360!!!
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360!!!
Finally! its been like 4 months since my trucks been down and out with a blown engine, but im going next sunday to pick up a '72 360 with 75,000 miles. i almost gave up and sold the truck but the guys only wanted like $120 for the complete engine and said i could hear it run first before i bought it. so, going about rebuilding/swapping out the 390 is the next problem, never once have i rebuilt an engine....but i have plenty of time....and a job....and im 18 so no bills and no girlfriend at the moment.....so i think im all set. id like to get pretty good performance out of it, so im wondering what your suggestions would be, and yes, i did search before i posted this and most people say to get a 460.....but i didnt....i got a 360 and thats what im working with lol. but as far as the engine, ive seen alot about it being lower compression than others, so im thinking turbo would be possible correct? anyway, just fill me in! im completely lost when it comes to these things, which is why im asking the people who DO know.
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Go through this forum and read anything that says 360 or 390 or 360 to 390.
Short version: 390 crank and rods, 360 pistons, 9.5 or so compression. Cam, intake, 4bbl, headers--double the HP with about the same or better gas mileage.
Of course, there are many details involved, so read through and find more info.
Budget for your project? Place to build an engine? Tools?
BTW, forget the turbo--it's not a simple bolt on, and the above changes are far simpler and much more bang for the buck.
Short version: 390 crank and rods, 360 pistons, 9.5 or so compression. Cam, intake, 4bbl, headers--double the HP with about the same or better gas mileage.
Of course, there are many details involved, so read through and find more info.
Budget for your project? Place to build an engine? Tools?
BTW, forget the turbo--it's not a simple bolt on, and the above changes are far simpler and much more bang for the buck.
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yea, i know the turbo would be much more than a bolt on, i bought a book off amazon a few weeks ago about turbos called maximum boost, and i really dont have a budget because im not in any hurry to get it done. but i have a place to build it and the tools, just not the knowledge of what all i need right now. the turbo was just an idea of something to make it different, not looking to push lkike 15psi or anything like that even if i did decide to go for it, just enough to satisfy my liking of the BOV sound lol.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
I realize you are young and full of vim & vitality and don't have a good grip on old Ford motors. The 360 is a detuned 390, was one of the first attempts in the emissions change. The 360 is a 390 block with 352 crank and rods.
As the man said adding a 390 rotating assembly back to the 360 will give a lot of bang for your buck.
Turbos make little motors run like big motors with higher rpms. The FE is a long stroke low rpm engine that has a lot of torque with slower rpms.
Some of the little 4 bangers will get 6000 to 7000 rpms with a bat of an eye. You will have to dump a big chunk of change in a FE to get in that range. Most stock FEs will float the valves before they get that high.
A slightly sweetened 390 will make an awesome truck motor. Leave the gadgets to the cars, or newer engines that are designed to use turbo. The FE is a 1950s design engine. my 2 coppers worth
John
As the man said adding a 390 rotating assembly back to the 360 will give a lot of bang for your buck.
Turbos make little motors run like big motors with higher rpms. The FE is a long stroke low rpm engine that has a lot of torque with slower rpms.
Some of the little 4 bangers will get 6000 to 7000 rpms with a bat of an eye. You will have to dump a big chunk of change in a FE to get in that range. Most stock FEs will float the valves before they get that high.
A slightly sweetened 390 will make an awesome truck motor. Leave the gadgets to the cars, or newer engines that are designed to use turbo. The FE is a 1950s design engine. my 2 coppers worth
John
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It really depends on what you want to do with your truck. If you want a dependable daily work truck, then your 360 will accomplish that. Basically the difference between a 390 and a 360 is that the 390 has a longer stroke and shorter rods. The 390 is more efficient and makes more power. If you want more power than a 390 "more cost" you can increase the stroke of your engine to 3.98 or 4.25 to make more power.
You have the 360, so if I were you I would use it and enjoy your truck. Later on, if you want, you can experiment with building up another engine. A 428 "FE" or an 460 which is not an FE can make much more horsepower than a 360 or 390. The best thing about the 360 is that it is like the energizer bunny, it runs and runs. Putting a turbo on an FE is very expensive, and not very practicable.
A 360 is not a detuned 390 just like a 390 is not a detuned 428.
You have the 360, so if I were you I would use it and enjoy your truck. Later on, if you want, you can experiment with building up another engine. A 428 "FE" or an 460 which is not an FE can make much more horsepower than a 360 or 390. The best thing about the 360 is that it is like the energizer bunny, it runs and runs. Putting a turbo on an FE is very expensive, and not very practicable.
A 360 is not a detuned 390 just like a 390 is not a detuned 428.
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like i said, im not looking for something to drive every day, just something to go out and have fun working on and then driving it around, and i have a 390, that was in the truck to begin with, so does that mean i could take the crank from it and buy new rods and pistons (the block was the only problem with the 390, it needed to be rebuilt but is already bored 60 over) and have another engine thats exactly the same?
