We have resurrected my son's '73 F250 4x4 from the grave. It stands on all fours (new front axle), has all new brakes (my son has never before seen drum brakes), and the manual choke gets it started in the morning. I can't believe that none of his friends have ever heard of preloading bearings! LOL

We have one small nuisance. Blue smoke out of the driver's side valve cover vent. I'm thinking rings or valve seats, but I can sort that out. Rings I can do, valve seats I need a machine shop. But, I digress as this will be resolved.

Now for some fun. A generous friend has provided headers and dual exhaust (thank you, thank you, and lets not forget the tie rod and brush guard). The project starts Friday. But what next? My 27 year old son want's a mudder. Or at least a rig to haul his friends out of trouble. Once I get the stock truck in stock shape (with the addition of headers), what can I do to help him out with a little more torque/hp on the cheap? Any suggestions?

1973 F250 4x4
360 2bb
T18 Transmission
NP205 divorced T-Case
D60 rear
D44 front
closed knuckle
drum brakes
No A/C
No power brakes
No power steering (god, I love that there are no power anythings!)
35" wheels on 16.5" rims (he want's 38", but we'll see. After all, he has no money)

This is a big beautiful beast to teach my son about hard part repair. I'm open to your suggestions.

Thanks

 

Blue smoke is usually burning oil. Blue smoke out of a valve cover is a scary thought. Leaking exhaust valve guides? Overheated exhaust gas crossover?

 

Smoke out of the valve cover vent could be as simple as a PCV valve. I'm not that worried about it. Rings are the most likely issue, and since it is stock.... I hope a quick cylinder hone and ring replacement will do the trick. Sure, exaust valve seats, but we can deal with that as well. Its just a thing. It is blow-by coming out the vent. I can deal with it.

What can we do to deliver HP/Torque on the cheap after we do a little heavy maintenance?

 

not much to do on the cheap to get a real barn stormer out of a 360.. you can run 38's on that truck with a 2 inch lift.. you can get that pretty cheap in one of two ways, if you can weld- you can put in a rear add aleaf and then drop the front spring hangers with some 2x6 tubing between the frame and front spring hangers. just torch the rivets off that hold the hangers to the frame and then either bolt or weld them back on.. if ya wanna do that let me know, i did it to mine and i'll get ya some pix.. even easier and cheaper is the good ole body lift... i can just about bet you could scrounge an old 390 up in a boneyard for next to nothing, i'd do that and just drop er in... 390 versus 360 in a 4x4 is the difference between low range and high range!! have fun, great trucks to learn on..

 

I forgot to mention that it already has a 4" lift. Sorry. There is plenty of room for 38's, but not nearly enough beaf.

I'm laughing to myself because he'll surely end up shearing off his driveshafts or something. The drive train is not ready for 700hp to 35" rear wheels.

We're not looking for a monster truck. Just a little fun.

 

i run 38.5" boggers witha pretty bad little 390 in it and the same running gear as you, except i had the np 435 tranny, and never broke.. keep the truck as light as possible and you'll help the breaking out alot!!! if you can get more power you won't break as easy also... don't try and be a big dog and stay in high range four wheel drive with that 360- you'll break for sure cause there ain't enuf power to spin tires.. just enuf to torque em and break, don't ask me how i know...LOL go to low range and just light em up!!! if you're gonna ring that motor, i'd find a 390 crank and rods to put in it and then run the 360 pistons with an .020 steel shim head gasket and that'll give you the cubes and the high compression for a hard running motor!!! you could probably do it pretty cheap, under 300 i'm sure if ya get a good deal on the crank and rods..

 

cheap, only leaves timing. The headers are the best start, next i would find a 4bbl intake and carb. Some head porting, if you are a diy person. after that the cost is there. Just about everyone favorite upgrade for a 360 is making it a 390.

 

thats about the sum of it, although i did port a set of heads out one time and then put em back on a 360 with a set of headers and a ported out edelbrock performer intake (back in the days when they didn't offer anything alse within reason for a high school kids budget!) and that thing ran pretty hard for a 360.. i figured it was worht the time to port soem heads for the 360 cuz i knew i'd have a 390 later on...