I need opinions on engine choice

[tomrooster]

I'm restoring a 65 f100 short bed for casual use and I bought a 78 for the front brakes and motor which is a 302 that runs pretty good with a standard bell and flywheel, proly has over 100,000 but no noise or smoke. Yesterday a guy called that I talked to a couple of months ago and he has a rebuilt 360 bored 030 over and never started but has been sitting for a considerable time and he wants 600 with no bell or flywheel . He thinks the motor should be torn down and looked at. If I go for the 360 I would need gaskets and bell and flywheel. I'm leaning on going with the 302 but having trouble deciding . the 65 came with the little 6 and that don't run. Opinions ? Thanks Tom

[Toyz]

For "casual" use, I think you'd be better served by the 302. They do pretty good in the short beds, and, if and when it requires rebuild, parts or engines are easily obtained. Some may differ, but I would venture fuel economy will be better with the Windsor, also. Trans and bell also should be a bolt-up; don't believe the current trans will bolt up to the FE bell.
Paul

[daleshotrodshop]

I would go with the 302 later you could upgrade to a 351 or build a 347 since the 302 has a few miles on it. I have had a few 360's I really like my Fe's but the 360 is fair from my favorite of the group. That's is what I would do if it were my two choices.

[simonscr]

My dad has a 360 in his 75 f-100, runs well and has plenty of power and grunt, but the fuel milage is really bad! I would go with the 302.
The 302 is already paid for too.

[61blacklowrider]

I have a 302 in my 61 and it runs great. Good mileage and performance. I have had 360s and 390s and although they are great engines, the mileage is not so hot. Unless you are towing heavy loads the small blocks are great.

[bruceandersson]

I think there are a couple of real benefits to the small block vs big block. As mentioned parts for the small blocks are much more common and tend to cost less. They are also smaller and weigh less than the FEs. They are also easier to build/rebuild. If you go with the 302, make sure to use the engine towers from the 78 frame.

[tomrooster]

Thanks, I will go with the 302 . Tom

[frdnut]

Just keep in mind that year 302 is very weak..I think they were rated about 120hp that year and if yours has over 100k on it its not likely even got that much power...I swapped out a 302 in a 1982 F100 for a 1969 429 thunderjet..The big 429 had stupid power and it actually got better gas mileage than the underpowered 302.

[Mellvis]

$600 seems steep to me for a 360. I bought a 352 from a 67 100 fro $150. It already had a 4 barrel manifold (iron, not aluminum). It was complete minus carb, distributor and exhaust manifolds. My truck already had a 352 so it was a straight swap and simple. I drive like I'm 98 so it doesn't get abused and will likely last longer than me. The way I drive I bet I'm getting about 15 mpg all day long (I know, some people don't believe it). I had a 66 F100 with a mid 70's 302 and it did fine and I really don't remember getting any better mileage than the 352. I also had another 66 F100 with a 352 and it ran great with fair mileage as well. I like the FE but I usually stick with what's there or CHEAP! Are you dead set against another six popper? A V8 is cool, but a straight swap is easy and functional.

[F100forever]

Unless you want to build a 390, 410 (w/ a 428 crank) or 445 stroker, skip tge 360. I love the FE and they can run really smooth. But a stock 360 has such low cr I would run the 302... You have it. Or, like in my case I kept the 240. It runs like a top. A rebuild should not cost you more then $1700 or 2k. I run a dura spark II ignition and it's smooth. My carb is not great, it's a holley 1940, but I get 12-13 town and 16 hwy with an c4 truck auto. Or what about a junkyard 300, usually I see them for 250$ bare and 300 w/ EFI intake.

Interestingly, I got the same mileage in an F100 long bed with a well tuned FE 416 (352/360/390 4.08x3.98 w/ a 428 crank) and a manual 3spd TL!

[brute66]

Here's what I feel is an accurate assessment of your two engine choices. The 302 is obviously a good all around motor for its size. Really lightweight for a V8 but the factory heads (at least most of the '70s and '80s versions) are really poor in the air flow department. Large chambers for their size means low compression ratios and small valves mean limited power output. Now, if you step up to some aftermarket designs (Edelbrock, etc) that are on the conservative side, you'll have potential to build an engine that can move the relatively heavy F100 while not working too hard in the process. These aftermarket heads would necessitate a hotter than stock cam, good exhaust system with headers and an induction upgrade to take advantage of the new found airflow improvement. Lower gearing would benefit the 302s limited torque output. As far as the 360 goes, I've read that the factory installed the pistons considerably below deck which negatively impacted the combustion process. Installing some flat top pistons at zero deck would benefit even a stock 360. The 360 will have a advantage in torque production over the 302 with all things being equal (stock or mildly modified but at the cost of increased weight (I'm going to speculate at 150+ lbs heavier). The 302 will be less expensive to modify, but not too much. I personally like the look of the big block in an F100, the 302 will look puny and the installation of the 360 would be more straightforward I believe since they were fitted at the factory (actually 352, but same config.). Bottom line, if you're really going to work this truck, I'd go with the 360, just to cruise - probably 302.

[tomrooster]

I'm going with the 302 and it's coming along and I found out that it's a rebuilt motor, but I have a question about installing it but that will be in another topic. Thanks for the replys. Tom