Truck with Ford 390

"Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs" (yowen)
09/25/2013 at 15:34 • Filed to: None

I've started perusing my local CL for an F100, F150 or F250 with a 390 in it, I'm looking at M/Y '73 and up. I think it'd be a fun truck to tinker with, the purchase price of which should be friendly to my wallet. I eventually would love to paint it forest green and upholster the interior in a off-white/light-tan (p)leather.

Performance wise, 390's benefit from a timing change, upgraded exhaust manifolds (stock is restrictive) and ignition system upgrade. Something I'd also would be interested in doing is to swap in an NV4500 (5spd manual) to gain overdrive.

What say you oppo? Should I pursue this further? BJohnson's project inspired me to look into doing something similar with a Ford product.

DISCUSSION (22)

ZeroOrDie - Powered By MZR > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
09/25/2013 at 15:38

Man hell yea. Torque for days.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
09/25/2013 at 15:40

Pursue! Pursue!

I've thought about doing the EXACT SAME THING with an old one that has 4x4 so I can have a 4x4.

offroadkarter > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
09/25/2013 at 15:41

dent sides are awesome, most of the ones I've seen have a 360 in em though.

One of my friends is putting a 6BT cummins into his 76 highboy

cazzyodo > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
09/25/2013 at 15:45

This is on my list of things to do. The want is strong with this one.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > cazzyodo
09/25/2013 at 15:49

Oh yeah, i realize I typed that funny. I meant to say so I can have 4x4 in the winter because I have a FWD Milan right now, which does ok but Michigan winter it would be nice to have a beater truck. Thinking something 4 door though because I need to put the baby in the back to get him to daycare.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
09/25/2013 at 16:02

The extended and crew cab models of these are few and far between, I did see one in downriver area. A black long-bed extended cab, can't remember how many wheel drive though.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > offroadkarter
09/25/2013 at 16:03

Doing a cumswap would be awesome on these. Definitely something I would consider.

Who needs sway bars anyway > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
09/25/2013 at 16:05

I am currently trying to get one for my brother, pretty much the exact same setup. 73' with a 390.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
09/25/2013 at 16:46

Yeah normally the rare extended is a damn 2wd which ruins the fun.

It's lead me to the fact that I may have to be stuck with a bronco if I want one.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
09/25/2013 at 16:49

This is oppo, I don't advise using a phrase like "cumswap". lol, you're really asking for it.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
09/25/2013 at 16:57

I did that knowing what I did. Sort of like a personal approach to "I see what you did there".

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
09/25/2013 at 16:58

Brave....lol

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
09/25/2013 at 17:00

Yeah, I've seen some Bronco's. Personally I wouldn't mind the 2WD, it would make a trans swap less painful and all around maintenance less painful. I'd want to build it to be a reliable tow vehicle and somewhat of a hotrod truck (nothing too crazy, but I will definitely want to add to the already decent power the stock 390 offers).

In your case, having it as a winter vehicle I can see needing the 4WD haha. I have an SHO with AWD for that :D

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
09/25/2013 at 17:00

lol give me some shit for it! Nobody else has, lol. You ever so kindly pointed out I shouldn't do it :P

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
09/25/2013 at 17:03

Yeah unfortunately I already have a "fun" car that does not see snow, so I definitely need 4x4 or it's not worth it or at least not justifiable to the wife that is lol.

If you see that extended cab downriver let me know.

BJohnson11 > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
09/25/2013 at 17:05

DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Muscle trucks are the best! Look into what kind of budget performance builds you can do with those 390s. There might be more go fast potential out of something slightly more common like a 351.

Looking for a 4x4 lifted direction, or more of a street truck?

EDIT: looks like you already looked into performance, but still.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
09/25/2013 at 17:06

Well giving it's going into a truck...

You dirty cumswapper! What a mess you could make with that!

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > BJohnson11
09/25/2013 at 17:09

I'm looking more toward the street truck direction, I want it to be a capable tow vehicle, but also something with a quick and mean sounding engine.

Problem with 70's 351's is that they are the 351M or 400M, which are not good for performance build purposes. So as far as that's concerned perhaps the 302 would be a better option. Could move up to a 460, a guy at work is building one up, so he would be very knowledgeable, but from what I read the 390 could be cheaper as a performance build.

BJohnson11 > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
09/25/2013 at 17:11

Sweet! If you want a trailer brake controller of unknown origin, my truck has one. The original owners towed their horse trailer with the truck, and I have no use for the controller.

puppyknuckles > Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs
09/25/2013 at 19:20

This sounds like a great idea... how much do you think you'll need to spend?

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > BJohnson11
09/26/2013 at 08:24

Haha right on, I'll keep it in mind, got get a hold of a truck first, lol.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > puppyknuckles
09/26/2013 at 08:25

As little as possible on a as-much-as-possible rust free example. Perhaps I should locate one further south than Michigan, haha.