360 or 390? which to use
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 173
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From: Akron
360 or 390? which to use
I was wondering if any one could tell me which one is better for what he is doing?
1. 1976 390 4 bbl 2 wheel drive F-150
2. 1974 360 2 bbl 4 wheel drive out of a F-250 highboy
My brother has both and wants to rebuild one to put in his "high boy" which one would be a better mud motor?
1974 F-250 4x4 8" lift dana 60 front and rear 4.10 gears
4 speed,NP-205 will have motor soon.
1. 1976 390 4 bbl 2 wheel drive F-150
2. 1974 360 2 bbl 4 wheel drive out of a F-250 highboy
My brother has both and wants to rebuild one to put in his "high boy" which one would be a better mud motor?
1974 F-250 4x4 8" lift dana 60 front and rear 4.10 gears
4 speed,NP-205 will have motor soon.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,624
Likes: 8
From: Missouri
360 or 390? which to use
One thing to think about. The 4X4 trucks only came with 360's I do believe but this is no problem as the engines are externally identical with exception of the oil pan. By all means run the 390 and get a rear sump oil pan from another 4X4 360 engine. The 390 will give you much more grunt then the 360.
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
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From: Long Island USA
360 or 390? which to use
>I was wondering if any one could tell me which one is better
>for what he is doing?
>1. 1976 390 4 bbl 2 wheel drive F-150
>2. 1974 360 2 bbl 4 wheel drive out of a F-250 highboy
>
> My brother has both and wants to rebuild one to put in
>his "high boy" which one would be a better mud motor?
Get the 390, and use a 4x4 pan from a 360. However, in the years you are talking about, I believe the only different between the 390 and 360 were the crank and piston pin height. I used a complete 360 motor and a 390 crank to make my current 390.
The 390 I built has 10.5:1, 290 cam (.528 lift int/exh), Edelbrock performer 390, Holley 750. What a motor. Needs a bigger accelerator pump shooter, but pretty decent the way it is.
However, a stock 2v 360 in 3rd w/4x4LOW used to get me through more than 2 feet of mud with 31x12x16.5 snow tires.
> 1974 F-250 4x4 8" lift dana 60 front and rear 4.10
>gears
> 4 speed,NP-205 will have motor soon.
Almost the same as mine, except stock height, and I have a Dana 44 (3550 lb) front end. Did the '79 power steering upgrade. nice.
art k.
>for what he is doing?
>1. 1976 390 4 bbl 2 wheel drive F-150
>2. 1974 360 2 bbl 4 wheel drive out of a F-250 highboy
>
> My brother has both and wants to rebuild one to put in
>his "high boy" which one would be a better mud motor?
Get the 390, and use a 4x4 pan from a 360. However, in the years you are talking about, I believe the only different between the 390 and 360 were the crank and piston pin height. I used a complete 360 motor and a 390 crank to make my current 390.
The 390 I built has 10.5:1, 290 cam (.528 lift int/exh), Edelbrock performer 390, Holley 750. What a motor. Needs a bigger accelerator pump shooter, but pretty decent the way it is.
However, a stock 2v 360 in 3rd w/4x4LOW used to get me through more than 2 feet of mud with 31x12x16.5 snow tires.
> 1974 F-250 4x4 8" lift dana 60 front and rear 4.10
>gears
> 4 speed,NP-205 will have motor soon.
Almost the same as mine, except stock height, and I have a Dana 44 (3550 lb) front end. Did the '79 power steering upgrade. nice.
art k.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 173
Likes: 0
From: Akron
360 or 390? which to use
Well you all voted 390.......and it will be done.Thanks for all your feedback.Now we have to get it done and a couple pepole said the only diff.is piston and crank? not the rods so at least we don't have to buy them.THANKS AGAIN and i am sure i will have more questions to come.
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 8
From: Brea CA
360 or 390? which to use
The rods are different too. 390 rods are just .052" shorter but a heck of a lot beefier on the big end. You could use the long rods in a 390 if you want, just do your math and watch the deck clearance.
Barry
Barry
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Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
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From: Long Island USA
360 or 390? which to use
>The rods are different too. 390 rods are just .052" shorter
>but a heck of a lot beefier on the big end. You could use
>the long rods in a 390 if you want, just do your math and
>watch the deck clearance.
>
Hmm... I thought the rods between 360/390 were the same length, but the pin height was different?
art k.
>but a heck of a lot beefier on the big end. You could use
>the long rods in a 390 if you want, just do your math and
>watch the deck clearance.
>
Hmm... I thought the rods between 360/390 were the same length, but the pin height was different?
art k.
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