Best pulling motor
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 132
Likes: 1
From: Montana
Best pulling motor
I am curious as to what is the best pulling motor for the 1970's ford pickups? A lot of people have said the 360 others say the 390 or 460. I am somewhat confused why people say the 360 is superior. Any info on this would be greatly appreciated.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 791
Likes: 62
From: Backwoods of western Pa
The 460 makes the most torque and horsepower of any 70's ford truck motors. There's no way around that unless you start modifying them, and if you're modifying them the 460 still has an advantage because of the added displacement. The only disadvantage to the 460 is it is heavier.
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,148
Likes: 5,783
From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
The 360 cubic-inch V8 engine was available in the 1973 Ford F-250 4x4 from 1973–1976. The 360 was also available in the 1973–1974 F-100 trucks. The 360 engine was built with heavy-duty internal components for use in trucks. It shared the same block, heads, and other parts as the 390 engine, making them difficult to tell apart unless the stroke is measured. The 360 could be adjusted to perform similarly to the 352 and 390 car engines by using a standard 352/390 cam, carburetor, and distributor.
The Ford 360 engine is a V8 engine created between 1968 and 1971 with two barrels had 215 horsepower at 4,400 rpm and a max torque of 327 at 2,400 rpm. The later model, which ran from 1972 until 1975, had 196 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 327 max torque.
360 history: https://www.vehiclehistory.com/artic...specs-and-more
460: The 460 engines were made at Ford's Lima, Ohio factory, and share the same 4.36-inch bore size as the 429 size big block but with a different stroke (the 429 is 3.59 inches and the 460 is 3.85 inches). The output for the 460 starting in 1972 was 212 hp and 342 lb.-ft
From 1968 to 1972, the pre-embargo 460 big blocks made 365 horsepower and impressive 388 lb. -ft. of torque. Peak horsepower was achieved at 4,400 rpm, while the peak torque figure came in at 2,800 rpm.
And yes you could NOT get a 460 (from the factory) in a 4wd Ford truck until 1983.
"460 WAS not available (FROM THE FACTORY) with 4WD or a Manual Trans until 1983, then only in F250/350's"/ No 460's available in F100's after 1976, F150's after 1979 (CA:1978), Passenger Cars after 1978 / No 460's available in 1980/82 F250/350's, E250/350's only.
1983/97 F250/350 460's have a hydraulic clutch.
1973/79 4WD's do not use engine towers (aka perches, stands), as there is no engine cross member to bolt them to. 4WD engine supports bolt to the inner frame rails.
The Ford 360 engine is a V8 engine created between 1968 and 1971 with two barrels had 215 horsepower at 4,400 rpm and a max torque of 327 at 2,400 rpm. The later model, which ran from 1972 until 1975, had 196 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 327 max torque.
360 history: https://www.vehiclehistory.com/artic...specs-and-more
460: The 460 engines were made at Ford's Lima, Ohio factory, and share the same 4.36-inch bore size as the 429 size big block but with a different stroke (the 429 is 3.59 inches and the 460 is 3.85 inches). The output for the 460 starting in 1972 was 212 hp and 342 lb.-ft
From 1968 to 1972, the pre-embargo 460 big blocks made 365 horsepower and impressive 388 lb. -ft. of torque. Peak horsepower was achieved at 4,400 rpm, while the peak torque figure came in at 2,800 rpm.
And yes you could NOT get a 460 (from the factory) in a 4wd Ford truck until 1983.
"460 WAS not available (FROM THE FACTORY) with 4WD or a Manual Trans until 1983, then only in F250/350's"/ No 460's available in F100's after 1976, F150's after 1979 (CA:1978), Passenger Cars after 1978 / No 460's available in 1980/82 F250/350's, E250/350's only.
1983/97 F250/350 460's have a hydraulic clutch.
1973/79 4WD's do not use engine towers (aka perches, stands), as there is no engine cross member to bolt them to. 4WD engine supports bolt to the inner frame rails.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 791
Likes: 62
From: Backwoods of western Pa
The 360 cubic-inch V8 engine was available in the 1973 Ford F-250 4x4 from 1973–1976. The 360 was also available in the 1973–1974 F-100 trucks. The 360 engine was built with heavy-duty internal components for use in trucks. It shared the same block, heads, and other parts as the 390 engine, making them difficult to tell apart unless the stroke is measured. The 360 could be adjusted to perform similarly to the 352 and 390 car engines by using a standard 352/390 cam, carburetor, and distributor.
