'71 F-100 Rehab

[hfdco4]

Great work so far!

[grems4ever]

My daughter and I attacked the engine and have the top end apart.







The back cylinders got water in them and rusted in place. I've got them soaking in PB Blaster in hopes that I can free them up without completely ruining the bores. I'm somewhat surprised to find only a small wear ridge at the top of the bores. The heads definitely need a thorough cleaning, but the water jackets appear to be fairly clean. I'll have to get the valves apart and check for cracks.

[grems4ever]

The engine now spins freely! PB Blaster & ATF did the trick!

Almost done stripping down the engine, so I guess I need to start looking for a machine shop...

[DuckRyder]

Looking good.

Make sure your machine shop knows FE’s.

That piston in the last picture looks pretty close to the deck, you sure it is a 360?

[grems4ever]

Well, I was...

I just went down and measured the distance from the top of the piston to top of the cylinder and I got approximately 3 3/4" so it looks like it's actually a 390 correct?

[DuckRyder]

Check the crank, rods, and piston when you get it further apart. Lotta stuff can happen over the years... timing cover with orange silicone tells you someone has been into it... probably worth looking for identification on the cam... might be a good one (or not)...

[grems4ever]

From what the bottoms of the lifters look like, I’m guessing that the cam has seen better days even if it was once a better than average cam.

[hfdco4]

Those do look like 390 pistons as the 360 ones are dished. Also take a look at the crank, should be stamped 1U. You will want an RV cam and lifters as well as a new timing chain!

[grems4ever]

Quick update:

I haven't had much time to poke at it lately. One of my other vehicle's had a computer malfunction and I'm still working on getting that done. I used the nasty weather outside to justify going downstairs and doing some measuring on the 390.

After cleaning the carbon off the top of the bore, I have enough of a ridge at the top of the bore to feel, but not enough to hang a fingernail on. I set a telescoping gauge at 4.05" and measured each cylinder at various spots using the top of the piston to square it up. What I found was that the gauge was fairly snug to the bore each time.

That said, my plans have shifted a little bit. I'm going to go ahead and finish taking things apart checking specs as I go. If I don't find any ugly surprises along the way, I'm going to send the block in to be cleaned, honed, and new cam bearings put in, but I'm not going to have it bored at this time. I figure I can then use the money I saved there to get the heads back into shape.

So, have I completely lost my mind?

[Ranchero50]

Set the gauge long and sweep it from an angle over center in each bore, at the top , middle and bottom on both front to rear and top / bottom and note the measurement at each point. You'll then know how much wear happened to the bores.

[Manny]

If you can't hang a nail on it that's not terrible. Clean it up around home and see what it looks like. Hone her up and off you go. Heck i have used the three stone, and dingle ball at home. they run good. 390 will be good. No you have not lost your mind!

[grems4ever]

I think I have the replacement section for the rotted out cab mount figured out...

[Manny]

I think I have the replacement section for the rotted out cab mount figured out...

That's pretty cool there. Neat job and should fix up the cab mounts nicely.

[hfdco4]

I think you should be fine with a hot tank, hone and cam bearings. Get a good look at the crank, if you are lucky and it is clean you may be able to have it cleaned with the block. As for the heads, I would have hardened seats installed with new guides and valves, springs and keepers. You may want the replace the rockers and shafts? Get a price and check what a set of aluminum ones will cost?

[grems4ever]

At $600 and up each for aluminum heads, I'll be looking for other options.