciprocating assembly from Scat. This will open up the possibility of getting a stroker kit (larger than 390 stroke) that will result in a CID as high as 447. The Scat stroker kits will include main and rod bearings, wrist pins and rings too.
Get a competent machine shop to scope out your block before making any decisions.
Get a competent machine shop to scope out your block before making any decisions.
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