Best pulling motor

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Sep 15, 2024 | 02:44 PM

#16

cleatus12r

Butt-Head

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 9,457

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From: Reed Point, MT

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbear853

I would bet on it being better than the older 352, or say any Y-block ....

The 352 was a much better engine than the 360 due to the compression height of the piston (higher up in the bore for better quench). The two are identical in every single way except for the piston compression height - the 0.050" bore difference is inconsequential. To be honest, the 390 pickup engines (in the high 8:1 CR range due to the 410 pistons) are junk too and unless they're put together with 360 pistons are pretty anemic as well.

The Y-blocks were garbage all around albeit better in the power department than the valve-in-block Briggs and Stratton engines they replaced.

Sep 16, 2024 | 10:04 AM

#17

flowney

Cargo Master

Joined: Jun 2014

Posts: 2,218

Likes: 325

From: Central Florida

I assume that "pull" refers to towing load capacity at highway speeds rather than what we see in a pulling contest at the fairgrounds. In addition to the torque produced by the engine, one must also consider gearing. Rear axle ratio and tire size plus having overdrive will need to be factored into your decision making.
If you have a 4X2 equipped with FE motor mounts and transmission mount, you'll need to source or fabricate new ones to go with the 460 or any other 385 (stroke) Ford engine. For the 4X2 this is quite easy (JY source), for the 4X4 a little harder but there are commercial options that ease the burden). The 460 was available up to '96 or so and the later ones were fuel injected (EFI) and had beefy auto transmissions with overdrive. Sourcing a whole JY '96 F-350 would be ideal. Hitching (5th wheel or 2" receiver hitch, load stabilizers and so forth) are other factors.
OTOH, any FE with a sound block can be stroked to 475 or so CID. Getting overdrive for an FE is possible but a bit more difficult than with a '96 vintage 460.