Hey i have a 1971 f250 with a 360 in it now my grandpa had a 73 i believe with the 390 he swapped it for a 360 and swears by it being overall a better motor for a truck. Any thoughts on the subject? any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

welcome to fte. I like most people on here will tell you the 390 is a better motor. The 360 has a shorter stroke therefore takes away torque. Torque is a trucks best friend.

 

the 390 is a more powerful engine than the 360,

but, the 360 is a heavier engine often found in 3\4, 1\ and 1.5 ton trucks because the are made to take the abuse.


but the 390 is better option for a hotrod or fast truck.

 

Most of the comments I see say that the 390 is really the only engine of the two to choose. The 360 is just an underpowered version of the same engine block....

 

390 had a 3.75" stroke and a 360 has a 3.58" stroke.

A 360 is not heavier. its lighter. Due to the less mass crank and shorter rods.

Each will interchange within the same block and bore and all accessories.

A 360 can run just as well as a 390 with the correct parts to let it breathe. Change the cam to a car spec unit add a four barrel intake and the 360 will out rev a 390 due to its shorter stroke. Each use the same heads.

360s are truck specific so they come with a Truck low end torque spec camshaft.

Garbz

 

Gonna be interesting to see what twists and turns this thread takes.



John

 

C7AZ6250A .. Camshaft / Marked: VX or VU

Fits: 1967 F100/350 352 after serial number A84,001.

Fits: 1968/76 F100/350 360/390.

Fits: 1967 Galaxie/LTD 352 // 1967/71 Galaxie/LTD/Fairlane/Torino/Mercury Montego 390 2V.

 

well i have an rv cam and a 4bbl manifold and edlebrock carb that im in the process of putting on it as well as uping the exhaust size and adding a cherry bomb. any thoughts on the addonns?

 

beware of a spacer on the front of the cam or lack therof, follow torque specs and torque sequencing on the intake, make sure the back gasket doesnt move, be weary of which headers you buy cuz the passenger side can be a total nightmare getting it to fit up in there and will probly have to remove starter and slide them both up at once. or just get shorty headers. dont waste your money on cherry bombs. for the same price go on ebay and buy some real glasspacks that are half the lenght and better quality, wont rust. for the same price.

 

thanks for all the info guys! and further help would be great my trucks an ongoing project so anything would help.

 

Bill

Are the large galaxies you list with 2 barrel carbs a big heavy car that requires a torque type cam? Yes they are luxobarges that need the grunt to get the damn thing moving.

The cams you show are all 2 barrel cams for non high performance application.

Does not the same but more aggressive profile cam for a 428 CJ (in case you forgot there in cars) also fit? and with the correct matched intake and other components wake up the engine?

Most correlate a car type cam with a higher performance unit. Not the pablum preforming ones you list.

Garbz

 

Yes, other cams will fit, but...

This is...as original...the only factory installed camshaft for all these applications.

Part number sources: 1964/72 & 1973/79 Ford Truck Parts Catalogs / 1965/72 Ford Passenger Car Parts Catalog.