Building a 370
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 243
Likes: 1
From: Houston USA
Building a 370
Don't ask why, but if I was wanting to build a lower cubic inch torque engine to replace an old 460 in a F350, could I take a 370 block and use all the rest of the parts from a 429 except pistons and build a 370, which would basically be, just a 429 with a smaller bore. I would run a torque cam, with good 4V intake and free flowing exhaust, etc. I understand the block is basically the same. I know the 370 is externally balanced, but I would use the 429 rotating assy. I'm looking for better gas mileage and reasonable torque.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,526
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From: fargo, nd
imo it wouldnt be worth it to switch to a 370. your mileage might increase 1 or 2 points but youd have so much less power it would suck compared to the 460. the big problems with mileage on a truck are aerodynamics (which dont exist on a truck) and weight (of which there is a large surplus) and no engine swap will get a f350 to get better than 18 mpg, or 16 if its a 4x4. theyre just inherently bad on gas, and at the 1 or 2 points of gas mileage have you ever done the math to see how long the proposed swap will take to pay for itself? i think build the truck as a truck and go get a honda or volkswagon for mileage if you need it
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 243
Likes: 1
From: Houston USA
I want to get better than about 9mpg. I have gotten 12-13 with older non computerized and non-overdrive 351 powered full size Ford trucks before and this is what I'm shooting for. I know rebuilding the 130K mile 460 will get better mileage, but I'm thinking of tricks to do while I'm rebuilding it to get more mpg, like lowering the cubes some.
Posting Guru
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 1,249
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From: Pryor
I bet your mileage won't increase appreciably at all. If you are looking for a torquer, then you are probably using it for towing. I can tell you from experience that a LOT of times going with the bigger engine will actually get you more mpg. As crazy as that sounds. Maybe the smaller one has to work too hard. I don't know, but it's true.
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 243
Likes: 1
From: Houston USA
I know what you mean, but this would really be like comparing a 351W to a 460 in identical F350 trucks. Take for example, mine is a 86 crew cab with a 7.5L and in that year the 5.8L was also offered, the question is which gets better mileage? It would depend on what I was doing. Its all about loading, you know, if a finely tuned carb. will let the engine run near the 14.7 airfuel ratio when cruising down the highway not loaded very much. So, there is a lot of factors to consider like several you have said. A 351 or 370 or whatever if it is loaded down, it is either going to have to have the RPMs up and or the carb fueling the engine at the 12.5 A/F ratio or (whatever it is) for max power. Anyone know of a place to find the advertised fuel economy on a F350 crew cab? I looked on www.fueleconomy.gov and they didn't have F350 listed. I wonder why. LOL!
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