You cannot use the stock 360 pistons or the stock rods. The pistons are full skirt and will not clear the 390 crank journals. Also, the deck height would be wrong with the 360 pistions. You must change to 390 "Slipper Skirt" pistons. The 360 also uses the long 6.540 rods, while the 390 and up CU engines use the short 6.488 rods.

 

Only the early 360 FE's had the full skirt pistons. I think from about 68 on most of them had 390 pistons in them. I tore down my engine with 62000 on it from the original owner who had never touched it and it had 390 pistons with 360 rods. Dont know why but ford built it that way probably to empty some inventory shelves.

 

You do not need to change the pan or pump but it is recommended to use a high volume with the oiling mods mentioned in the FAQ section. The stock pan will work fine but if you plan on hard takeoffs all the time make sure it has baffles in it. My stock pan didn't. I bought a new pan that was the same size and it had baffles. Without baffles you can throw all the oil to the back of the pan and run the sump dry. With a 4X4 just make sure you use the stock rear sump pan.

Welcome to FTE TJ!!

 

That may be true....I did tear down an orginal 360 in a 1970 truck to do a 390 rebuild...it had full skirt pistons. I know the truck was orginal, since it was my Dad's and he bought it new. However, my 1969 has t he slipper skirts like you said.

I will say that the FE's puzzle me more than any other engine. As example, I have flat top pistions in my '69 360, but I read that they had dished pistons.

Anyway....the full skirt pistons are something the watch out for in doing a 390/410 swap. Thanks guys...you all have been a great help.

 

just posting for easy reference; I'm looking into this also.