[mustangboy]

I guess it would depend on what you want to do with the truck once its finished..A diesel would be kind of different and would make it a good work horse with better mileage than most V-8s...I can't imagine that it would be a difficult swap either..

 

[coosbaylumber]

My thought is you are comparing a heavy weight truck engine to a light weight auto engine. Choose the type of driving you do.


The 351 was made years later on as the older engine would not make emissions. I 360 was tried, due to being a truck engine it could then avoid certain regulations, but also had to carry a heavier flywheel.

If asking here, you must then have the dollars for asking about adapting up the non-original engine. Otherwise the (engine only) rebuilding costs are pretty much the same.

If the truck has a trailer hitch, then forget the late model 351 for it has been used for some hauling then. Toss out the ball hitch and use the newer light weight engine then. Otherwise if you intend to re-use what you got, then you can haul a trailer once in awhile. I used to drive a 1974 F-250 truck with a 360 and got 5 MPG as I remember, but it got better if you slowed down.


Wm.

 

[oldb]

I am buiding a stroked 351c for my 56 f100, I have read for days the posts on the clevelands forever website and (I am learning this first hand) my opinion is if you want big power from a Cleveland then you need lots of money to do it correctly. Oiling issues, good street maners but bad detonation from the 2v heads, great power from the 4v quench heads but takes a very well thought out build to have any torque on and on. For a work truck I would pass on the 351C.
When I was farming I had a 76 f250 4x4 with a hurting 360. Had no time so bought a NAPA rebuilt 390 and did the r and r in a long day. What a difference, that truck moved. Later I tore it down and found .080 pistons. Never ran hot, under the worst farm conditions. That truck got beat on. Now, no way am I recomending a .080 390, It was dumb luck or a very eary block that kept me from cracking a cylinder I think. But do some reading, with different off the shelf crank, rod and piston combinations you could make a real strong FE.
While the diesel would be indeed unique, I would really figure up all that will be involved before diving into that one.

Best of luck,

B

 

[FEandGoingBroke]

Too bad Honus never came back. Because you fella's should be ashamed of yourselves for not telling hum that the 352 makes ONE HELL of a 410! While still looking like a 352!

Not to mention that the 352 Was Fords FIRST Factory 300 HP V8 and THAT is quite the nice reputation!
You all should be ashamed of yourselves for not remembering that! On top of that that 352 with a small +.05 bore and a 428 Crank becomes a 410 Which I am positive can breach the 400 HP level without breaking a sweat, all the while disguised as a 352 with headers!



Let the boy have his 352 dream!


P.S. Oldb.... WHO makes a +.08 Piston for a 390???? I'm fairly sure that the answer would be nobody. I've seen many 390's and several with a .060 piston but never even heard of a .080 390 piston.... That's like a 427 piston minus about .010 and they don't make one of those either that I know of. You sure you had a bored 390?

 

[oldb]

Hey FE,
Yes I am quite sure they were .080. I had a couple of days one winter so I pulled the engine to put a 78 integral steering box on this truck. While the engine was out I took it apart, new timing chain, brgs, valve job, it was running fine. Get this, I had the rings off and stacked on the bench when I started cleaning the top of the pistons and right there was .080. Not sure I was actually seeing that I miked the bores, had the pistons miked. No doubt. No internet then I had all the local parts houses looking. Found out that although not at all common can be done with a very early block. But could not get rings anywhere, at least not in the week or two until I needed the truck again. So deep breath, put it back together new brgs, double roller chain valve job and old .080 rings.
Gets better, romping on it on the way home from work dropped a valve #4 cylinder. Machinest had not got the keeper locked, I had not caught it. No damage to cylinder just some cuts on top of piston. Did not even bend the valve. So new valve, put the head back on and ran it for several years. Although it has not been started for maybe 7 years or so I still have that engine in that old 76 f250, and it was still a runner when I parked it. That was a blessed block in my mind.

B

 

[oldb]

I'm cooling my heels at home recovering from back surgery, that is why I am posting after mostly lurking for years, you got me thinking what displacement would a .080 390 be? Using the formula Bore x Bore x Stroke x 0.7854 x number of cylinders = displacement. I came up with 405.61 cu in. That is assuming 4.05 bore + .080 = 4.13 and a 3.785 stroke.
I spent a few minutes on google and you are correct I could not find a .080 piston for a 390 anywhere, but this was back in the early 1980's.

B

 

[honus22]

Thanks for all the coments. Still have the two motors, plus I have gained a 70 460, and I have a leed on a doner truck with a powerstroke. the truck is rolled in a ball but the power plant is still good. I havnt had time to do anything with the truck yet, just got done with a 65 goat for a customer, and now I am doing a 70 gutlass for a guy and it has to be done by june for the hot rod power tour, and a riteup in carcraft magazine. Im not a gm guy but that seems to be all I'v been working on. Back to the truck, I think my buddy is selling his torino so I really don't need a hot motor like I thought I needed to run with him, so I'm really leaning to the stroke. I can get that motor to make more power than the truck needs or wants. I dont plan on pulling anything with it, that's what my 6.0 is for. I just want something that when people see it they say wow how did you do that and why? haha But i love the looks of the 66 and I want to make it diff than others. I still have a 70 mustang I can put one of these motors in so atleast one of them will not go to waste...

 

[FEandGoingBroke]

Yep it's 4.13 X 3.98 giving a displacement of roughly 426 cubes...

 

[Hottarod]

I would go with the Cleveland. I know a lot of people love the FE's too and you can do a lot with them. It really depends whether you want the truck to look more original, make it a sleeper or what.

I have a fresh 351C 2v going in a 84 Toyota pickup. It will be an all out drag truck and I'm looking for somewhere in the 10's with it. That is project #3 though. I have 2 others stacked up in front of it.

 

[n2omike]

The 351C will be a PITA to swap in the truck, as EVERYTHING is different. You'll spend a fortune swapping it in there if you don't already have all the small block stuff to do it with.

If you're doing an engine build from scratch, build a 390. 360/390 blocks are the same. The ONLY differene is the crank and rods. They even use the same pistons. A warm 390 will be a LOT of fun in a truck.

Of course, a 351C runs good as well, but you'll need all the swap stuff, and you'll also need to set the heads up for an adjustable valvetrain and good valves. (screw in studs, guide plates, new stainless valves with single groove keepers) 351C's do not come with adjustable valvetrains, and the stock valves are JUNK... as the heads break off, or they drop through their loose multi-groove retainers.

FE parts are more expensive, but there are no swap headaches to deal with, and going with a 390, you're already 40ci ahead.

Good Luck!