360 performance - ideas please

[ta2drhino]

I have a 360 that I am ready to either yank out or replace with another engine. I don't have time or room to do any swapping myself, so everything will be hired out. I am completely redoing a '71 Ranger that will eventually be a fire-breathing monster. The point being that the 360 or 351/302 will not be the final engines in it - they will only be to get me around during the build.

Should I find an engine/tranny and have it put in (adding more expense) or have the 360 stroked to 390 or even 406? What suggestions would you make for building a little extra oomph into a 360?

I don't want to put a whole lot of money into either of these ideas since I will replace it with a blown big block later.

I know you guys are full of ideas (and I am too when it's not my project). Unload and give me something to think about.

Thanks!

Roger

[sideoilerfe]

Well, a 360, 390 and a 410 all have the same bore so I'd say go with the 390 if on a budget. If you want to stroke it, you might as well go with a 4.25" stroker crank from Sirvivalmotorsports.com because it's about the same price as a 428 crank (3.984" stroke). If you're going to use it as a truck, go with a bigger FE engine. If you plan on burning rubber and revving it high, then go with a 351W stroked to a 418 OR a 427.

[FORD428CJ]

I would buy a 4.125 or a 4.25 stroker kit for it. Why use a stock stroke of a 390 (3.76)-428 (3.98)if you plan on changing out the crank. Besides that you dont know the history of the old used crank thats 40 years old. Killer kits out there for sure. And you can say, "its just a 360"!

[FORD428CJ]

Well, a 360, 390 and a 410 all have the same bore so I'd say go with the 390 if on a budget. If you want to stroke it, you might as well go with a 4.25" stroker crank from Sirvivalmotorsports.com because it's about the same price as a 428 crank (3.984" stroke). If you're going to use it as a truck, go with a bigger FE engine. If you plan on burning rubber and revving it high, then go with a 351W stroked to a 418 OR a 427.

6,000 to 6,500 is all you need with the FE. Remember the higher you have to rev an engine......The shorter life it will have out on the Street. Also you can build a 511+ CI FE with an aftermarket block. Nothing like a FE under the hood

[FORD428CJ]

You can build a 427FE with Tunnle Port heads and zing it to 7,500 or so. OUTCH!!!! Or build a real short stroke FE and get to 10,000RPMs. Thats a little to high.