I have a 1973 F-250 with a 360C.I. It has a two barrel that needs work, I cannot get this truck to stay running. Will a small (600cfm) 4bbl get better mileage than a 2bbl, if I keep my foot out of it?

On a side note, I put a new fuel pump on it today and reached in to feel the timing chain, and it has alot of play, at least 1/4 inch, Time for a timing chain?

recommendations? It is a stock engine, runs well when it is running, it has as much "tow" time as driving time lately.

I seem to recall that the cam timing specs were changed for these old engines for fuel economy (de-tuned), is this the case?

Thanks, F O T

1) Yes...you can achieve better mpgs...and a 600cfm carb would be perfect.

2) Personally, a 1/4" of play doesn't sound like a whole lot of slack to me, but I'd bet once you pop the timing cover, there's more...and wouldn't be a bad decision to replace.

3) I'm not real familiar with the FE specs, but yes, alot of the truck engines of the era were retarded...slap in a straight up timing set and call it good.

UTfball68 said:

2) Personally, a 1/4" of play doesn't sound like a whole lot of slack to me,
but I'd bet once you pop the timing cover, there's more...and wouldn't be
a bad decision to replace.
3) not real familiar with the FE specs, but yes, a lot of the truck engines
of the era were retarded...slap in a straight up timing set and call it good.

Click to expand...

x2, times two. Do it.

Check out the new and old parts and tell us if your old set was retarded.

IMO, change out the timing gear and then worry about the carburetor.
The timing advance (even if it's all just in the slop) will give you more low
end power, better gas mileage and better idle for cheap.

There's nothing wrong with the original 2100 carburetor that can't be fixed.
http://www.panix.com/~alvinj/file12/choke1.jpg

Make yourself a harmonic balancer holding tool...

...that and a 15/16" socket will get the crank's bolt out and back in.

Alvin in AZ
'75 360FE+T18 252/252 Comp cam, Edelbrock timing gear, the original 2100.
...95k+ miles on the rebuild and still gets better oil mileage 'n' gas mileage
and has more power than the original engine -ever- had! No kidding.

I'd fix your current carb. They aint perfect, but as alvin said, there's no reason you can't fix it. As for fuel milage, I've gotten fine mileage out of 2100 series Motorcraft carbs on more than one vehicle...

You'd have to change the intake manifold, which is a *****, or use an adaptor, in which case I'd just stick with the 2v...

thanks........

I have a spare 2bbl carb I am going to see what condition it is in. I will put it on if it rebuilds OK.

The FE intake is a booger to replace, that is why I wanted an aluminum one, as it is way lighter. I do have a C6-- 4bbl intake on the 74 I could swap out, but that is double work and heavy!

Hopefully the timing chain replacement goes well. It has been 25 years since I went into an engine. Times are tough and I am having to do as much of my own "work" as I can.

Thanks again for all of the free advice, F O T

fatheroftwo said:

I have a 1973 F-250 with a 360{FE}
It has a two barrel that needs work, I cannot get this truck to stay running.

Click to expand...

You got a vacuum leak?
Typical of a vacuum leak to run fine but not idle worth anything.

I seem to recall that the cam timing specs were changed for these old
engines for fuel economy (de-tuned), is this the case?

Click to expand...

Oops!
You got that backwards.
Who you heard it from got it backwards first?

Father of two and now "dad" to one more in AZ xD