360 is shot. Now what?
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Senior User
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From: Story City, Iowa
360 is shot. Now what?
So as some of you know, I am trying to revive a '74 F100 Ranger 4x4 with a 360.
Well, I finnally got the engine running, and it appeared to be running ok. Then I did a compression test. #4 is gone. I am assuming rings are shot.
So now what? Do I rebuild the engine? Try and find a 390/428 to put in it?
I want a good dependable engine, with out an a$$ load of money in it.
Give me suggestions. Also, what would be a ball park figure to get the 360 rebuilt. If I have it rebuilt, I will have a shop do it. I don't have the time (and knowledge) to do it. If I do have the 360 rebuilt, what cheap items could I have done or add to the engine for a little more HP.
Well, I finnally got the engine running, and it appeared to be running ok. Then I did a compression test. #4 is gone. I am assuming rings are shot.
So now what? Do I rebuild the engine? Try and find a 390/428 to put in it?
I want a good dependable engine, with out an a$$ load of money in it.
Give me suggestions. Also, what would be a ball park figure to get the 360 rebuilt. If I have it rebuilt, I will have a shop do it. I don't have the time (and knowledge) to do it. If I do have the 360 rebuilt, what cheap items could I have done or add to the engine for a little more HP.
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Senior User
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From: Story City, Iowa
Now am I correct in what I have been reading that all the FE engines are basically the same? So what difference is a 360 compared to a 390? Can I bore the 360 to 390 or even 428?
I not after a high performance engine. Just a good solid engine. But I do like lots of power, but I get scared when I start looking at prices of parts for the 428s.
I not after a high performance engine. Just a good solid engine. But I do like lots of power, but I get scared when I start looking at prices of parts for the 428s.
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Boring a 360 ive never heard of anybody doing that. The diff in 360/390 is stroke so a bigger crank means more torque cant comment on the 428 diff. For good economy and runner i would go with 390. Keep posting ?'s
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From: fallbrook ca.
just pick up a 390 at a wrecking yard for cheap. you should rebuild just about anything unless your really in a fix or it has decently low miles . you could try and find a 390 crank and rods , except you might end up droppin more money into that then just buying another engine.
from my understanding the 360 was the worst engine ford produced. not because it broke down all the time but because its big and heavy, it has low power output and sucks more gas than a 460.
ditch the 360
from my understanding the 360 was the worst engine ford produced. not because it broke down all the time but because its big and heavy, it has low power output and sucks more gas than a 460.
ditch the 360
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From: fallbrook ca.
also what do you mean by #4 is gone, if its reading 0 psi then youve probably got a blown piston. not sure how much it would be to have sombody rebuild it for you
(probly $1000-$2000) but rebuild kits run around $300-$400.
as for power,(in theory) most anything you can do to a 390 you should be able to do to a 360
if your looking for power a 360 probably isnt the answer, because they were only made for trucks, its hard to find any hipo parts for them. also try finding any information on them.
as for reliability,
the 360 should perform just fine if every thing is maintained, the fe series are wonderful engines that are true workhorses of there class.
cheap additives for horsepower
ive got a 390 in my 75 f250 with headers, dual exaust, and rv cam. it has power comin out of its ears.
all the items above are relativly cheap an rv cam shouldnt be more than $200
theres a wide variety of headers, but decent ones can be obtained for areasonable price i.e $200-$400. dual exaust is cheap if you do it your self.
another thing is a four barrel carb, they can be obtained used at economical prices but they will hurt you mpg wise and a 360 is already getting around 8mpg.
(probly $1000-$2000) but rebuild kits run around $300-$400.
as for power,(in theory) most anything you can do to a 390 you should be able to do to a 360
if your looking for power a 360 probably isnt the answer, because they were only made for trucks, its hard to find any hipo parts for them. also try finding any information on them.
as for reliability,
the 360 should perform just fine if every thing is maintained, the fe series are wonderful engines that are true workhorses of there class.
cheap additives for horsepower
ive got a 390 in my 75 f250 with headers, dual exaust, and rv cam. it has power comin out of its ears.
all the items above are relativly cheap an rv cam shouldnt be more than $200
theres a wide variety of headers, but decent ones can be obtained for areasonable price i.e $200-$400. dual exaust is cheap if you do it your self.
another thing is a four barrel carb, they can be obtained used at economical prices but they will hurt you mpg wise and a 360 is already getting around 8mpg.
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From: Montana
The cheap thing to do is to install a 390 crank and rods-use 360 pistons. Helps with the low compression ratio these engines known for. This effectively makes the engine a 390.
