390 motors

390 & up cid Monster Motors
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loman
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390 motors

Post by loman »

I was hoping someone can educate me on 390's. The more I read on the internet, the more I get confused. Are truck 390's different than car 390's. Also, if I wanted dual carb 390 that used 2 holley's what intake could I buy? The edelebrock ones at Summit & Jeg's say they are for edelbrock carbs and that would not be allowed for what I am thinking on doing. Thanks in advance.
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popscomet
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Re: 390 motors

Post by popscomet »

back in the day,a school bus ,,or a dump trk something like that ,had a 392,,don't know where that extra 2ci came from....other then that a 390 was a 390 ,,cam pro file and carb and exhaust manifolds made them different as well as the intake.if you get a block,try to get a 65 or newer,the earlier had a different bolt pattern for the motor mounts,,the early will work in anything but you have to make it work,,I have put a 64 block in my 71 in place of a 240 6cyl,,and right today ,I have a 63 390 in my 66 f100 that I drive all most everyday..you will more then likely have to find an old 2x4 intake ,beings you can't use the edelbrock for your needs..on my 63 390.I have the factory 428 pi alumn single 4bbl and 63 406 tri pwr heads( few yrs later they were called 428 CJ heads)...if you were to want a tri-pwr set up ,I have a extra alumn factory 3x2 intake only..390's are tough and heavy,,the CI intake weighs about 95 lbs.
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Lip Ripper
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Re: 390 motors

Post by Lip Ripper »

I think that truck series is the large trucks and they're called FT motors.
66 Cyclone GT; 245/60R15's on 15x8's and 215/70R15's on 15x7 Magnum's.
There's nothing like the sound of a pushrod V8 singing at the top of her lung's.

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loman
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Re: 390 motors

Post by loman »

Thanks for the info Pop. I sold my 63 1/2 galaxie with a 460 to a friend a couple of years ago. He put an old race motor of his and trans, added some ladder bars and modified/made his own 2 4bbl setup for the 460. He started racing it with a Nostalgia Super Stock group in the area a couple of years ago. Since then, the rules have changed and they won't let any more 460's in it but his, he has been grandfathered in. The only way I could race a Comet in it was with a 427 or 428. Apparently the rules have changed again. Still no 460's but the 390 is now allowed. All cars have to have dual carb or tripower setup and run in the 12's or faster. It would be a fun class to race in and my buddy really enjoys it also, good people all around. So we got to bench racing a bit and just trying to think what it would take to get a car set up. My black car is too far modified to even think about switching and I have no desire to do so. However, the blue car would be a candidate but I would have to swap out the entire drive train. That is a possibility or I could look for a 66 or 67 Fairlane or Comet body which has more room for the 390. Nothing is going to happen this year, but I am trying to figure out what it would take in case I stumble across some deals on parts or cars over the next year.
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popscomet
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Re: 390 motors

Post by popscomet »

I use tohave a 63.5 galaxie Q code 427 4spd,,,but by the time Ihad my hands on it,it had a 390 3spd,,but it still had the 427 long cast iron headers on it,,,,,,,,after I proved to the owner that it didn't have the 427 in it any longer,I bought it for 150 dollars,,,,I traded it to an ol boy to rebuild the motor and redo my 9n ford tractor,,so's I could clear this 5acres for our new house and my new shop....it still had the kelshy hayes 15 in steel hls on it,,,,,pop
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Lip Ripper
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Re: 390 motors

Post by Lip Ripper »

Fordfe,com is THE place. There is so much knowledge over there. And there are well known FE engine builders that are members. They easily pull 500 ponies out of 390 blocks. And don't mention the sacrilege of your 63 1/2. It won't be well received.
66 Cyclone GT; 245/60R15's on 15x8's and 215/70R15's on 15x7 Magnum's.
There's nothing like the sound of a pushrod V8 singing at the top of her lung's.

