I"m looking at picking up a running '74 F250 High Boy with a 360, swapped in open knuckle w/disc brake D44, 7100 Bilstein's, new clutch, custom rear bumper, 18g. behind the seat tank & an aux. 25g tank, D60 rear, 4.10 gears and some other random shit for $750. I just need tires & wheels. The guy wants the custom H1 beadlocks & Military H1 tires back. Not a bad deal if you ask me. There's really not a downside aside from the poor MPG's. I'm getting this truck to drive & tow.
So here are my few questions;
1. Is the 360 a small or big block?
2. Where can I find info on it? (I"ve looked for parts in Summit & Jegs with no luck)
3. I'd like yo convert it to EFI of some sort and HEI. what are my options?
An overdrive tranny would also be great. All in the name of better fuel economy(I know it'll never be a new truck but if I could get 12-14 it would be very helpfull)

Any help would be great. The search button wasn't to helpful on the 360 or the EFI.(though the EFI gave me some info)

Ford doesn't use small/block big block designations so to speak. The 360 is in the FE engine family dating back to the 352 in 1958 for the Ford Edsel(FE). The most common being the 352 until 1967, then the 360, and the ever popular 390 and 428, and was the Ford "big block". When the 460 and later the 429 came on the scene, the FE ceased to be THE "big block". Ford has 2 different sized "small blocks" in the 289/302, and the 351W which is 1" taller version of the 302. Then it has the 351C which is an all together different "small block", which was modified in 1971 to the 400 which is 1" taller than the 351C, and later in 1975 that same block was destroked into the infamous 351M. So designating the engine big block or small block is really of little use when it comes to Ford. You just have to know what you really have, that's all.

The 360 in the high-boy will get you about 13mpg whether loaded or empty, so you are already in the ball park you are looking for. You won't quite get that towing, but I don't know of any swap you could do to get more mpg out of a heavy truck like that towing.

As far as aftermarket support, its been discontinued since 1977, so the new and used parts market is drying up fast. If the ever popular 390/428's weren't so stout and well liked on the drag strip, the FE parts would have already been dried up long ago. What's left now are just the remnants of one of the most popular style engines in American automotive history.

I believe a ZF-5 would be an easy swap. Being a divorced t-case, your tranny options are fairly unlimited since it uses a 2WD tranny and an intermediate drive shaft.

There may be some EFI retrofits for the 390, but I'm not up on that stuff. A 460 is a very easy swap, and there is plenty of EFI support for that, or you may want to go 351W EFI which may give you the economy you are looking for. With a low first and a 4.10's, it may have the power you need. The 460 will obviously have all the power you would ever need, but I'm not sure if it would get under 14 mpg. It is entirely possible, and a lot of that also has to do with driving style.

So here are my few questions;
1. Is the 360 a small or big block?

Like JGVA said, could be called a big block if you want to use bowtie terminology.

2. Where can I find info on it? (I"ve looked for parts in Summit & Jegs with no luck)

The only difference between the 360 and the 390 is the crank, rods and pistons so search for 390 parts. The 390 conversion is butt simple and will tremendously increase the power if done right.


3. I'd like yo convert it to EFI of some sort and HEI. what are my options?

TBI (throttle body injection) using gm parts would be the easist, I haven't heard of any port injection setups so it would probably be custom. I believe there are a couple HEI distributors made for the FE but are no real improvement over the DuraSpark. I think the DS came out in '74 so you might already have the it.

An overdrive tranny would also be great. All in the name of better fuel economy(I know it'll never be a new truck but if I could get 12-14 it would be very helpfull)

Any 2wd tranny that you can hang on a FE bell housing will do it. I think it's much easier to get that kind of mileage from a FE than it is from a 335 (351M/400) or 385 (429/460).


Any help would be great. The search button wasn't to helpful on the 360 or the EFI.(though the EFI gave me some info)

Try here: http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182/

Good Luck.

thanks a ton for the info guys.

4xford, So would it be possible to change the crank, stroke it and get the 390? Would that be correct?

The reason I mentioned the HEI is that I had heard that running GM TBI you'd need HEI. Not sure if it's true, though.

4xford, So would it be possible to change the crank, stroke it and get the 390? Would that be correct?

Yes. All parts are 100% interchangeable from 360 to 390. The differences are:

Crankshaft. 3.5 stroke for the 360, 3.78 for the 390.

Rods. 360 rods are longer and a bit thinner.

Pistons. Compression height is slightly different.

A dirt cheap high compression (about 10-1) 390 can be built by using a 390 crank, 360 rods and some cheap truck 390 pistons with a short compression heigth. Make sure to get all the measurements and do the math.

The reason I mentioned the HEI is that I had heard that running GM TBI you'd need HEI. Not sure if it's true, though.

That may be the case, I'm not sure, never done it.

I have an Edelbrock RPM Intake for your motor if you're interested.
Keep your Duraspark unless you need the HEI for the TBI swap.

Buzz

I have an Edelbrock RPM Intake for your motor if you're interested.
Keep your Duraspark unless you need the HEI for the TBI swap.

Buzz

I talked to the guy I'm getting the truck from today. He said to save about 75lbs. swap out the cast iron intake for an aluminum one. How much do you want for it? Also he said he swapped in an electronic ignition. Is the Duraspark electronic?

