I know this has been covered about a thousand times, but I could not find what I was looking for in the search. here it goes:

I have a 71 highboy that should have a 360 in it.

My grandfather purchased the truck used in 72. it has stayed in the family from then and I got it from a cousin approx 5 years ago. It as 36,000 original miles. I can document this due to gas mileage records kept from 1975 until it was no longer on the road in 1983. I recently started to tear down the 360. It is stuck from sitting. I had it running once when I first got the truck but that was a while ago. I was able to remove one head. It has reliefs cut in the piston tops. I measured just for fun. the # 1 piston appears to be all the way at the bottom of the stroke and the # 4 at the top. From # 4 to the top of the block it measured about .5 inch. I am using a tape measure. # 1 to the top measured about 3.25. so I subtracted the .5 and came up with 2.75 which would be consistent with a 390 crank.

I also looked at the flange and noticed it has both a square cut out and a half circle consistent with a 360. I was able to pull the pan. I don't see casting numbers and I can't rotate the engine to look. It does appear that the bearing caps and rod caps are numbered 1 - 8. The pistons are not full skirted. They are cut away. Everything looks fairly new. There is one rod that appears to be red in color unlike the others.

What engine do I have. I always assumed it was a 360 but now I am not sure. Sorry for the usual question. Thanks
Charley

 

There is no FE with a 2.75" stroke. Even the 360 has a 3.50" stroke. A 390 has a 3.78" stroke. You need to check #1 and #6 to check the stroke, not #4. Oh and the shortest stroke FE is the 332 which had a 3.30" stroke.

 

Charlie, Bear is correct on the stroke. I believe the method that you used is done through the spark plug holes, passenger side, front piston at the top and rear (same side) should be at the bottom to get the stroke that way. The engine is prolly not all the way to bottom. I don't see why it couldn't be done with the heads off, but I'm not certain. I also thought that was 1 and 4 but someone else might say different.

I believe the 4wd was only available with the 360 that year.



John

 

Even a crappy 360 gets closer to the deck than that. You don't have any pistons at the top, or bottom of the stroke.

When you do get them freed up, there should be an identifier on (I believe) the second counterweight from the front.

I'll have to verify which piston is at the bottom when #1 is at the top of it's stroke. I have a short block on the stand, but it's tucked away at the moment.

 

2T and 2TA are the more common 360/ 3.50" crank stroke stampings that Hypoid Mike mentioned. 2U, 2UA and 3U the 390 3.78" stroke stampings. C1AE-A are the longer 360 rods and should be on one side of the rods.

 

Ok, I am an idiot. I was looking at the wrong numbers. I was thinking it was 2.78 not 3.78 for a 390 stroke. Now I have no reason to suspect it is not a 360. I found the number on some of the rods. It looks like C6AE. Any idea why one rod would be red in color? I can try to post a picture if that would help. Thanks again.

 

It's copper coated. There's much speculation as to why this was done and no one seems to have a answer.