I'm a newbie to this forum, so please take it easy on me...

I have access to a 370 currently in a rather large truck. I understand the bore to be 4.050 (same as my beloved FE 390) and the stroke to 3.590 (same as the 429).

My question is the heads. I know Ford liked to slide the truck pistons way down in the hole and use a recessed piston to lower the compression, and sometimes even put the Grand Canyon in the heads for combustion chambers. But after looking at a set of 370 heads that were off an engine (79' - 85'), the combustion chambers look just like those of a D0VE-C head at first glance. They are very small.

Now that you know we're I'm at, you probably know where I'm headed. What is the common CC for these heads, and what is the common valve size? Is there anything DEAD WRONG with them that would keep them from being machined for screw-in-studs and dressed up like any other 429/460 head???

Also, I know in the FE Realm that Ford offered a steel crankshaft for their 361/391 Heavy Duty/Industrial engines. Is there any chance that a 370 planted in a similar vechicle only newer would be a Steel Crank???

I've had a few 460's, but never built one up. I just converted my cousin from (Spit, Spit) Chebbies and I'm trying to get up to speed fairly quick. We do alot of backyard and salvage yard shopping, and found a set of D0VE-C heads and a running 70' 460 motor/tranny combo for next to nothing the same time we found the 370.

Thanks,

R

 

as for the difference. well the 370 has a slightly larger cc volume than the early 460. also the valves on the lima motors were quite a bit smaller. the compression on these motor is also very low at 7.4-1. keep this in mind. they make great motors for vehicles with 26k gvw, but terrible for those with 8.8. a 370 will make less power than 351w, but more torque, still alot less than the 429 or 460. i would just keep my eyes open for a non-lima motor.

Kurt