Ford Truck Motor-vs-Car Motor

[dallas121469]

Just realized some new information on Ford motors. Their truck division made some odd motors. Is it possible to put a Ford truck motor into a car and vice versa? What are the differences between the truck motors and the Ford car motors? I have a line on 68 Ford Truck with a 360. Is that a good motor? If I dont want to restore the truck is it worth it to just keep the motor? Any info someone may have on this subject would be great. Thanks. Steve

[dallas121469]

Doesnt anyone have any comments about the Ford 360 motor? I found the info I was looking for but its still nice to hear from some knowledgable Ford owners. Thanks.

[Mercracer]

The 360 and 390 car/truck motors are very similar engines from the late 60's on. They both used the same heads and blocks. The difference is in the crank, rods and pistons. Basically a 352 crank in a 390 block. 4.05 bore and 3.50 stroke.
There is absolute interchange with these motors between a truck and a car. They are both decent engines with different performance characteristics due to the stroke difference.
Where you run into differences is the FT series of engines which are found in the larger trucks. 391, 361, 330, etc. These engines have different heads, cranks, flywheels, dampeners which makes it impractical to swap a complete engine. The blocks (391/361) are interchangable with slight modification, and the steel cranks can be machined for extreme performance use.

[dallas121469]

Well then if what you are saying is true and from all the information I can find it should also be just as easy to turn a 360 into a 428. I have a service specs manual from 1968 and as far as I can tell the only differences between the 428 and the 390 is the bore, stroke and piston pin length. They both use the same heads, valves, rockers, lifters, connecting rods etc. So I just need the specs for a 360 and should be able to make myself a nice 428. Anyone with info please let me know.

[12_Sec_Comet]

You can't bore a 360FE from 4.05 to a 428's bore size of 4.13. 332-390 used the same block, but 428's had their own block. Turn your 360 into a 390, that's easy. All you need is a 390 crank and pistons. It's also much cheaper.

[Mercracer]

Originally Posted by 12_Sec_Comet

You can't bore a 360FE from 4.05 to a 428's bore size of 4.13. 332-390 used the same block, but 428's had their own block. Turn your 360 into a 390, that's easy. All you need is a 390 crank and pistons. It's also much cheaper.

Actually, there are 360/390 blocks out there which will take the .080 overbore. I have even heard of 352 blocks that were able to take the .130 overbore. I have personally only found a 391 block that was thick enough for the overbore. Sonic testing is the only way to tell. The 360/390 blocks with the vertical ribs cast into the side are supposed to have thicker walls.
You forgot about the rods on a 360. The 360 used the 352 spec rank and rods with the 390 bore block. You would need both a crank and rods to turn a 360 to a 390.

[12_Sec_Comet]

Nope. 360 used 390 spec rods. I used 360 rods in a 390, that's how I know.
332 and 352 used the same rods...look it up.

Of course a 391 block will take a .130 bore, it'll take a .180 bore. Thick wall casting and beefier main area for industrial use.

If you try and bore a 360 to a 428 bore, you better run alcohol. It's the only thing that will burn cold enough, and forget about street use.

[Mercracer]

Originally Posted by 12_Sec_Comet

Nope. 360 used 390 spec rods. I used 360 rods in a 390, that's how I know.
332 and 352 used the same rods...look it up.
If you try and bore a 360 to a 428 bore, you better run alcohol. It's the only thing that will burn cold enough, and forget about street use.

If you didn't sonic test it, you can not know the wall thickness. Don't jump to conclusions just because you never did it. Most blocks won't, but some can.
I did look it up. Early 360 takes a C1AE-A (casting number) which is a 352 (long) rod. It was also listed for the 330 depending on the year. The Ford Master Parts Catalog clearly only lists this one rod for ALL 360 motors. Ford Part number C1AZ-C.
What casting number rods did you use?

[12_Sec_Comet]

I'm only talking from real life experience, not some book. Only licensed mechanics believe what they read in a master parts catalogue, especially one from ford. (their service catalogues are a joke, FULL of wrong info). 95% of licensed mechanics don't know shit about hotrodding. I've worked with enough of them to know this as fact. But it's not my money, so if the guy wants to have an engine hat overheats and blows head gaskets like crazy, bore that 360 to a 428. I don't care. I'm done discussing it.

[Mercracer]

Just tell me how many blocks you have had sonic tested. I have personally had my blocks checked and have found 391 blocks with core shift which can not be bored, and I currently have one which can be bored. I have seen specs from standard F150 390 blocks which were thick enough to be bored. Sounds like you haven't the experience in this area to be talking smack.
You didn't answer my question as to the casting number of the "360" rods which you used in your 390 build. Do you even know?
How did you know that the rods came from a 360? These are valid questions that you should be willing to discuss.

[Mercracer]

As a side note, apparently not only was the C1AE-A cast "long" rod used in the 360, but some of the guys on the FE forums have found the C7TE-A "long" rod in their 360's.
Since there is only a .050 difference in the length of a 390 vs 360 rod, you could have used a 360 rod if your used a piston with a compression height such that you had sufficient clearance.