Notices
Kansas Chapter Join Chapter, Leader: Flip4ford

Needing Help

Old Apr 3, 2005 | 01:43 AM
  #1  
Bwebz85's Avatar
Bwebz85
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Needing Help

Hey I'm new to this forum, I'm from Newton Kansas.
I'm starting a project truck a 68 F-250 HighBoy. My friend started this truck almost 4 years ago, He has done a lot of body work and things like that to it like cutting the frame rails and making it a short box. I'm buying the truck from him and will finish the rest of it up. I was wondering what you guys thought about putting a 390 into it instead of the 360 its got. I was wanting to rebuild the engine and get almost around 400 hp out of the engine. I was also wondering if any one had a 427 they might have for sell. I'm basically fixing this truck up to have fun in, just mudding and stuff like that. Your advise would be very helpful.

Thanks
 
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2005 | 10:37 AM
  #2  
bigswede's Avatar
bigswede
Laughing Gas
20 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,093
Likes: 2
From: Wamego, kansas
Anything 427 ford is going to be real expensive. Shoot even the 428 stuff is getting there. There are a ton of parts availabe now for the "FE" series engine. Edelbrock offers various intakes and now aluminum heads too. If money is not a problem, shelby and dove manufacturing can sell you an aluminum 427 block and heads. I`d build the 390 personally. It`ll be a bolt in job as the 360 and 390 are the same emgine family.
 
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2005 | 11:01 AM
  #3  
husker's Avatar
husker
Hotshot
25 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 13,552
Likes: 79
From: Manhattan, KS
As Swede said the 390 is probably the best option. Also a 428 is much more available and some are still available in late 60's full size cars. Surprisingly, a lot of 428's were used for industrial purposes in the early 70's, such as on irrigation wells. My dad had a couple of them then. Unfortunately, there were a bunch of them sold in his area of Nebraska that must have been a bad batch, because most of them ended up throwing a rod or not lasting very long. Only, about 1 in 10 in that area ended up lasting more than a couple of years.

You also might want to look at the forum that covers your year of truck and also the FE forum for the 360, 390 etc series of engines. Lots of good stuff. Welcome to FTE.
 
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2005 | 11:09 AM
  #4  
bigswede's Avatar
bigswede
Laughing Gas
20 Year Member
Liked
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,093
Likes: 2
From: Wamego, kansas
If I were a rich man I`d bolt in an all aluminum 427 SOHC in my `65 ford in a heartbeat. Drooooool.
 
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2005 | 01:39 PM
  #5  
Flip4ford's Avatar
Flip4ford
Fleet Owner
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Community Builder
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 20,784
Likes: 226
From: Newton America :-P
As stated the 390 is the best bet... they are built tough, very tough. I am not a fan of the 360. A 427 is a dream that most people cannot afford. 428 is getting harder and harder to find. I put a 390 in 2 two different trucks, and a 429 in my latest monster. Bob Burell in Delphos would have a 390. He's cheap, fair and honest. I have delt with him many times. In fact Friday afternoon I am heading over there. I also have a couple friends into trucks at our sister plant in Hesston and could give them a call to aid in the search. What is your timeframe???
 
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2005 | 10:24 PM
  #6  
Bwebz85's Avatar
Bwebz85
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
This is actually the first Ford motor I'm going to rebuild so I'm needing some advice on it.Usually I just do the body work, tinker with the engine to make it run good and go. However this is gonna be a truck I'm gonna keep for some time. This is a project that is gonna start sometime with week. The 360 in the trucks runs great but I'm wanting a lot of power. Before I even touch the engine though I have to do all the body work on the truck. I have to pull out a few dents, straighten some things up then paint the truck. I will probably work on the engine here and there but I want it to look straight first. I have been figuring 390 but I was just wondering what you guys thought. I figure I'm just gonna by a rebuilt 390 a friend of mine has got and strip it down, take the parts I still want and get the rest somewhere else. I'm one of the people that loves power and thats what I'm going to try and acheive. A big 4X4 truck with lots of power to have fun in.

Thanks for the advice
 
Reply
Old Apr 3, 2005 | 10:32 PM
  #7  
fordborn's Avatar
fordborn
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 6,610
Likes: 2
From: Northwest, Arkansas
Club FTE Silver Member

Bwebz85, first and foremost let me welcome you to the greatest Ford site on the web and to the Kansas Chapter. There is plenty of help and information here in the many forums as well as in the Kansas community so look around, search the forums and ask your questions.

Now for your project, IMO I would take e the 390 and work it up. There are plenty of things that can be done to it and I think it is more reliable then the 360. It would be a direct drop in for the 360 as some have mentioned. I don't think you would go wrong with that choice.
 
Reply


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:51 AM.

story-0
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: the best gifts for dads & grads

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-02 21:45:57


VIEW MORE
story-1
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalytic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath

Slideshow: Called the Fortress, the 850-horsepower pickup combines Raptor underpinnings with military-inspired features, survival equipment, and a starting price of $285,000.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-30 18:33:59


VIEW MORE
story-2
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer

Slideshow: 10 most expensive Ford trucks ever sold on Bring a Trailer.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:24:34


VIEW MORE
story-3
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)

Here's everything that has changed for the latest model year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-27 16:17:28


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies

Slideshow: Top 10 Ford truck tragedies.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-18 19:34:33


VIEW MORE
story-5
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make

And it might be even better than that.

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-18 19:26:42


VIEW MORE
story-6
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!

Slideshow: Does lowering an F-150 Lobo RUIN the ride quality?

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-05-18 19:20:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home

Slideshow: Ford's bizarre fishing-themed Explorer concept has resurfaced after spending decades largely forgotten.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:07:46


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!

Slideshow: The 10 best Ford truck engines we miss the most.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 13:09:47


VIEW MORE
story-9
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?

Slideshow: first look at the 810 hp 2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road!

By Brett Foote | 2026-05-12 12:50:07


VIEW MORE