Hey all, I am thinking of up grading my Fe 360.Getting rid of the boat anchor intake and installing a new carb as well. Just looking for input.My truck is a 75 crew with stock 360, thinking of headers also.Whats your thoughts???

 

Cheap: cast 4bbl intake (hey it weighs less, it has two more holes in the top LOL) Holley 600cfm vac secondaries carb (yard rebuild)

Stupid Money: Edlebrock Performer RPM or Streetmaster intake ($250.00-$350.00+) and new Holley 600cfm vac sec ($300)

easy $550.00 tossed at a upgrade you probably wont be able to tell the difference from option A/B anywhere but you pocketbook IMO provided the parts are in good order.

 

Headers are good!

With a Crew Cab, the iron intake is not a significant percentage of the overall weight. If you want a hot-rod truck find something lighter and put it on a diet.

A 4V intake with 600 CFM carb will net better mileage. That is about as "up-graded" as you'll get with a 360 in this truck. If you want more power, find a good 390 for it.

 

I had to hunt down the pics: One of the local guys I talk with built a 390 for his Crew Cab. He had it running, rebuilt a 600 CFM Holley for it and blew the clutch next.

Pics from the clutch in my crew cab. 56k warning - Rocky Mountain Ford Truck Club (RMFTC) Forums

I talked to him a couple weeks ago. He said that his 390 powered Crew Cab is the only one of his projects that his shivee buddies never talk trash about. Sounds like it skeers-em when he winds it up.

 

Not really looking at cheap,stupid or making a hotrod truck.LOL Just entering it into a new century and making it a dependable and reliable hunting truck.I am building my dream hunting truck- crew with an extended cab added on. So as you can tell-not really looking at the gas mileage either.And was thinking more on the reliability aspect as the carb under the hood has been there since `75. Good point on the 390, that will most likely the plan for the future.But the intake and carb will fit on the 390 also in the future.Right now I am not looking for a tire sceaching, man eating mudslinger(ok maybe someday) but for now a "dont leave me in the woods stranded and ruin my hunting trip truck" P.S I did get a kick out of the cast 4bbl being lighter! thanks for the input guys, Iam new to the Fe engine family.

 

I agree with Redmanbob. A stock iron 4V intake and a 600 CFM vacuum secondary carb, I prefer the Holley List 1850.

 

It's between the two center spark plugs.
I'd bet it's C8AE-H, or D2TE-AA, not sure if the 360 was used as far as 1972 though.
Either way: You probably have the "small" intake ports, 1.93 x 1.34
So, to avoid a mismatch in the wrong direction, you want a late iron intake.
If you get an early intake (casting number of C5XX, C4XX, etc) it will have taller ports, 2.14 x 1.16, a mismatch to your heads. It's ok, I've done it and have good timeslips, (16.23 at 85mph on a bone stock 4450 lb 390 wagon) but I'd try to get the later intake so they match.

The intake you want will have a casting number of C6XX or later, probably a big "S" on the intake too. These were used in all 390-4v cars from 1966-67 and later. Also, there is a truck intake, D2TE I think, that will work too. Either one will help your truck as much as the $320 Performer RPM. The ports will be about 1.87 x 1.16, a match to your 1.93 x 1.34 heads. The iron is 50 lb heavier but that is really only an issue on unibody Fords looking for traction.

So I'd just get an iron intake. The choice is open for carbs, 600 Holley, 600 Edelbrock/Carter, 4100 Autolite 500cfm, and pre-1973 4300 Autolite 600cfm are all good choices if you find a clean one.

You will really notice the 4-barrel, even on a stock 352 you can feel the difference.

Headers will help but not that much on a stock 360 and they are noiser, that bothers some folks. A tube diameter of 1-3/4 would work for the 390 as well, any bigger and it might actually run SLOWER, especially the 360.

For the truck, a 390 without headers would help way more than a 360 with headers.

 

If you have trouble finding one, I have a D2 4bbl intake I just pulled off a 74' 390_4V. Yours for shipping costs. I'm am not going with yet a third one of these heavy sons a bitches on a build. Cause I think we finally found a home for that 428 crank we'll no as soon as I can afford a sonic map

 

WOW! You guys are helpful, I am sure I can lay my hands on a cast 4bbl intake here, they almost give them away and put on aftermarkets in place.I wasn't really sure on the size for a carb, so thanks for all the info.As soon as I figure out how I will add some photos of my truck.

 

Oh one more thing-should have stated this earlier also-I was leaning towards headers as an easy fix to a cracked manifold on one side and broken off bolts on the other and cobbled together(what a site) someone really put some home engineering and welding skills at work!!

 

Just a thought - stock intake WITH a 1" plastic spacer might have the same effect as a high-rise manifold. = less $$ too.

 

Not to mention the benefit of less heat soak w/the spacer not transfering heat!

 

Leave it the hell alone, what after 35 years isn't dependable about it. With this economy like it is today, you had better be watching every penny that you have, your next one may be harder to get.


John