Ok I was just working on a little reaserch- which FE heads are interchangeable? I was looking on the Edelbrock website- looked up cylinder heads- Ford FE & 460
and they list nothing for a 360 cid, but only for the 390 and larger engine sizes. If I were to order the heads for the 390 will they fit the 360?
I am planning on puting aluminum heads on any advice?

 

Yes, They are all the same.

 

"Ok, so for those of you who say it will be a hard swap... care to enlighten me as to why? If you have had some experiance with the swap and run into tight spots, I would really appriciate hearing about them, and maby even your solutions."

It's just a lot easier to bolt in an engine that fits. After you've been on your back for a few days, with grit, tranny fluid and worse on your face and in your eyes, trying to change that tranny mount with the bolts that won't come out...

The motor mount perches may as well be welded to the frame. You'll swear they are, as you use your deep dish socket with an extension, and a box wrench on a blind nut to remove those bolts that haven't ever been turned except once.

Now my radiator hoses don't work. WTF?

Friend and I once swapped a 390 into a '69 Ford wagon that had a 429. It took us 2 good days, and we were both exhausted after. What a job. That was 25 years ago, too. We had to change EVERYTHING.

Ah hell. I'm just letting my age show. I used to welcome projects llike this. Now I hate to even look under the vehicle.

That's where my resistance comes from. I'd hate to see you get halfway through it and then give up.

An FE is a nice thing. Best exhaust sound ever, except for a Y-block. Cool, retro thing to do. I just want you to realize that this swap is no picnic before you go for it.

 

OKAY! Last time! You should reconsider changing engine families. You own a small block and that is what will be the easiest, quickest and cheapest to install in your truck. If you cannot afford a complete engine, just do the block, with your heads and a valve job. Later you can improve on that and in the meantime you can drive and enjoy your truck. If you just must have a FE then buy a truck that already has this setup and build from that. If you absolutley insist on a project of this scope go with a fairly stock 460 and C6.

 

I recently did the swap the oposite way you are considering.

I took the 390 C6 auto out of my 76 f-150 4x4 and put in a 351W np435

I personally like the windsor better (it is easier to get parts for and is cheaper put the lighter weight make my truck handle really really good now plus it has more power (the manual might have something to do with it)

don't get me wrong I love FE's too but for my daily driver I prefer a small block.


Is your truck a 2wd and the doner truck a 2wd? If so the swap will be really easy since you have everything you need right there.

If one is 2wd and the other a 4x4 is where you run into some problems like I did.... I had to weild in different perches and modify some of the clutch linkage as well as a buch of other little things.

I recomend the windsor if you drive is a lot, but if it is a toy and you have the donor go for the 360 and be prepared for a bunch of unexpected little costs while doing it.

 

If you have two trucks and just want to switch drivetrains...go for it. Yes, it might take a couple days of getting things switched, but if you have ALL the parts there, what's the BIG DEAL?????

Remove the small block, mounts, tranny, radiator. Take the parts of the donor truck and re-install them into other truck. Ta-da.....done. If switching motor mounts is a big deal to someone, then this should not be done by that person. I know how we tend to not want to get as involved as we used to, that's fine. To each his own. I don't think that this is that big of a deal. I'd say go for it.

 

If switching motor mounts is a big deal to someone, then this should not be done by that person. I know how we tend to not want to get as involved as we used to, that's fine. To each his own. I don't think that this is that big of a deal. I'd say go for it.


Well said

 

Wow I think it would be harder to build a house out of cards than it would be to do this swap.... Windsor engines are like putting togeather a snap tight model. Come on man step up into the heavyweight division.