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loman
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Re: 390 motors

Post by loman »

popscomet wrote:I use tohave a 63.5 galaxie Q code 427 4spd,,,but by the time Ihad my hands on it,it had a 390 3spd,,but it still had the 427 long cast iron headers on it,,,,,,,,after I proved to the owner that it didn't have the 427 in it any longer,I bought it for 150 dollars,,,,I traded it to an ol boy to rebuild the motor and redo my 9n ford tractor,,so's I could clear this 5acres for our new house and my new shop....it still had the kelshy hayes 15 in steel hls on it,,,,,pop
What do you think those cast iron headers are worth nowadays? I bet they would fetch a pretty healthy price.
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loman
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Re: 390 motors

Post by loman »

Lip Ripper wrote:Fordfe,com is THE place. There is so much knowledge over there. And there are well known FE engine builders that are members. They easily pull 500 ponies out of 390 blocks. And don't mention the sacrilege of your 63 1/2. It won't be well received.
Stacey,

A friend of mine metioned the Fordfe forum also. I haven't checked it out yet but I might start some lurking over there. If I ever decide to pursue this I would probably join them and I won't mention the sacrilege, at least not right away. Actually,I don't believe it to be much sacrilege anyway. The Galaxie had been parked since 1969 in a field after what I am guessing a rough ride through the ditch. The rear leaf spring on passenger side had been been ripped from the spring eye pocket. Also, it was only a locked up 260 with I think was a 2 speed in it. That heavy ol car had to have been a dog to drive around with a 260. Here's a couple of pics right before I sold the car. My buddy has since added Weld racing wheels, ladder bars, and a teardrop hood. It also has a totally different stance and looks sharp.
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popscomet
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Re: 390 motors

Post by popscomet »

I never drove mine,as it was hit in the front and needed a rad,,I just bought it cause it was there and I was also with the money in my pocket,,,I should have redone it and drove it,but I was hip deep into mustangs at the time and I really had no interest in it..one time I took a 64 galax 2drht 289 at in on trade and it was a pretty nice car ,,,but I sold it to a friend at work.....they were to big and long looking at the time for my likeing,,,,have a nice XMAS..and that part goes out to all that also reads this......from pop/GLENDA
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fryedaddy
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Re: 390 motors

Post by fryedaddy »

the 66 blocks c6me and c6me-a are some of the best stock 390 blocks.you can get stroker kits for the 390 now all the way up to 445ci.the truck blocks in the dump trucks and school buses were 391ci and they have steel cranks in them that need to have the snout turned down to use in a car or pickup truck 390.there are several 2x4 intakes on the market,bbm,blue thunder,dove,etc.if i were going to build a new 390 i would go with the stroker crank if you can,the extra cubes are worth 40 or 50 hp and torque.if you go with a set of alu heads and intake the 390 only weighs 450 pounds or so,which is lite compared to bbc or bb dodge.if you build a fe please use a builder familiar with them,they are not the same as sbc everyday stuff.good luck if you decide to build one,they have come a long way in the last decade,there not grandpa's old 390s anymore.
fryedaddy
Image1966 caliente,428 4 speed,4.11 gears,nitrous,parachute

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loman
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Re: 390 motors

Post by loman »

Fryedaddy,
What intake do you have on your motor?
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Lip Ripper
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Re: 390 motors

Post by Lip Ripper »

I've seen 361 truck blocks too. "Truck" meaning dump truck, bus, 2 1/2 ton etc.
66 Cyclone GT; 245/60R15's on 15x8's and 215/70R15's on 15x7 Magnum's.
There's nothing like the sound of a pushrod V8 singing at the top of her lung's.

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fryedaddy
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Re: 390 motors

Post by fryedaddy »

loman wrote:Fryedaddy,
What intake do you have on your motor?
i use the performer rpm,its the highest rated dual plane single four on the market.works well on the street and the track.its a huge jump from a stock pi intake
Last edited by fryedaddy on Tue Dec 26, 2017 12:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.
fryedaddy
Image1966 caliente,428 4 speed,4.11 gears,nitrous,parachute

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fryedaddy
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Re: 390 motors

Post by fryedaddy »

[/quote]loman

What do you think those cast iron headers are worth nowadays? I bet they would fetch a pretty healthy price.[/quote]
those factory long tube cast iron headers make more hp than any other exhaust on a fe.they are rare and very valuable too
fryedaddy
Image1966 caliente,428 4 speed,4.11 gears,nitrous,parachute

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loman
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Re: 390 motors

Post by loman »

Anybody hear of these guys? I have never heard of them but I am not familiar with the FE world.

http://bearblockmotors.com/
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