Well, you have yourself a pickle. As you stated, the 360 and 390 are the same block, different stroke. Several things could have happened.

- They could have had the parts to retro the block just to get it out the door.
- They could have said the hell with it and handed him a truck with a 360 since, unless you look up the VIN's, it's difficult to tell.
- They could have done a full engine swap.
- The whole story could be BS from either the previous owner or his uncle.

There are numbers stamped on the block and on the heads (have to remove the valve covers) and look them up in an interchange book. Unfortunately, due to it's age, it's really hard to tell what may be rotating inside that block. Fortunately, everything else is interchangeable.

 

Thank you, I will have to look up those numbers and see what I can find out!


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Older v8s are easily stroked. I have a 360ci Dodge and could stroke it to a 408ci! If the owner isnt sure then i would be skeptical about the vehicle in general.


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Between you me and the lamp post, the 360 sucks.
I had one.
Next truck an F250HD 390 4 barrel and was nothing short of a hot rod, for power in stock unmodified form. I thought for a while it might be a 427, but no luck.
If the truth be told the 360 was an orfan with retarded cam timing and had some production issues. I bought it new and thought the 360 would have reasonable power.
I doubt the VIN is in error because it's important for legal title use, parts ordering etc.
I had a new 73 Ranhero with a 351C but it could have come with a 351w so the Vin has to be accurate.
Good luck.