Sorry for all the dumb questions. Thanks for all the help guys.

The 360 in the high-boy will get you about 13mpg whether loaded or empty

:laughing: Falling off a cliff with the key off maybe..

More like 10.

He said to save about 75lbs. swap out the cast iron intake for an aluminum one.

Naw, only 55lbs.

Also he said he swapped in an electronic ignition. Is the Duraspark electronic?

Yes

$200 for the Edel, only used an hour.

:laughing: Falling off a cliff with the key off maybe..

More like 10.

Better tune up your 360. Mine w/ 4.10 gears got 13 whether empty or carrying 1000#'s, and that was on 2 different motors, both well used. If you have bigger tires, it may seem like its getting less, but you have to calculate the mileage from the actual circumference, not straight from the odometer. Your truck is going further with bigger tires if the speedo has not been calibrated to them.

It did get worse at highway speeds, probably only 10/11, but had stock tires. I think a little bigger tires would have helped that because there's plenty of low-end power and good gearing. I think the extra distance would have outweighed the extra power needed to move them due to the gearing. It would be more like taking advantage of the gearing instead of letting it rob you.

The 74 isn't going to have Duraspark II unless someone put it on there. I think I would go with the HEI, if you are changing complete systems. The HEI is only 1 distributor and 1 wire. The DS II is a dizzy, coil, module and a whole lot of wiiring to hook it all together. You will probably get better mileage with a 4 barrel if you keep off the throttle and the secondaries closed except when absolutely needed, because of the smaller primaries, but rarely does anyone drive it like that, so you will probably get worse.

I have a '67 2wd shortbox. The 352 got 10.5, the 390 that replaced it gets 10. I don't see a 360 with less compression in a heavier truck getting better milage, but I don't have your truck either...

Don't have the 73 high-boy any more, but that's what it got. My 79 low-boy has a 400/3.54, and it gets 11.9 on 87 and 14.1 on 93 which I have to run for pinging. My Broncos w/ 400's and 3.50's only get 9 to 11 depending on how I jet them, but they are 4 bbls and no EGR. A working EGR makes a big difference on gas mileage.

I Had A '72 That Had A 360 In It, Swapped The Crank And Rods, 10.5:1 Compression Forged Pistons And A Good Cam. The Truck Was A Monster. Milage Wasent My Concern But Was Fun To Drive.
I Purchased All My Stuff Through Paw In So Cal.
And Yes That Stock Intake Is Crazy Heavy!!

Better tune up your 360. Mine w/ 4.10 gears got 13 whether empty or carrying 1000#'s, and that was on 2 different motors, both well used. If you have bigger tires, it may seem like its getting less, but you have to calculate the mileage from the actual circumference, not straight from the odometer. Your truck is going further with bigger tires if the speedo has not been calibrated to them.

It did get worse at highway speeds, probably only 10/11, but had stock tires. I think a little bigger tires would have helped that because there's plenty of low-end power and good gearing. I think the extra distance would have outweighed the extra power needed to move them due to the gearing. It would be more like taking advantage of the gearing instead of letting it rob you.

The 74 isn't going to have Duraspark II unless someone put it on there. I think I would go with the HEI, if you are changing complete systems. The HEI is only 1 distributor and 1 wire. The DS II is a dizzy, coil, module and a whole lot of wiiring to hook it all together. You will probably get better mileage with a 4 barrel if you keep off the throttle and the secondaries closed except when absolutely needed, because of the smaller primaries, but rarely does anyone drive it like that, so you will probably get worse.

The guy said he swapped in electronic ignition. Not sure which one but he said it came in the later years. So I'm guessing duraspark. As far as the EGR what year did they start that?

I'll have to pass on the intake, though it sounds good, I need to get tires & wheels for it first. I'll hit you up a bit later to see if it's still available.

I'm hoping to go pick it up in a few weeks. I'll need a windsheild, calipers & maybe a battery. Oh and wheels & tires. I'll probably run 315-75r16 BFG AT's on some steel wheels.

So here's the latest on this thing. The front end is out of a '78 F250 it should have the dual piston pinchers, if I'm not mistaken. It's getting deliverd on the weekend of the 9th. I may also have the tires and wheels figured out. I got hooked up with a set of 35" x 12.50" x 15" BFG AT's. I've got a set of 15" x 8" 8 on 6.5 wagon wheels at work, I'm just wondering if they'll clear the brakes. If any one knows for sure that'd be great. It'll keep me from buying the wheels if they won't fit. The boss wants to get rid of them soon.

The front end is out of a '78 F250 it should have the dual piston pinchers, if I'm not mistaken.

Correct



I've got a set of 15" x 8" 8 on 6.5 wagon wheels at work, I'm just wondering if they'll clear the brakes.

15s wont clear Ford dual piston calipers. :( But you can grind them down some and they will fit.

http://www.survivalmotorsports.com/

http://www.survivalmotorsports.com/images/July_Hot_Rod_Pg_2_Small.jpg

EFI Page from HOT ROD

15in rims will fit if the backspace is like 2.5in. I have seen guys do it with out grinding but i dont like it. buy some nice 16s and you will be much happier.

ya thats the plan.