I am wondering if the 360 is worth the money to rebuild or is it better to replace it with something more common? I had a 85 F150 with a 351w and really like the reliability of it and the fact that it was a common motor to find parts for. I have heard both good and bad things about the 360. Is it possible to find 390 parts and build a stroker? Just looking for ideas.

 

first off welcome to FTE.com and too the dentside area,

yep its possible to make your 360 a 390, and i suggest you go that route, since you already have the motor and transmission for the 360, and parts are not impossible to find for the 360 to convert it too a 390, now if you had a 351m/400 that would be a different story, not much aftermarket, thus you have to get creative!

it all depends, how much is your budget? if your short funds, a 302w or 351w would be a alternative, but then you have to add the cost of getting a transmission then, thus where do you save money?

also what you running? is your truck a Automatic?

and any other details will help, like is it a 4x4? what year is it? what trim level? F-100, F-150,,, etc etc,

-Brent

 

I am trying to figure out what it is for sure. the VIN# says a 74 f100 4x4 with a 360. But I am thinking that it is a f250 ranger xlt 4x4 with a 390. it has a C6 tranny.

 

A F250 has leaf springs in front, a F 100/150 has coils in the front. 4x4's never had 390 from the factory, however the 360/390 block is identical so it isn't out of the question that somebody has upgraded. It's even posible (though not likely) to have a 410 if somebody in the past put a 428 crank in. I can't remember precisely, but I think a 428 crank has a 3.98" stroke. Drop a wooden dowel through a spark plug hole, rotate the engine by hand and measure the stroke to know for sure which you have. 360 stroke is 3.5" and 390 is 3.78". Short of exposing the rear crank flange, or removing the oil pan and finding a part number on the crank, there isn't a way to tell the difference between 360/390 aside from measuring the stroke.

 

really, i thought for sure there would be a vin number on the motor to match it to the engine size and even the make (Ford, Mercury, Lincoln) and model,

i know the 302w's have a vin number stamped right near where the starter motor is, if you go under you engine, and look up where the starter is, then you will see a code,

its pretty easy too decode the year, as it will read like any other Ford part number,

D= 70's decade

the next number beside the first letter will mark the exact year, thus

D1= 1971

then you will have many other letters and numbers that all can be decoded online,

also i would assume the 351w has a code like the 302w, thus both engines of the windsor family can be decoded, not sure what range of years they did this on the small block Ford's,

i found out my 302w came out of a 1971 Ford Torino,

thus i am not sure about the 360/390

i guess one really studies the motor they have in there own car/truck thus i have no clue if the 360/390 have a similar code,

i only wish all Ford engines had that code, its really convenient to have a code, i wonder what other Ford engines have this code? its handy for sure when you can decode a number!

-Brent

 

Those are part numbers not VIN numbers. There is no confusing a 302 block with a 351W block because they are different sizes. What about a 289 to a 302, same block slightly different crank. A 360 is a 390 block that has a 352 crank in it. When the 360/390 block is cast (it has a part number cast into it), it becomes a 360 or 390 based on which crank/rod/piston combo goes in. The same idea with 351M/400 engines, same block (with same Part number) different rotating assembly. It's a Ford thang. BTW, don't be psyched out by the 352 cast into the front of the block, nearly all FE motors have that number cast into it. A 352 is also a member of the FE engine family along with 332,352,360,361 (bored out 352 in an Edsel), 390,406(extremely rare),410(Mercury variation) ,427(legendary,valuable and very rare), and 428. 332,352 have smaller bores than the 360/390/410, 406,427,428 have larger bores. These motors were designed in the 50's and were debuted in Thunderbirds and Edsels as 332,352,361. They began growing throughout the 60s. The short lived 406 made for racing grew to the 427. In the mid to late 60s came the 428. By the end of the sixties Ford had designed the next generation big motor, the 385 series including 429/460. FE motors continued on into the 70s until 76 solely in pickup trucks as 360 or 390.

 

Thanks guys I have alot to go off of when i get home. I have been writing it all down, Im in the Marines and stationed it california, and home is washington. I have yet another question, I have a 400M with a thrown crank, is this a motor that anyone would use? I am a ford fan but HMMWV's got GM motors, BOO! Again thanks guys for all the help.

 

ya part number, i just get caught up in it all, since it did identify the car the 302w came out of, thus its as good as a vin code to me! it was neat to find out where its origins where, since the previous owner of the truck gave me this engine on the side, he stated "i think its a 80's 302w" but he wasn't sure, all i know is,

before i sealed the deal for my truck, he wanted to drop the price a few 100 dollars, and not give me the 302w on the side,

i said heck no! i need it to replace the old tired 302w under the trucks hood! (it was leaking oil everywhere! i am amazed it ran!, it was one of those, check the gas, fill the oil motors! but it did oil guard the engine bay lol lol)

he then said well you can pick up a 302w anywhere, then my gears started turning, i almost said, "well you can find another one too!"

but in the end he agreed a deal was a deal, i think he realized what motor it was, since he said his son wanted the engine?..... that's what sparked my fight too keep the engine in the deal! since why would he want this one?

then i find out its a '71 motor, the last of the real 302w's as '72 and onward would see the power levels drop along with low compression ratios,

thus i got lucky, and so far this 302w seems like a brand new engine, no dirt or sludge or wear anywhere on it, its like 1971 new! and its smoother than smooth at idle,

now back to the topic, and thanks Tsoptich for joining the Marines, i hear there a tough bunch, and they get the job done! also are you planned for any overseas missions? i just like to always thank the troops when ever i can, no matter if there American or Canadian, God bless you guys,


also sorry for being way off topic, personally i would leave that 400m alone, and possibly sell it or put it in another machine (home built buggy?)

