[justincampbell]

I have a 1976 Ford F100 4x4 with auto. that has been a great truck but the original 360 is getting very tired. It still starts no matter what, but it uses quite a bit of oil. I have found a rebuilt 302 that I can get for a couple hundred bucks and figured I could pick up a little mileage as well. I know the bolt patterns on the transmission and the 302 are not the same as well as the flexplate and I assume the converter being different. I'm wondering a) what exactly am I looking at cost and headache wise to do this? And b) is this even something to consider or should I just bail on this deal alltogether?
Thanks for any help
Justin

[455Grandville]

There is some 302 spec small block C6s out there. FE360s and 390s are still out there they built a ton of 'em for pickups. There's usually rusted to death Ford pickups in the rustbelt areas on Craigslist with good running 360s & 390s for cheap.

[mechanic17]

I have a buddy who is going from a 351 to a 302 and running into trouble with the tranny stuff, too. All different. Get the flexplate and starter with the motor if you can.

Is it possible the 360 only needs valve seals? Maybe a compression test, followed by a leakdown test? Don't know much about Fords, but I do know you won't be getting great gas mileage no matter what you put in there.

[b-man]

Put another 360 back in.

The trouble and extra parts needed to slip in the 302 will eat up any savings you gained (and likely more) by finding a cheap 302.

Do it the easy way.

[sleepy]

You can replace the 360 with a 351c, 351/400m,390 or any other ford BB including 428,429 and 460, The 351w and 302 are SBs.

[stevep]

The 360 is an FE motor (round bellhousing and a 3 bolt starter), so the only transmissions that will bolt to it are from a 333, 352, 360, 390, 410, 427 and 428.

[455Grandville]

Originally Posted by sleepy

You can replace the 360 with a 351c, 351/400m,390 or any other ford BB including 428,429 and 460, The 351w and 302 are SBs.

So are the 351C , 351Ms and 400s . If they were big blocks I couldnt bolt 302-351W heads on 'em -

Ive come across plenty of FE330 Fords used in medium duty trucks; that might improve fuel economy and should be a bolt in.

[PLAY400]

360 are a pig on fuel if not mistaken. I remember them getting the worst mileage compared to the FEs and 335s(351C, 400/351M) when we went on mud runs. Cleveland 351s shared the same bell housing as the small blocks. Does that 76 have the divorced transfer case? I would have opted for an 351W with a bit of cam but since the 302 is rebuilt and cheap I could be swayed.

[justincampbell]

I originally planned to just put a 390 2bbl in it(no worse mileage and a little more power), but around here it seems lately these fools want $400 for one that needs gone through. The 360 has been a very dependable motor. It'll start in -10 degrees after sitting for a month or two. But it takes a ton of oil and has had a knock in it for the last 25k.
It gets about 10 - 11 mpg regardless of conditions.
I haven't been under the truck in 2 years or more(since I got tired of buying oil) and I can't recall if it has the divorced transfer case.

I have looked at some '73-'85(was '85 the last year for a carb.?) Chevy/GMC pickups but so far the ones I have looked at have been way overpriced considering the work they needed or the half***ed work that had been sort of done. So I figured I may be ahead to fix my old Ford... at least I know the truck.

I could get a really solid '83 Chevy 1/2 ton 4x4 Diesel for a pretty good price, but Diesel is so darn expensive and I don't recall that truck doing any better than 10 mpg.

[Cliff R]

I'd rebuild the 360 or rebuild a 390 to replace it. Neither one of those engines is very efficient, so might as well have more power available and upgrade to a 390, IMHO. Neither one of those engines was every all that popular in these parts, and you hardly ever see one for sale in any configuration.

I'd avoid the 351M/400 series like the plague. They aren't any better on fuel, and make even LESS power than the FE series engines did!

The REAL deal for a Ford truck engine is a 460, tough as nails, more power than you could ever use, and a well thought out rebuild wouldn't use any more fuel than a 360 engine......Cliff

[A.W.Dille]

Myself, (after years of running nothing but Fords) Get a 390. I was never fond of the 360 even though I had one in one of the 76 Ford PU's I owned. The last big block truck I owned (a 77 shortbed) had a 390, from a 68 Galaxie. Got 17mpg out on the road and enough power to easily to tow my GTO on a trailer and would start anytime. The last Ford truck I owned (a 76 F100) had a 302 and at best got about 14mpg empty, with a load around 8mpg. Never was fond of the 351M/400 boat anchors, bad on gas and never enough power for what I used a truck for.

[Sirrotica]

I have done the same swap your contemplating and I think a chevy would have been just as easy to put in that 360 truck as the 302 was, nothing at all fit and I definitely underpriced the job. Frame mounts flywheel bellhousing power steering and alternator mounts, changed all that plus had to scavenge wrecking yards for many hours to get the right parts to get it into the chassis. Go for a 390-360-330 family if your going to swap engines keep the same engine family and do yourself a favor a big favor.

6.2 Detroit diesel chevy is probably one of the cheapest diesels around as far as used parts and many 6.5 parts will also interchange and there are tons of them around too. The 6.2 is quite reliable, but as most naturally aspirated diesels they aren't powerhouses at all compared to turbo diesels.

[thunderguns71]

By the time you find the right transmission, frame stands, pulleys, brackets, etc, you'll be cheaper to stick with the FE. The 360/390 uses the same block, heads, and intake. It's just a different rotating assembly. So either use your block or find a compelete 390. If you want a little more mileage and power, throw on a set of headers and a 600 vac sec Holley. Headers alone will net you anywhere from 20 to 30+ horsepower on these motors. If you stick with the FE go over to www.fordfe.com and check it out. They can answer all your questions and can even help you if you still want to convert to a 302. Or just go over and search around the forum and you'll probably still find the answer your looking for.

[455Grandville]

One of the 360s weak points is the compression/quench: zero deck the block. Ford just sank the pistons down in the hole for less compression which didn't do it no good.

[madokie]

i would avoid putting a 302 in 4x4,you'll need power to wheel through anything in 4x4 and a 302 wont cut it,i have a 99 ram 360 4x4 and it has just enough power to do what i need in 4x4,a 302 without FI will just fall flat on its face in 4x4,Dodge tried a 318 4X4 in 97-98 ,and a truck magazine tested it,and it plain sucked offroad.i had a 93 F150 302 auto 2x4 it did ok, but i never did haul anything with it,but with light -med loads only in bed of truck it should work ok but my gas milage was nothing to brag about either.since your going with a carb not EFI you'll need a large motor ,360 or bigger, i would stay with FE your truck is setup for it, cheaper to sell your ford and buy something else, than mod to fit your needs,unless you work at a junkyard.

[PLAY400]

If it has a divorced transfer case he can put any motor transmission combo he wants. I'd pick up a good running rust bucket and make the swap. Pontiac 455/th400 would be a nice combo

[justincampbell]

Thanks for all the input guys. It looks like 390 or a different truck altogether at this point.
Justin