Does anyone know how to tell the difference between a 360 and a 390??? Trying to sell a 1968 F100 Shortie and dont know what engine it has. :confused: JP
I probably am the worst person to ask on Ford truck stuff, mostly cause I know nothing about them. Engines get changed so it could be most anything sitting in there. If it were original I would bet it is a 390. See if you can find the numbers on the engine, should be right below the right exhaust manifold?? Or could have numbers on the back of the engine above the bellhousing area?? Dan
There's no way to tell externally the difference between 352, 360, 390, etc. They all look the same. Even the 427 and 428 blocks had "352" cast into them. Some were side-oilers, and some were crossbolted (mostly 410's, 428's and 427's) and are easy to spot but other than that, pulling the pan or a head is the only sure way to differentiate the FE's. Good luck
If memory serves me, the 360 was acommercial only engine. It was a Heavy duty application only. Pick-ups didn't get it. F450 and above got it.
Actually the 360 was a common motor in pickups as well.......and from what I remember mavman is correct no distenctive way to tell them apart from the outside.......so just tell em it's a 390
I'll just tell them its a 428...if Im going to be wrong i should do it right!!! Might bring more money also. Actually, I will just tell them I dont know but it is probably a 360. Sounds fair to me. Thanks for all the input. Much appreciated!! (Even from Johnson) Thanks again, JP
wow thats funny this came up when it did, the g/f's dad has a 72 ford sitting in his yard, its a f250. he told me it was a 390, but on the air cleaner it said 360, i was gona find a place to ask the same question, how do i tell.. guess i know now lol:bananaman
They both came with ford trucks in 68. It's true, it's really hard to tell, other than seat of the pants. The 390s ran pretty strong in those trucks. If it has a factory 4 bbl, you can be pretty sure it is a 390. The only difference is the crank and stroke. 3.50 vs 3.78, and the block and bore was the same between both at 4.05. The 360 was introduced in 1968 for light duty trucks, and it is basically a 390 block with a 352 crank in it. The 360 crank will have a casting number of 2T ot 2TA, but you need to drop the pan to see it. Either way, it doesn't have much bearing on the value of the truck.
360 vs. 390 The 360 and the 390 were available in '68 F-100's. The 360 is considered to be a sloth compared to the 390 by most people. As stated earlier, there is no way to tell the diffence externally. The 360 crank is different and was not known for performance. Incidentally, my Dad owns a '68 F-100. He bought it from my mother's brother-in-law in '73, the original owner. It came with 390 emblems, but had a 360 in it. Identified on the door data plate as a 360 and by us when the motor was torn apart last year. Seth
