I am resolving my cracked FE360 block issue on my 1975 F250 4x4. I've located a rebuildable FE390 motor.
Are the only differences between 360 and 390 the rotating assembly i.e crank and rods?
Hoping that's the answer as I plan on using my recently rebuilt heads and my stock cast iron 2 barrel manifold and rebuilt 2150 carb on the FE390 block(once rebuilt)
I know that the starter, water pump, alternator and PS pump will swap right over.
Thanks in advance

 

All that stuff will swap over.

If you are going through the 390 you can build it several ways.

I'll get back to you with the laundry list.

 

You could do that, and yes your heads will work.

. But it would be a shame not to build the 390 to at least stock 4V specs and put a 4160 on it. intakes are cheap and stock ones are easy to find if you prefer.

 

This chart and info is for CAR 390s. Note the 360 is not shown.

The 390 and Mercury only CAR 410 are the "same" engine other than crank and pistons.

Ford used a shorter piston, compression height about 1.66", on top of a 428 crank in the 390 block to make the 410. Compression was claimed at 10.5 : 1.

In '68 the 410 was gone and the car 390 carried on pretty much the same.

In pickups, the 360 came into use, along with the 390.

These two engines are "the same" in that only the crank, rods and pistons differ.

But Ford made these engines with lower compression to keep them from burning up under heavy constant loads.

So, the 360 used the 352 crank and rods, but used a piston from a CAR 390, at about 1.77" compression height. In the 360 that leaves the piston down the hole over .100" which lowers compression, power and economy but keeps it alive for decades.

The PICKUP 390 uses the same crank and rods as the CAR engine, but uses a piston that is the same or same spec as the 410 piston--a 1.66" compression height. Again, this leaves the piston down the hole about .100 with the same lower compression, etc.

So if you are going to build a 390 you can build one with 9 to 9.5 compression, or more if you want, and get a lot more power for all that gas.

That's the over simplified look at it.

One other thing--cams. Flat tappet cams are having a bad luck streak and too many people come back after a rebuild with lifters and cams that did not survive break in.

One expensive solution is a roller cam. Even a bone stock low compression build can have this problem.

So figure out your budget and what you really want from this engine and more help and examples can be given.

An FE is an expensive engine to rebuld to you might as well get what you want.

 

Sorry to hijack the thread but a related question: are all FE the same in terms of accessories? Example - if I wanted to swap out the 360FE for a 427 CJ - will everything bolt in/on?

 

There was no "427 CJ". That was a 428,

Once you get down to the bare block you can fit whatever water pump and brackets you want in most cases.

But a water pump for a Galaxie vs. a Mustang vs. a pickup might all be different. There are several different pully arrangements and front dampers as well.

 

Yes all the FE brackets, mounts and everything are the same. I put a 428CJ in place of the 360 in my highboy and changed nothing but the engine.

 

Ah foiled by the 7 and 8 being close to each other

But thanks for confirming! (and 440 sixpack too)!