Going FE? pros/cons

[mkpj1]

Stroke that 360 to 390. Get a 390 crank and rods. Get the heads reworked and opened up 2.02,.1.79 valves. Open up the oil galleries. HV pump. Heavy springs and adjustable rockers. 4 barrel carb. Beef up your torque converter and C6. RV cam, headers. Gearing in the rear will need to be beefed up and based on what you want to do. I did all this doing most of the work for around $2500.00 (engine only). That was several years back. the key here is you KNOW what you have.

This motor will not disappoint and mileage will be no better or worse than a 302 with a ton more torque. Of course that depends on how much you get into the secondaries. 302 is a car motor, period. Too weak for a truck that wants to work. A 360 falls short of enough and drinks gas, worst of both worlds,...hence the boat anchor analogy.

[FordTruck]

Papa if you get rid of your 302 send it this way. The one in the 70's on it last legs.

[papabug71]

302 is a car motor, period. Too weak for a truck that wants to work. A 360 falls short of enough and drinks gas, worst of both worlds,...hence the boat anchor analogy.

The truck will keep its original 303-3speed. As well as the 3:25 rear gears. Im not building it as a hot rod. My truck worked from 1971 to 1994. Its now a weekend cruiser or "show truck" if you will. I have no beef with the 302. It has been a good motor & has plenty of power for me. It gets 14 to 15 MPG on the highway @ 60 MPH, Better than my fuel injected Dodge Ram.

Im thinking of a bone stock 360, 2bbl, log manifolds ect. Im going to have to think it over. I like the fact that my truck is original, minus cosmetics, but I love the thought of opening the hood & seeing a FE looking back at me. What to do----What to do....

[FordTruck]

What kind of RPM's does your truck run going down the road at about 40?

[mkpj1]

Papa,

302 is an awesome motor. I just pull over 3-5000 pounds and haul loaded bed and a 302 will gasp. I would say that the 302 and 360 are probably identical in HP and torque ratings bone stock. 360 drinks more by far. Go with the 302 if going stock rebuild. Build a stock 390 and probably gain 50-75 hp and same in torque. increased cost of 390 would be your crank and rods. Everything else is the same. Back when i did mine you could get a 390 crank for 25 bucks. Becoming rare now so probably more.

Complete the 390 build I suggested and gain 150 hp and ~110ft-lb torque. Big difference and people will notice when you drive up. Really could probably do the same with the 302 on HP and have more options when dealing with OD and such that would save money. In my case of having a 68,...I wanted to keep it as original as possible,..and I didn't have a 302 . You an do it,..you just need to crunch the numbers and see which fits you use. I can get 11-13 in my 390 cruising and not blasting the secondaries.

Good luck.