The Ford 360 engine is a V8 engine created between 1968 and 1971 with two barrels had 215 horsepower at 4,400 rpm and a max torque of 327 at 2,400 rpm. The later model, which ran from 1972 until 1975, had 196 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 327 max torque.
360 history: https://www.vehiclehistory.com/artic...specs-and-more
460: The 460 engines were made at Ford's Lima, Ohio factory, and share the same 4.36-inch bore size as the 429 size big block but with a different stroke (the 429 is 3.59 inches and the 460 is 3.85 inches). The output for the 460 starting in 1972 was 212 hp and 342 lb.-ft
From 1968 to 1972, the pre-embargo 460 big blocks made 365 horsepower and impressive 388 lb. -ft. of torque. Peak horsepower was achieved at 4,400 rpm, while the peak torque figure came in at 2,800 rpm.
And yes you could NOT get a 460 (from the factory) in a 4wd Ford truck until 1983.
"460 WAS not available (FROM THE FACTORY) with 4WD or a Manual Trans until 1983, then only in F250/350's"/ No 460's available in F100's after 1976, F150's after 1979 (CA:1978), Passenger Cars after 1978 / No 460's available in 1980/82 F250/350's, E250/350's only.
1983/97 F250/350 460's have a hydraulic clutch.
1973/79 4WD's do not use engine towers (aka perches, stands), as there is no engine cross member to bolt them to. 4WD engine supports bolt to the inner frame rails.
The Ford 360 engine is a V8 engine created between 1968 and 1971 with two barrels had 215 horsepower at 4,400 rpm and a max torque of 327 at 2,400 rpm. The later model, which ran from 1972 until 1975, had 196 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 327 max torque.
360 history: https://www.vehiclehistory.com/artic...specs-and-more
460: The 460 engines were made at Ford's Lima, Ohio factory, and share the same 4.36-inch bore size as the 429 size big block but with a different stroke (the 429 is 3.59 inches and the 460 is 3.85 inches). The output for the 460 starting in 1972 was 212 hp and 342 lb.-ft
From 1968 to 1972, the pre-embargo 460 big blocks made 365 horsepower and impressive 388 lb. -ft. of torque. Peak horsepower was achieved at 4,400 rpm, while the peak torque figure came in at 2,800 rpm.
And yes you could NOT get a 460 (from the factory) in a 4wd Ford truck until 1983.
"460 WAS not available (FROM THE FACTORY) with 4WD or a Manual Trans until 1983, then only in F250/350's"/ No 460's available in F100's after 1976, F150's after 1979 (CA:1978), Passenger Cars after 1978 / No 460's available in 1980/82 F250/350's, E250/350's only.
1983/97 F250/350 460's have a hydraulic clutch.
1973/79 4WD's do not use engine towers (aka perches, stands), as there is no engine cross member to bolt them to. 4WD engine supports bolt to the inner frame rails.
To the Original poster: Are you talking about sled pulling? I lived in the street stock 4wd sled pulling scene for many years and the 460s were pretty dominant in that world. Lots of torque available in stock form, responds well to minor tweaks that are allowed in stock classes (cam timing advance) and they are very heavy in stock iron form (which helps in classes where adding front weights is not allowed). I can also say my daily driven '79 F350 with a 460 never lost a sled pull to a 360.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,580
Likes: 1,162
From: San Jose, CA
And for some uses, there’s no substitute for better gearing!
No matter what engine you have, a lower gear set in the differential (higher numerically) can benefit greatly and feel like you added 100 hp.
No matter what engine you have, a lower gear set in the differential (higher numerically) can benefit greatly and feel like you added 100 hp.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,761
Likes: 2,590
From: The Shenandoah Valley
I know that the contractor I drove for hauling mail on 1 ton trucks with stretched frames to carry 15 or so foot box bodies (we didn't "fill them" to the ceiling, but we loaded the floor with the various post office mail in big piles and those Sears catalogs up front did get high) had one '74 that he bought, 300-I-6 with 4 speed, F-350, 4.56 rear gear, would haul a load up old "White Oak Mountain" grade there on 29 south of Chatham headed to Danville, loaded with front tires up in the fenders ... would maintain 50-55 mph in high gear after he put that 390 in it. A similar truck with 360 used 3rd. A 400 in a Chevy C-30 was in passing gear with 4bbl moaning on same grade loaded.
