[updated:LAST EDITED ON 17-Feb-02 AT 06:33 PM (EST)]ok I need some advice from some of you with more experience with fords than I...I've got a 1970 f250 ranger xlt in near mint condition with 119,000 miles on the engine... it sat for a long time and the valves froze...which caused the pushrods to bend upon startup....I broke thae valves loose with light tapping with a hammer, but they seem awfully sticky... should i just get the heads rebuilt for about 250-500 buks and hope that the lower end has another 150k on it... or should i just bite the bullet and put in a rebuilt engine...

anyone know if 360 crate motors are available?

whats the life expectancy of a well cared for fe 360 engine?


thanks for any help you folks can offer

 

If you live on Vancouver Island have I got a deal for you

Sparky

 

I'd say rebuild the heads. FE's are no longer available as crate motors -- Ford hasn't built them in 26 years! You can find rebuilders who will sell you a 360 or 390 they rebuilt, but you're better off finding a good local machinist you can trust and having him rebuild yours for you. I'd recommend pulling the whole motor and checking it out when you rebuild the heads, as the long rest may have caused problems in the bottom end, too, and they may be easily fixable. Better yet, while it's out you can drop in a crank and rods from a 390 and end up with a much stronger engine!

Post this question in the FE engine forum if you haven't, already.

 

120K is an awful lot of miles on an original 30 year old engine, hence I'd "bite the bullet" and have the whole thing rebuilt which in turn should last another 100K+ miles. I guess it really depends on how much time you've got to tinker with it and more importantly your budget. You'll spend a lot of time and effort removing the heads and reinstalling which becomes redundant if you then decide to rebuild the lower end of the motor. You should be able to get a complete long block done for around $1,000 to $1,500.

Good Luck.

 

Sparky,
where on the Island are you located?
Don W.

 

In the shadow of the glacier in Courtenay

Sparky

>Sparky,
>where on the Island are you located?
>Don W.
>

 

I'm in Burnaby but my buddy travels over your way twice a month. Got any good parts for sale?

E-mail me if you do.

dwallace@nitroburner.com