I am looking at buying a 1974 Ford F250 Crew Cab 2WD with the 360 in it. An I was told it is a junk engine a guy I know said he had a 75 with the 360 an it had problems with the blow back with oil an stuff an those engines don't last long. Are there any problems with these engines or not? Also should I have it bored to a 390?

 

You don't have to bore it to be a 390, you just change the crank and pistons, as the two have same bore. A few things I do know is that they have soft seats for running leaded fuel, so be aware the heads may need the seats redone and hardened seats put in. I had a retaining ring disintegrate on one of the wrist pins on a 390 and then let the pin gouge the cylinder wall. I have heard the 360's typically were oil burners, but cannot verify that, only FE I ran was 390's. The original 360 had been changed by the time I had the truck.

 

so would the 390 be a oil burner as well since it is basically the same engine? An what about making it run in unleaded fuel how can I fix that problem?

 

The guy said it used to be a Cali truck. So what emissions would be on that truck vs one not from Cali?

 

I didn't have much trouble with burning oil until the wrist pin destroyed the cylinder walls. In order to fix the valve seat problem, you have to get the heads reworked with hardened seats, or use a lead substitute. It would depend how much you are going to run the truck as to which way to go there. I can't really answer on the emissions.

 

If its never been rebuilt it will most likley have very low oil pressure, and every 360 I've ever run has been a compleat turd.

 

A matter of opinion.

For example, I wouldn't give you ten cents for a 302 or a 351M in one of these trucks. 302s belong in Mustangs.

FEs are awesome! I love my 360, and if I had to replace it there's nothing else I'd rather have...except perhaps a 428! (also an FE) I might keep a 351M in my bed to use as an anchor in case my brakes failed. To each his own, though.

Not many people who have owned a 390 will claim that it is junk.

 

I'd have to agree with everything here.

 

Kalve,

I have to agree with Bowtie_Schmowtie and 427 fordman

The FE series of engines is fine. The 360 in my 72 has lots of power, doesn't burn oil, gets about 12 MPG if I drive it nice. 85,000 miles and original to the truck. The 360 is a destroked 390. From the outside, they look the same. Only way to tell the difference is to measure the stroke. Go over to the FE forum on this site if you need more info. The only thing I would do if I were to rebuild this engine is enlarge some of the oil passage ways, and have unleaded valve seats installed as mentioned above. Plenty of mods if you want to hotrod it. Mine is my daily driver, and bone stock. No complaints at all.

Just my 2 cents worth...

 

I have a 08 Chevy HHR SS that is my current daily driver an I have had nothing but problems with it. So good of a Chevy I have a lemon lawyer on the case. I use to own a Ford my first car was a 84 Ford EXP best car ever owned to date. I would put it up against every car I have ever owned an regret getting red of it. I figured next vehicle after this Chevy is a truck. An the only truck I will have is good ol fashion Ford best truck ever made. I plan on using this truck as a daily driver an plan on moving to Colorado next year. The truck I am looking at is a 2WD I am planning to buy a mid-late 90's or newer Ford F250/350 Crew Cab 4WD prefer long bed that has been wrecked an buy it an switch everything over to it an then do Edelbrock or Holley fuel injection for non computer engine. I plan to keep most of it stock but do a few upgrades to it. I am just wanting to see what all I might have to do to it to get this truck ready for winter? Since the Chevy can't handle it even with all the stuff on it. It still goes sideways in winter refuse to drive it this year in winter will park it an hopefully drive a Ford this winter something I can depend on even though it would be over 30+ years old vs a 1 year old Chevy. Any ideas as to what all should be checked or changed for winter an daily driver for this ol truck?