360s in those trucks had 4 ring pistons, but he changed his to 390s. Same gas mileage he said, but they run better under load.
Gearing is king when pulling. A great-uncle of mine once told me (I was preteen) that one "could make a washing machine motor pull a freight train if you used enough gearing". I think is so. He used to work at Baldwin when they still made steam engines.
360s in those trucks had 4 ring pistons, but he changed his to 390s. Same gas mileage he said, but they run better under load.
Gearing is king when pulling. A great-uncle of mine once told me (I was preteen) that one "could make a washing machine motor pull a freight train if you used enough gearing". I think is so. He used to work at Baldwin when they still made steam engines.
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Butt-Head
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 9,415
Likes: 2,910
From: Reed Point, MT
There is not an internet forum or socialist media site that EVER claimed the 360 Ford was superior to anything short of a fresh dog turd in the grass. Where do people come up with this stuff?
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Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,761
Likes: 2,590
From: The Shenandoah Valley
I would bet on it being better than the older 352, or say any Y-block .... and I pretty much know a 360 in a dent ton truck pulled that grade, even with a downshift to 3rd, better than the late '60s Chevrolet C-30 with 283 from which "Bossman" swapped the body off of at replacement time. That 283 had a hard life.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 189
Likes: 19
From: Saskatoon
might as well get a whole new donor engine or at least 390 crank , pistons and rods?
Just asking cuz guy who sold me my truck seems kinda shady and may have lied about it being a 390 knowing how hard it is to tell apoart just looking from outside.
And i did/do have 1 low compression piston 15 lower than next highest, 3 others 15-20 lower than highest ones, so that puts lowest one 30 less than highest.
-ive seen soaked them low ones in seafoam and lowest one seemed to come up par with 3 other low ones , hopefully that lasts.....
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,580
Likes: 1,162
From: San Jose, CA
Sometimes compression numbers come back up just from driving.
There’s no guarantee, of course, but you never know until you run it for a while.
I’ve used fuel and oil additives and cylinder treatments many times over the last 40 years. Almost 50 in fact!
All typically with very good luck. Certainly none of them ever made it worse! :-)
There’s no guarantee, of course, but you never know until you run it for a while.
I’ve used fuel and oil additives and cylinder treatments many times over the last 40 years. Almost 50 in fact!
All typically with very good luck. Certainly none of them ever made it worse! :-)
Mountain Pass
Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 189
Likes: 19
From: Saskatoon
Sometimes compression numbers come back up just from driving.
There’s no guarantee, of course, but you never know until you run it for a while.
I’ve used fuel and oil additives and cylinder treatments many times over the last 40 years. Almost 50 in fact!
All typically with very good luck. Certainly none of them ever made it worse! :-)
There’s no guarantee, of course, but you never know until you run it for a while.
I’ve used fuel and oil additives and cylinder treatments many times over the last 40 years. Almost 50 in fact!
All typically with very good luck. Certainly none of them ever made it worse! :-)
my last project, an Ls swapped 85 cutlass, the LM7 Ls motor smoked alot with 220,000 km on it and seam foam in the oil and gas and maybe some directly into the intake seem to clear up the burning oil completely, except first start up of the summer where it only smoked for first minute.
Mountain Pass
Joined: Aug 2024
Posts: 201
Likes: 84
From: Queensland Australia
Indeed Rubiranch, I installed a 69/70 429 in a 1976 2WD NP 4 speed F-250 that would pull steep hills in 4th gear much more easily that the previous 351 would have been down to 3rd gear on.
Not sure what the engine came out of, was a 2nd hand import from California around the same time, it was one of the earlier hi comp engines though and it was considerably better on fuel than the 351 loaded or unloaded.
It also appeared to pull better than an early 460 C6 auto in a friends SWB 76 pickup, however.
I did have to change the R/H exhaust manifold for a unique casting aftermarket Australian ex manifold to clear the right hand steering box though.
One of the best pulling engines I have owned, regret selling it now.
Regards Roscoe.
Not sure what the engine came out of, was a 2nd hand import from California around the same time, it was one of the earlier hi comp engines though and it was considerably better on fuel than the 351 loaded or unloaded.
It also appeared to pull better than an early 460 C6 auto in a friends SWB 76 pickup, however.
I did have to change the R/H exhaust manifold for a unique casting aftermarket Australian ex manifold to clear the right hand steering box though.
One of the best pulling engines I have owned, regret selling it now.
Regards Roscoe.