but forget putting it in your truck, i know that statement will come under fire soon enough on here, but the 351m/400 are good motors if there built up, but they have little too no aftermarket, thus i would avoid it, you can build a 351m/400 but it will involve customizing Chevy and Dodge parts! and i am not kidding! Google it!

so build your 360 up to a 390, or go further, make it a 396? and bug all the Chevy boys! lol lol my friend in Colorado did that too his '72 F-100, and he laughs at the fact Chevy has a 396! lol lol

also the HMMWV's are awesome looking machines, i often wish i could get a used one from the U.S. military, i really dig that desert tan there painted, i think with a little more civilized interior, and F O R D in the grille spaces, and a Ford Powerstroke diesel drive train under the hood, it would make a nice SUV for sure! and i would keep it in the military paint scheme! also the convertible HMMWV's are cool, that roofless design is neat,

-Brent

 

First, I am not scheduled for any more overseas deployments, I went to Iraq in 2007 and Afghanistan in 2008. I am actually getting out soon. Now back to the Fords. I have a 78 2wd and a 74 F250 4x4. I am pulled between the 360/390? which ever it is, or finding a good 351w. There not big motors but with a nice cam and a holley 4bbl and headers they are stout. I had one in my 85 F150/250 "creation" (the F250 I turned into a river boat 3 days after my 16 birthday, and salvaged the motor for a cherry F150 2wd) any way, I like the 351w and they can be had for cheap. I don't want to do anything to crazy with the truck, just local poker run, and community days car show, and hunting, well maybe throw a camper on it for camping but no towing or such. I live in Central Washington, so there is many close spots to camp with little to no grades. I like your video and the work you did on your 77 sweet ride. I figure with the 2 trucks I have i can make one nice one. The 2wd is a long bed like the F250 and its all straight, except for a fender bender in the Rt front fender, but I have enough straight parts to fix it. I dont care on mix matching parts, i think it adds character. Any way thank for all the advise and i would like to see some more pictures. I will send some as soon as I get home for the holidays. feel free to email me tsoptich@hotmail.com, so we dont have to play tag on here. And i am glad that we have a friendship developing. Talk to you later. And I can work on getting you that HMMWV I know were to get them from the Army for like a $1000 bucks or so. Let me know. LOL

 

imo, fe is the best v8 ford ever built, KEEP IT. 360 was pretty pitiful so id stroke it to a 390 and raise the cr to 9.5:1 and an rv cam. the 390 is an amazing performer and people hardly ever give them credit. fact of the matter is they just run, FOREVER and have lots of power and potential.

imo the fe is more reliable than a 351/400, but just my $.002

 

I'd vote for keeping the 360 in the 74. If you feel you need to replace or rebuild the motor, rebuid it or replace it with a 390. If you want to stroke it further, acquire a 428 crank and build a 410 (plus however much you bore it out). If you do the 410 thing (these were used in the late sixties in big Mercury wagons) be aware that the 428 crank has some external balance where the other FE cranks are neutral balance.

Of coarse you can swap in a 351W or really any other Ford engine. Taking that idea further, just about any motor will fit in the engine bay. I've seen Chevy motors used, Mopar motors, and there are those that are putting Cummin's diesel's in. Having said that, when you swap (and I've been there done that) there are lots of headache details to solve. Bellhousings bolt patterns vary between engine families, engine towers vary in location, countless power steering pumps, ect. Even 2wd vs 4x4 as I'm now aware having one of each here. The aftermarket supports well swapping in a 460 as this is a popular swap.

The 351W although made through all those years wasn't ever put into dentside trucks from the factory. In 4x4's the standard V8 is 360 73-76 (I'm talking dentsides here I know that they predate 73) and 351M/400 in 77-79. If you want to buy for example headers, they are available for stock applications. If you want a headers for a 351W in a 4x4, good luck, maybe you can have it custom made or you get lucky and it sort of fits, you won't find any part for your application.

As far as aftermarket available for 360/390 (FE family) vs 351m/400 (335 series family) it is an exaggeration that there isn't any aftermarket. The worst of it for 351M/400 is a lack of higher compression pistons. Both families have heads and intakes available. I love the 390 I have in my 2wd but the 351M in my 79 4x4 gets down the road fine. Its worn and has lousy oil pressure. When I have it replaced or rebuilt, I may well replace it with a 400 rather than try to worry about converting the truck over to accept an FE engine. I've heard many people stand up for 400's as being potential torque monsters. My dad had a Lincoln MkV that was very dependable and powerful. I'm sure given an equal comparison between a 360 and a 390, you'd pick a 390, however a 360 should be a respectable motor. It's bore and stroke sizes have been the basis for many built motors. I think people here get caught up in horsepower. Are we racing? I'm sure some are. If you are serious about drag racing, or Mud bog racing, or towing horse trailers over mountain passes, then you might be motivated to build a monster. I think any and all of the Ford truck motors do fine moving down the freeway in a civil manner.

BTW, I live in the Seattle area and have family roots in Yakima. Welcome home

 

Well I am defiantly going to look more into the 360/390? I have. Im not for sure witch it is, my dad thinks that it is a 390 since the chassis is a f250, but i was going on the VIN#, which i am thinking that a Cab swap was involved in this trucks short life, haha. If its a 360 i will do some internal work and have it stroked out, if its a 390 i freshen it up, im not looking for a torque monster or high horsepower mill. Maybe put a set of headers a new/rebuilt carb and a nice exhaust system and i think a good rv cam. other than that i am planing on freshing up the truck and making it a local car show stud.

 

I can say what seriously woke up mine was the 4bbl manifold/carb swap. It was like a whole new motor. The FE is an incredibly tough motor and they have a sound all their own.

 

Thats really all i want to do. nothing fancy

 

Agree 100%