Worthy Upgrade (390 crank, rods, pistons into 360 block)?

[gearhead]

Have a sleepy 72 360 that i'd like to swap for a 390. The truck has 75,000 origional miles. What would a good, refurbished rotating assembly cost? I'd do a clean up bore & purchase the correct pistons. Goal, a cost effective daily driver with a warmed up 390 that runs well on pump gas.

Is there some porting work that could be done on the stock heads worth the time & effort?

Thanks,

[cadillaccoo]

I have 1972 F250 and been thinking about doing the same thing. I have done some research and here in WA i can get a whole 390 block Kit with the Crank and Rods for about 1,4000. BUt if i used the block i have already they would clean it and Bore it out for about 500 dollars. But that does not include the Cranks and other parts. So far for me it will be a worthy upgrade. more HP and all that good stuff. I know this does not answer all your questions because i am still researching myself.

I am not sure what state you are in but if your in WA check out what i been looking at
http://www.engineserviceinc.com/engine_ ... pecial.php

[speed bump]

I would have a hard time doing it to just go to a slightly warmed over 390. I can buy a good shape 390 bottom end for less than it would cost for a rotating assembly to put into your block.

As far as head porting goes most of the porting is concentrated on the exhaust side, someone posted a guide to porting them a while ago.

[hazelnut]

390 would be a good upgrade over the 360, building a 390 for my truck now. the reason im building a 390 is the 360 is a nice workhorse engine but dont have any power to speak of, FEs like a little compresson (9.5) the 360 has about 8-1 compression and is a low end power motor that likes gas but dont give the power to milage. to change your 360 to 390 you would need a 390 crank and rods and pistons and would be a nice upgrade with your low milage 360 to build. Porting the heads is a nice upgrade also but have the porting done to the cam and not to a racing spec. the reason i build my own is when its finished i know what ive got and not something someone tells me thats not true like another person on here had a experince with . theirs a forum for FEs to help you decide the type of engine combo you want for your truck. i cant remember what it is at the moment but someone here dose. found it http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182/

[VernF110]

Hello,
The 360 like Rodney Dangerfield gets no respect. A lot of folks make it out to be your basic low end lawn mower engine, I disagree. The 360 under Vern's hood gets us around just fine has plenty of power to get me up the mountainside here in Alaska. I am positive the 390 is a stronger engine, what I also know is the 360 is not the turd it's portrayed as.
Just my two pennies..

Vern

[hotrodfeguy]

I myself will never run a 352/360 again they get the same milage and alot less torque. Everything being equal the only cost is the 390 crank and rods. Your going to buy pistons,bearing and such already.