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I need your thoughts and ideas! My 1973 Ford Ranger Camper Special F-350 XLT 2WD w/ a 390. Ive had this truck since 1999 when I entered my sophomore year of HS. Wow, that was a long time ago lol "back in my day". I got 2.5in duel flowmaster exhaust in 2001. Well Its been at my parents house for the last 15 years and they sold their boat and they wanted my truck gone as well to free up space. So I brought it to my house, in my tiny driveway. It RUNS and I fell back in love with it. The pictures are this year and Ive since changed the brake fluid, master cylinder, fuel diaphragm, spark plugs, oil, gas, all fluids and now I need to give it some TLC and upgrades! My bro-in-law has a 1969 Lincoln Continental with a 460 and will sell me that whole car for $2300. It runs, its solid and he's very mechanically sound. I asked him about a 4 barrel carb instead of my 2 barrel motorcraft and his response was to do that, plus intake and headers, but since I'm going to have the truck forever I should put in the 460. My 390 was rebuilt before I bought it 19yrs ago and it runs, but little issues here and there{head gaskets, fuel spitting out of the carb}. Today is a first, when I was in drive and hit the gas there's a little clicking sound that speeds up when I accelerate and it feels like its suffocating trying to pick up speed like I'm towing a couple ARMY TANKS when I'm not. It doesn't do it in park or neutral. Any ideas or suggestions? Pretty sure my sundial gauge was around 60-65 too and I honestly dont remember what the gauge reads. I believe oil pressure? I keep going back and forth on the 390 or 460. What's your thoughts?
Looks in pretty good shape! The gauge is most likely oil pressure as nothing else will be that high. If it were me, I would keep the 390, but I love the FE's. If you want to boost the power, there are stroker kits that will bring that 390 to a 445. I would be going that route with my own 360 if I didn't already have a 428 crank, rods, and pistons.
Yes, 460 would be awesome. I have my 1969 Lincoln 460 sitting in my shop but haven’t rebuilt it yet as my original is pretty great as is. The only thing I’ve moved to it is the air cleaner. lol
460’s are awesome in my opinion. Plus if you used that 69 Lincoln 460, you’d have the ultra cool crank driven power steering pump. For ease sake and originality however, the FE’s are fine.
Its all personal preference.
Yeah, ill probably stay with the 390. Ill start with headers then of course a stroker kit, intake and 4 barrel carb. Its nice getting back into it. Its like I found my long lost hobby. Lol.
Since the 460/C6 was available in 4X2 dent side trucks, you'll want to look for the motor mount brackets that came with such a truck. They look very much like the FE brackets but are slightly different. The C6 from some 460 Lincoln models has a very long tail shaft which might present you with a few challenges. Best do some checking there before you commit.
I have a F100 1969 with a 390, and a 1978 F150 Ranger XLT with the 460, and I am leaving both of mine as they came from the factory. Both have plenty of power to pull my bass boat. 460 loves the gas stations. The 390 does a little better. I did take that 19 gallon gas tank out of my 1978 with the 460 and junked it, and put a new 36 gallon tank in it so I could get from gas station to gas station with out a extra gas can in the back.
I got my 460 yesterday from my bro in law. $2500 for this 1969 Lincoln continental w/ the 460. Im keeping the engine and transmission, then going to sell the body. I feel a little bad because the car is in immaculate condition. 0 dents and barley any rust so I believe it'll sell pretty fast. I really don't like the style of this car.
To install a stroker kit you need to tear the engine down completely. I would still stick with the 390. If you are going to make this conversion, you need to find all the parts from another truck to put on the 460. Also not sure if the Lincoln trans will work in the truck. Just my two cents.
is a stroker kit installed with the engine pulled out?
A total engine rebuild will be needed. Adding so much displacement will be better utilized with upgraded heads, intake, cam, etc. That Lincoln is a looker btw! If your planning on stroking no matter what engine you choose, the 460 is probably the way to go. The engine build will be $$$$$ either way, so what's a little more dinero and time to find the ancillary parts for the swap.
07-08-2018, 02:20 AM
