what motor for a 72 f100 would be best performance not worried bout gas i currently have a 302 out of 81 GT w/ weind hi rise intake 750 eldelbrock its allright but want more power and performance

 

The thing to remember is our trucks are very heavy and are in no way aerodynamic. A 302 is designed for a horse power with a short stroke and there fore is more suited to something small and light weight such as a T bird or a mustang. You can pore piles and piles of money in to a 302 and it still won't have the torque to move your truck. What you need is cubic inches, and a long stroke. You have several options that will be much better than your 302. A 351W, 351C, 351M, and 400 will all bolt on to the engine perches that you have and will all give you more discplacement. The 351W and 351C will bolt up the transmision or bell housing that you already have. The 351M and 400 will require the big block bell housing patern. There are also the FE series engines. The 360, 390, and 428 as well as some others are realy good for torque but will require a different engine perch and bell housing. Last but not least there is the 385 series engine which include the 429 and 460. These engines will require there own engine perch and use the same big block bell housing patern as the 351M and 400. It's all going to depend on how much gitty up go that you want. I currently have a 460 and a c6 in my 73 with a 3.00 traction loc rear end. It will pull any thing that you hook up to with it, and will run well over 100 with ease. I did have a 390 in it for a while, and it was pretty good also. Post back with which transmision you have, and what exactly you want to do with the truck. Power doesn't always mean poor mileage. It all depends on which combination that you use. My 73 gets 12 MPG averaging 70 MPH on the high way with the A/C blowing wide open.
Doc

 

i currently have a smallcase C6 and it is pretty high geared 3.20 range which im gonna change to either 3.73 or 4.11 not sure yet but i wanna make it into a street truck everyday driver (not worried bout as) i really dont want a 347 b/c even though i heard there decent motors but not for longtime everyday driving do want it to be fast but reliable

 

If your in the 3.20 range, it is probably a 3.25. You can verify this with the rear end tag. A 3.25 will actualy work pretty good with a 390 or bigger engine. Are you willing to swap transmisions, or do you want to keep the one that you have?
Doc

 

well id like to keep the C6 b/c them are some tough SOB i had one im my 73 w/ a 360 and i gave that truck hell w/ motor and tranny figured i had ripped tranny out couple times but that ole C6 worked like new so ill swear by them things but you figure i oughta keep higher gears? wont that slow down take of speed????

 

It won't hurt the take off speed much if you have a big enough engine. The c6 is a vailable in 3 bell housing paterns. (1) fits 240, 300, 289, 302, 351W, and 351C. (2) All of the FE engines. (3) 351M, 400, 429, 460. If you want to keep the C6 that you have, your only options for more dicsplacment are the 351W and 351C. Both of these engines will bolt up to your transmision and will bolt down to the existing engine perches. As far as how good they are in a truck.....I have no clue. I have usualy had either little motors, or big motors. I have no experience with the medium size.
Doc

 

is there anyway to just change the bellhousing so i can fit a 390 in there? and if so how much would it cost???

 

c-6 trannies do not have a removable bellhousing.