Another TRUE Barn find!

[Steve_R]

$4k and two months to rebuild an inline 6 cylinder? Damn!

Do you want a restored truck or a fun driver? If the former, rebuild the 6 banger. If the latter, put the 390 in it. I know what I'd do.

[DJ_Critterus]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

$4k and two months to rebuild an inline 6 cylinder? Damn!

Do you want a restored truck or a fun driver? If the former, rebuild the 6 banger. If the latter, put the 390 in it. I know what I'd do.

put it up on blocks and assign the job to Stikki? 2 months is a cake walk compared to that.

[Rodnok1]

Originally Posted by DJ_Critterus

put it up on blocks and assign the job to Stikki? 2 months is a cake walk compared to that.

Yea but he works for cheap beer so savings are alot...

[Don Rickles]

Originally Posted by Steve_R

$4k and two months to rebuild an inline 6 cylinder? Damn!

Do you want a restored truck or a fun driver? If the former, rebuild the 6 banger. If the latter, put the 390 in it. I know what I'd do.

Someone else said we pay 12-1500 for a cell phone, makes 4K seem cheap….

This truck conversation all started years ago with the previous owners brother about it having a bad motor and I had this 390 sitting…. My goal was to find any old Ford, With no rust! So my original intention was to do the swap. Once I saw this little six and how original this truck is, I’m now torn….

The rebuild of the six is surely the easier way. Pull it, pay, and put it back in….
The 390 however is the cool way to go but I’d bet more expensive and challenging. I haven’t heard back from the transmission shop on this cost yet. For sure the 390 won’t just drop in, and match up to the existing trans….

Now remember I’m also playing with the ‘67 Vette, but she’s a running driving car. I’m just reinstalling some correct dated shit….No plans on having it painted, driving her as is.

Hmmmm decision decision….

[Don Rickles]

She is pretty!

[Steve_R]

It seem obvious what you want to do is the 390 swap. So do it.

There's more than enough room in that engine compartment for motor mounts and whatever else needs fabbed.

[Rikki Z-06]

Ford used the FE 360 into the late 70's. Shouldn't be a problem finding mounts, harness etc.

[Grey Ghost]

I think you could rebuild the 6 banger yourself. Take it apart and measure the bores to see if it needs a rebore or just honed out (which you could easily do) or have the machine shop bore if needed. Check the crankshaft journals. Get a shop manual and give it a try.

What is the mileage on it?

[TheHammer]

voting 390

[Sea Six]

6 banger

[ptindall]

You can delay the decision by pulling the 300 and tearing is down. Then you will know what it really needs in the way of a rebuild and you can then make a more informed decision.

Ultimately, if I were going to keep the truck, I would favor the 300. The truck isn't going to be fast either way so simple and original would be more important to me. The 300 is capable of keeping up with traffic and going 75mph so its good enough. If I were building it to sell for a profit, then I assume a 390 swap would bring more money.

[BADRACR1]

When the "Cash for Clunkers" was going on the hardest thing we had to kill was a 300 cid Ford. We were out of the silicate mix so the tech draind the oil and coolant and fired it up. After twenty minutes it was making a lot of clicking but wouldn't die. Revved the crap out of it and still wouldn't blow. Poured water in the crankcase figuring it would hydrolock and instead it just got quieter. That truck ran over forty five minutes with no coolant or oil before it finally started knocking. Another ten or so before it finally let go.
Not known for fuel mileage but you just about can't kill a 300 inline unless one really tries.

[Don Rickles]

Finally found time to pull out the 6 banger!

[Tikiman]

The straight sixes in those old Fords were beasts. I knew a brick layer who insisted on ordering his trucks with them instead of the eights. I would take it apart myself and haul the head and block to a competent shop to have it acid washed and bored. Rebuild it yourself and have a reliable cool truck when you are done.

[Yadkin]

The 59 looks like it would be a worthwhile project.

[Strats-N-Vettes]

Originally Posted by Tikiman

The straight sixes in those old Fords were beasts.

Absolutely.
Torque monsters...and...they now have aftermarket/HP parts for these sixes that wasnt readily available back in the day.

[Don Rickles]

Originally Posted by Tikiman

The straight sixes in those old Fords were beasts. I knew a brick layer who insisted on ordering his trucks with them instead of the eights. I would take it apart myself and haul the head and block to a competent shop to have it acid washed and bored. Rebuild it yourself and have a reliable cool truck when you are done.

I'll start stripping it down. But that's the plan, to send out the head and block.

Originally Posted by Yadkin

The 59 looks like it would be a worthwhile project.

The family is keeping the '59. Grandson wants it.

[GTOguy]

Originally Posted by Don Rickles

I'll start stripping it down. But that's the plan, to send out the head and block.

The family is keeping the '59. Grandson wants it.

As much as I love the FE series big blocks (have owned several) You are doint the right thing having the original 6 done. It'll be extra cool that it's not just another swap, and plenty of power to use as a truck. And will likely last another 45 years.

[Don Rickles]

Digging in! Ok here ya go……

[ptindall]

Ouch. Cylinder wall look damaged? Do you think that head is usable?