I have seen alot of 360FE block bashing on here! I was just wondering ( and i'm sure i'm not crazy ) I just bought a running 360 c i ford motor out of a truck for $25.00 yes I said $25.00. I am a car freak I have a 79 trans am restored, a 1977 dodge warlock restored, a 1970 ss elcamino restored, and I am starting on my favorite project THE FORD CAR. My question is with all the bashing of this motor on here. Do I even want to put this motor in a car? My car choices so far are as listed. 67 mustang, mustang II cobra, 57 fairlane, or a ranchero ( I have even ordered the literature for the 427 cobra kit) Sorry for the long thread I just always thought the FE blocks were all great motors. ( oh yea keep in mind boring the motor and running dual carbs. This will not be a street car!) Thanks for your input and please be kind. Jaggs
In my humble opinion, the 360 was a "stump puller". They are heavy motors and make lots of torque--but that's about it! It could be bored out to a 427 (i believe all FE engines are the same casting, just given different bores). That would be my choice if it were mine...make it a 427, stick some good heads on it and you'll be flying! The FE's are good engines, but the 352 and 360 were mostly truck engines (torquey). Like i said though, i think that all the engines were the same, so modifying it shouldn't be that difficult. Either way, $25 is a steal
I have been coming to this wonderful board since shortly after it was born. Your comment about a lot of FE bashing going on here is simply untrue. I believe what you are reading but not understanding is the fact that it is extremely difficult to put an FE motor into a Mav/comet. With all the other easier and undoubtedly less expensive options it becomes a matter of practicality. I agree that any FE motor built with some new technology and in a Mav/Comet would be one heck of a ride. The fabrication and cost to get it into the car is sure to be done by someone, but not this guy. Dan
Idea: Change the crank and rods and you don't have a 360 anymore. The stroke of the 360 crank with any bore will limit it's potential. Look at different cranks, performance pistons and rods along with good heads and it will run great. Seth
Lots of folks bash the FE's because of their reputation of a weak bottom end. That only comes from seeing many 427's and 428's letting go at very high rpm. In fact, they are quite strong when built right. A 360 is nothing more than a 352 with a .050" larger bore. Actually, the entire FE series of engines (332, 352,360,361,390,391,406,410,427,428) are all sort of like small-block chevys in that parts will interchage between all of them. You can take a 332 block, bore it to 428 specs, get a 428 crank and pistons, and you'll have a stump-pulling 428. The 390 and 360's are most common of all--being produced up to about '77 or thereabouts. All of the FE blocks have "352" cast into the block at the front and by the oil filter. Actually, you could use a 360 short block, add Edelbrock's FE aluminum heads and have a excellent running engine, or save the money you'd spend on the heads and scrounge around for some C6AE-R heads from a 352. They are about the best all-around streetable heads available (for cast iron factory heads-excluding the High-riser heads). The bad part is, an FE won't fit in a maverick without front end modification. They're very big and very heavy. That's why no one builds them much anymore, the 429-460's are just as heavy, but the aftermarket supports them more than the old FE's. Both make great power, but seems that the 460's are gaining popularity for their ability to support over 600 cu. in. in a factory block. There are still some FE maverick headers being made as well. Bottom line is what you want to do with it. An FE would be different and rewarding as far as power and nostalgia, but a small block would be easier to swap in the tight confines of the Mav front end. Good luck, however you choose!!
Thanks for the help Thank you all for the help guys. (oh and I said I seen the 360 bashing because I performed a search on the 360 motor and the search results lead to this page and was titled 360 is a dog) I am a firm believer that there is no suck thing as a "dog motor" built by ford. I love em all. THANKS AGAIN ALL AND HAPPY HOTRODDING!!!
ya know, Jaggs has got a point. He did a search on 360's and it lead to here. With all of us doing searches like that, people can land on a subject and get an entire opinion of a website from one topic. Also good info here on updating that 360 block to turn it into something viscious!! Gotta admit,, that would be fun in a small car like a Mav!!!! Dan
