360 High Compression Pistons
 

Does anyone know where you can get higher compression pistons for a 360FE? There doesn't seem to be anything online. Are there other easy ways to bring the compression up i.e. rods, heads, etc?I'm just looking for something to liven up the old work truck, 9.5 or 10:1 c/r.Thanks for any help you guys can give.-Matt

Same thread but anymore numbers to report? :)
What about 9.0 to 9.5 on a 360FE? :)

Asked and answered: No.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...0-crank-2.html

Especially page 2, the last post as of now.

Stay 360 and stay low comp, or go 390 and run what you want.

thanks for the link.

I remember seeing a post here talking about custom made pistons.
Anybody got any ideas on where to look for costs on those?

Anybody have a good idea of the cost of having the heads and block and
intake manifold machined down to make 9.0 to 10.5 compression ratio?

Alvin in AZ

Check the numbers on that link--I don't think you can take enough off the block to make 9.5 or 10.0 out of a 360's set up. No one has ever suggested that method (that I've seen here). IMO, if that was the magic bullet for the 360, there would as many threads explaining how to do it as there are asking how to make compression in a 360.

Plus, when you take off deck height, now you are fooling with pushrod length too, and you'll need custom pushrods.... it never ends.

As for custom pistons, figure $100+ each. They do not list a 360 piston here, but they do list pistons for other engines at about that price.

Arias Pistons

They have an on-line order form, so have all your engine specs and credit card ready!

google 'custom pistons' to find more.

My dad has told me before putting oversize 352 pistons in will increase compression ratio. Maybe location of wrist pin is different with the 352?

See the link in post 3. Note the compression height of a 390 piston is 1.775 vs. 1.776 for the 360. Thus, the 390 piston is down the hole and low compression just like the 360--no improvement. Only the longer stroke and shorter rod of the 390 assembly pushes this piston up the hole enough to raise compression into the 9s.

There is no "magic bullet" or "Northwest passage" in dealing with the 360.

As for 352 pistons, again, can you clean up your bore with .010 overbore? I bet you are worn to .008 or so as it is.

Easy to find. Some part houses can get them if you don't want the hassle of shopping. You can always place a WTB ad on the net54 FE fourm. Tons of parts there. There are a few members in Tx there too and might find someone close by? Or maybe someone here has one for you?

332-428 Ford FE Engine Forum

what about putting different rods in a 360? do 410 rods or something fit? just a thought.

ok found out the 390 and up rods are the same size.

New question:

If I get .060 over 352 pistons, that should work, but how much fo I have to hone out the 360? .010 over is the same size as the .060s, but don't you need a little extra for clearance? how much extra do I need?

thanks - matt

You MUST mic the cylinders--all of them--to determine what your "bore" is now, especially down in the belly of the beast where they get barrel shaped. Only then will you know if you can go with a 4.060 piston.

If you think there is enough meat there to go to 4.060, then you MUST get the pistons and take them and block to the machine shop with the clearance specs for the pistons. They will bore and hone and number the pistons for you so you get them in the right holes.

You can't hone these in the driveway under a trouble lamp at night with a drill and a ball hone... But, if you must diy, get a cylinder hone and drill and have at it. Measure 64 times, cut once:

The Smooth Science of Cylinder Honing, Larry Carley, Engine Builder, November 2002

Rods in a 390 and a 410 are different; a 410 is made by using a 428 rods and crank w/a 390 block. 410s' are externally balanced like a 428,too, whereas a 390 is internal.