What should I do with my engine?
Thread Starter
|
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 64
Likes: 0
From: Menomonie
What should I do with my engine?
Ok, I've got a 76 F150 with a 360 that needs help. I'd like to swap in a 390 4v. Money of course is an issue. Should I just rebuild the 360, do a 360 to 390 conversion, or find a 390 and rebuild that? Would a 390 be worth the extra cost over a 360 rebuild? The truck would mainly be used for hauling, mainly just a weekend work truck. So many choices......
!["Beemer Nut"'s Avatar](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 50 50'><circle class='avatar-circle-default' fill='%23bc5285' cx='25px' cy='25px' r='20px'></circle><text class='avatar-text-default' x='49%' y='53%' fill='white' text-anchor='middle' alignment-baseline='middle'>"</text></svg>)
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,658
Likes: 4
From: "Islander"
You'll be into machine work be it the 360 or a 390, the good thing about purchasing a running 390 core you still can drive your truck plus you'll have 390 rods and crank. This way your not pressed for down time and can do it right. When done sell your running 360.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 286
Likes: 1
From: Ousley, GA
This what I'm in the process of doing right now. Had two rear rod bearings fail on my 360 and ran up on a deal on a fresh rebuilt 360. Swapped 'em out and have been waiting on the opportunity to tear the old motor down. Got it all apart an in the process of collecting all of my 390 conversion parts. My 13 year old is getting a great "motor" education. It's nice to have an eager helper!
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 788
Likes: 0
From: Cascade, ID
Eager helper
That is how I learned to work on my old Fords. It seemed like my dad always had some sort of project underway. At age 12 he gave me a '66 Rancero basket case someone had given him. So I spent every spare moment and every $$$$$$ I came across on that car. I still have it 18 years later. I cherish those memories of time with my dad. My brother and I both learned alot from him and adopted his passion for cool old machines. Luckily for us we were able to convert him to a Ford guy from the perilous Chevy road he was headed down. He had a '79 bronco when we were of that impressionable age and fell in love with Ford's. it was a fluke that he had bought the Ford, I think it was a good deal or something. 2 weeks later the 400 puked it's guts out, and unfortunately he had to "rebuild it". Rebuild in my family means to make it better/stronger if it breaks. That 400 was a torque monster when he was done w it. He passed a empty chevy pickup going over a big mountain here while towing a trailer w a bunk of lumber on it. My brother and I were bit by the Ford bug that day.
Long story short, I can't wait to have kids and pass on some mechanical aptitude.
Long story short, I can't wait to have kids and pass on some mechanical aptitude.