You can also use a 428 crank-which makes a 410. And the 410's are apparently torquey motors according to the owners.
There's a lot of good info on the 360 block in the FE engine forum-they are not boat anchors and far from it. Granted, they weren't the best from the factory (reliable if nothing else), but for somebody who doesn't want to find a completely different Ford V8 and install different mounts, the FE Ford V8 has a lot of great potential.
If you're tearing the engine completely down, it's well worth your time to convert it into a 390. And a Ford 390 FE V8 (when properly maintained) will get the average gas mileage of most 70's Ford pickups (10-15) and provide plenty of reliable service.
If you already have a 390 around that you know is good, just use that. If not...there's your crank and rods. The heads are the same as the 360...no differences.
You can also use a 428 crank-which makes a 410. And the 410's are apparently torquey motors according to the owners.
There's a lot of good info on the 360 block in the FE engine forum-they are not boat anchors and far from it. Granted, they weren't the best from the factory (reliable if nothing else), but for somebody who doesn't want to find a completely different Ford V8 and install different mounts, the FE Ford V8 has a lot of great potential.
If you're tearing the engine completely down, it's well worth your time to convert it into a 390. And a Ford 390 FE V8 (when properly maintained) will get the average gas mileage of most 70's Ford pickups (10-15) and provide plenty of reliable service.
If you already have a 390 around that you know is good, just use that. If not...there's your crank and rods. The heads are the same as the 360...no differences.
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From: Story City, Iowa
Thanks for all the great advice.
As for the #4 cylinder is gone. I am mechanically inclined but don't have all the engine knowledge I need. So a buddy of mine that is a mechanic came over and helped me do a compression test and 'air pressure test'. Basically what he told me (and showed me) that only 3 cylinders are in the average compression range. The rest are a little low, and cylinder #4 has all but no compression. So he hooked up an air pressure gauge and aired up the cylinder and it leaked out as fast as it came in. And before you post, he did spin the engine over to make sure the valves where closed (I asked). So he thinks that the rings are shot and I know the head gaskets are in need of work as well.
As for Condolan's suggestions on the different cranks, I will have to check into that. I have heard of the 390 crank change, but had never heard of the 428 crank change. I will have to look into that.
As for MPG. That is not high on my list as of now. The F100 is a 3rd vehicle for me, plus I work from home, so my commute is 0.0 miles per day. I just need a good truck to take me hunting, get fire wood, camping, and the all to occasional trip to the home improvement store.
As for the #4 cylinder is gone. I am mechanically inclined but don't have all the engine knowledge I need. So a buddy of mine that is a mechanic came over and helped me do a compression test and 'air pressure test'. Basically what he told me (and showed me) that only 3 cylinders are in the average compression range. The rest are a little low, and cylinder #4 has all but no compression. So he hooked up an air pressure gauge and aired up the cylinder and it leaked out as fast as it came in. And before you post, he did spin the engine over to make sure the valves where closed (I asked). So he thinks that the rings are shot and I know the head gaskets are in need of work as well.
As for Condolan's suggestions on the different cranks, I will have to check into that. I have heard of the 390 crank change, but had never heard of the 428 crank change. I will have to look into that.
As for MPG. That is not high on my list as of now. The F100 is a 3rd vehicle for me, plus I work from home, so my commute is 0.0 miles per day. I just need a good truck to take me hunting, get fire wood, camping, and the all to occasional trip to the home improvement store.
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Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Baltimore
I would rebuild the 360 as a 390. The 360 is a dog but a 390 is a respectable motor. Your mileage will be about the same but the 390 has noticably more power. But, don't assume that your 360 is dead yet. The 360 is notorious for burning valves and I wouldn't rule out a burned valve on that low cylinder. Pull the head on that side and let me know if I am right. Or, hold the corner of a rag over the tailpipe while the engine is idling. Does the rag corner get pulled into the pipe intermittently? If so, you have a burned exhaust valve and maybe its in #4.
Last edited by whalerron; Jan 22, 2008 at 10:41 PM.
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Joined: Sep 2005
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From: Saint Paul, MN
360 is shot. Now what?
QUOTEfrom my understanding the 360 was the worst engine ford produced. not because it broke down all the time but because its big and heavy, it has low power output and sucks more gas than a 460.
I agree that the 360 was a poor engine, as I've had three of them. Don't forget about the 351M. That engine was not designed very well, either.
I agree that the 360 was a poor engine, as I've had three of them. Don't forget about the 351M. That engine was not designed very well, either.
Last edited by tomcasino; Jan 31, 2008 at 08:49 PM. Reason: spelling error