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like i said, im not looking for something to drive every day, just something to go out and have fun working on and then driving it around, and i have a 390, that was in the truck to begin with, so does that mean i could take the crank from it and buy new rods and pistons (the block was the only problem with the 390, it needed to be rebuilt but is already bored 60 over) and have another engine thats exactly the same?
If you are going to go to that much work, as indicated in prior posts, a longer stroke can be had.
If you do such a swap, you need to assemble with care, and make sure your parts fit and not hit. Shaved heads, decked blocks etc, can make clearances come into question.
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My suggestion:
Amazon.com: How To Rebuild BIG-BLOCK FORD ENGINES: Steve Christ: Books
This book will answer all of your questions about the Ford FE. It is probably the best book out there on FE's.
My suggestion would be to drop the 360 in your truck and run it as is, and save your money. Then take the 390 when you have enough money saved up, get it rebuilt, or rebuild it yourself, and add a nice aftermarket intake, 4bbl, either a Comp 268 or 280 cam, 9-9.5:1 compression, and headders and you'll be very happy with the outcome.
Amazon.com: How To Rebuild BIG-BLOCK FORD ENGINES: Steve Christ: Books
This book will answer all of your questions about the Ford FE. It is probably the best book out there on FE's.
My suggestion would be to drop the 360 in your truck and run it as is, and save your money. Then take the 390 when you have enough money saved up, get it rebuilt, or rebuild it yourself, and add a nice aftermarket intake, 4bbl, either a Comp 268 or 280 cam, 9-9.5:1 compression, and headders and you'll be very happy with the outcome.
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Joe Kucinski
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Boss, You are welcome to hold on to that if ye like. I know you know a hell of a lot more about motors than me.
I do know the 360 was the last FE from Ford, and it was an attempt to meet the early emissions standards the govment was shoving down the auto makers throats. We all know they were working around compression, timing and other issues.
I never said nothing about a 428 and don't know why you thought it was important to factor in.
You call em what you want, I'm stickin with destroked for a 360, OK??
John
I do know the 360 was the last FE from Ford, and it was an attempt to meet the early emissions standards the govment was shoving down the auto makers throats. We all know they were working around compression, timing and other issues.
I never said nothing about a 428 and don't know why you thought it was important to factor in.
You call em what you want, I'm stickin with destroked for a 360, OK??
John
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Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 166
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From: Waco, Tx
you'd have to have it sonic checked to know. Most 390's can go .060 over not sure what piston choices you have at 4.11 bore though. So it's not out of the question to use that block but there are better choices. and maybe it doesnt need bored over just cleaned up a bit. I use to have a 360...now it's a 445. If you arent going to do the 390 conversion, which sounds like it might be what you need(you can make 400hp pretty easily with it), and want to put a bigger crank in it then go with the 4.25. Talk to Barry at Survival Motorsports. He can hook you up with everything you need. Got whole new rotating assy w/rings and whatnot, cam&lifters, carb, for around $2400 delivered.
Makes somewhere in the neighborhood of 475hp and loads of tq. and it's very streetable. better mpg than the 360 too. just my 2cents
Makes somewhere in the neighborhood of 475hp and loads of tq. and it's very streetable. better mpg than the 360 too. just my 2cents
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Union, Washington
Boss, You are welcome to hold on to that if ye like. I know you know a hell of a lot more about motors than me.
I do know the 360 was the last FE from Ford, and it was an attempt to meet the early emissions standards the govment was shoving down the auto makers throats. We all know they were working around compression, timing and other issues.
I never said nothing about a 428 and don't know why you thought it was important to factor in.
You call em what you want, I'm stickin with destroked for a 360, OK??
John
I do know the 360 was the last FE from Ford, and it was an attempt to meet the early emissions standards the govment was shoving down the auto makers throats. We all know they were working around compression, timing and other issues.
I never said nothing about a 428 and don't know why you thought it was important to factor in.
You call em what you want, I'm stickin with destroked for a 360, OK??
John
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,287
Likes: 3
Boss, You are welcome to hold on to that if ye like. I know you know a hell of a lot more about motors than me.
I do know the 360 was the last FE from Ford, and it was an attempt to meet the early emissions standards the govment was shoving down the auto makers throats. We all know they were working around compression, timing and other issues.
I never said nothing about a 428 and don't know why you thought it was important to factor in.
You call em what you want, I'm stickin with destroked for a 360, OK??
John
I do know the 360 was the last FE from Ford, and it was an attempt to meet the early emissions standards the govment was shoving down the auto makers throats. We all know they were working around compression, timing and other issues.
I never said nothing about a 428 and don't know why you thought it was important to factor in.
You call em what you want, I'm stickin with destroked for a 360, OK??
John
When someone talks about de-tuning an engine, they normally are talking about ignition. When you tune up an engine, you are working with the carburetor, ignition, and spark plugs. To detune an engine would normally consist of retarding the ignition timing. It is a frequent practice to detune a race engine for driving it on the street. Then tune it back to it's full potential for racing.