Hotrodding a 360 engine.

[jdricha5]

Is it worth it?

Im considering it because I have a 360 in a 1971 F250.

What should I replace to begin to make it faster besides the rearend.

Any ideas?

Or should I just not even consider it and just get a 390 for 428?

Im not exactly rich so is it worth it to get the 390 or 428?

[sideoilerfe]

It depends on what you are trying to accomplish. If the bottom end is good then you can get away with an Edelbrock performer RPM, 600 cfm carb and a better cam to wake it up and you'll be happier. That being said, if you want to make serious power, I'd go 390 or larger and be prepared to spend some money.

[jdricha5]

It depends on what you are trying to accomplish. If the bottom end is good then you can get away with an Edelbrock performer RPM, 600 cfm carb and a better cam to wake it up and you'll be happier. That being said, if you want to make serious power, I'd go 390 or larger and be prepared to spend some money.

I have also just learned that I can make my existing into a 390.

[jdricha5]

Alright I have decided on swapping out the crank and rods. Now where do I go about getting the crank and rods ?

[averagef250]

Don't run the performer RPM on a truck 360/390. Just use the standard performer intake or a 67 or newer iron car intake.

[DuckRyder]

You can get a crank and rods from DSC Motorsports:

http://www.dscmotorsport.com/Crankshafts/index.htm

I wouldn't bother with a standard performer on an FE...

[rubiranch]

Just use the standard performer intake or a 67 or newer iron car intake.

I wouldn't bother with a standard performer on an FE...

[DGrant09]

Don't run the performer RPM on a truck 360/390. Just use the standard performer intake or a 67 or newer iron car intake.

Curious as to why you mentioned the 67 or newer iron car intake?

We have a 64 T Bird intake on our 390 which seems to do fine.

Just as long as I do not try to lift it! Ouch!

[willowbilly3]

If you are going to stroke it you might as well go on out to a 410 with the 428 crank. If your truck is running good now you might want to just find a good core and start a build up.

[averagef250]

FE's went through some minor intake port changes from 66 to 67. A 360 will have the smaller port heads and should be run with a 67 or newer intake manifold for proper port line up. If you have C7XX or newer casting heads you should run a 67 or newer intake.

I agree the performer is not great, but in my experience it does offer a minor off-idle torque advantage over the iron intakes. That's it, nothing else and is quite a bit doggier past 3000 RPM. If you drive conservatively and tow regularly the performer is not a bad choice for low end grunt FE.

My main point is that a performer RPM is WAY too much intake for a truck engine. It's a 1500-6500 RPM intake. Most truck FE's rarely see over 4000 RPM. The iron car intakes seam to do very well to atleast 4500 RPM, plenty for a truck and they offer very nice off-idle power, an iron intake does a slightly better job of sealing at the head surface (FE's are prone to intake port leaks).

Ideally, if you can find one, the 428 CJ iron intakes are a really good piece and work very well under the hood of a truck with a mild 390. The CJ is a bit taller than the standard car 4V intakes for a little larger plenum and longer runners.

[DGrant09]

Thanks Dustin! Helping the learning curve here!!
Dan

[jdricha5]

I have a 71 ford 360 in it so can someone like form a list of the stuff that I need to get.
I dont want to put the truck on a track. I want to just have some pickup to it if you know what I mean.

Gears to 3.73
Engine to 390 so I need a crank and rods

is there anything else? Besides the intake manifold and the 4 barrel edelbrock?

[DuckRyder]

If you get more air and fuel in, you have to get it out as well.

Headers and a good exhaust,
Intake and Carb
Camshaft/lifters/springs

[jdricha5]

Well I Have some brand of exhaust called Hollywood Exhaust.

[jdricha5]

ok now I have decided on going with the 428 crank 3.98 inch stroke.

So ill get a whopping 410 out of my 360. Can I use my same headers that I have with my engine and just replace the intake and exhaust manifolds?