Alright.Today I picked up from a 1965 tbird What is said to be a 390.I want to build it up to put it in my 76 hiboy.The block has 352 stamped on it along with C5AE-A. It has a 4 barrel intake stamped C5AE9425C and 4G9. The Heads have several stamps. 30 , CIAE, 6080A . Everthing also has DIF stamped on it. I pulled the heads and the pistons are not stamped as bored over like the guy said. The pistons are flat but with the large round recess in the center. Would like to know exactly what I've got and what sort of compression ratio and torque this engine should make. It will need a rebuild so what should I go with for a good torque engine as well as horsepower over 300. I will be pulling a heavy trailer

 

Well first off good find, and you do have a 65 390, Someone will correct me if I am wrong, but I think the 390 in the bird in 65 was about 300hp maybe a tad more... I think the only thing that I would do...is build it back as original, But run an after market Intake as being Like the Edelbrock RPM...and a nice 600+ cfm Carb (I preffer Holleys) but to each his own...and put in a Nice Torquey Cam..and a set of header's and call it good!!

I believe the compression on the 65 car 390 to be around 9.5 to 1..So you have a very good base to start with!!

Good Luck!! and congrats!!

Russ

 

Thanks russ ! Do you know what sort of cam this car may have come with and any info about the heads.I read something online about the C1AE heads being the 390 hi-Po heads.Also I have an edelbrock performer now. Would you suggest the rpm over the performer and why. Thanks.

 

Well I dont have a listing on the heads.. I dont show a C1, but I show a C2..and there 61 to 63 Hi per..Heads with 2.020" Intake and 1.550" exhaust Valve's...

As Far as the Cam you should run..It depends on How you plan on driving it..I know you said you pull a trailer..but what weight and how offen??

Russ

 

Oh sorry didnt read the part where you already have the ED Performer!! If for the most part ,all your doing is towing..and you all ready have the performer..thats fine..But...you can alway step up to the RPM and a little more cam and make more TQ and more HP at a little higher RPM.. Is all..

Russ

 

I went out again and made sure I read right and the heads definately say C1AE ,but I did misread part of it.The other casting says 6090A. Any idea what the DIF stands for.I will be pulling under 6000 pounds mostly.

 

Stepping up to the performer will I lose any low rpm torque?Does anyone make a good all around rebuild that I could chose my own cam grind with? Summit says that they sell just a stock performance kit.

 

Yep..the DIF stands for Detroit Iron Foundry!!!!

And as far as pulling under 6K.. you can find a nice mild Crane cam..that will work great for your appication....and still use your stock torque converter!!

You may want to upgrade to a Transgo shift kit in your tranny?? unless your running a 4 spud??

But it sounds like too me you have things well in hand for a Mild build torquey Motor???

Russ

 

Now are you talking about a complete re-build kit with your choise of a custom ground camshaft??

 

Well I do want to get great low end torque and hp. I also want some lope. Its gotta sound good too.I'm so vain. I just want a good all over maybe rv or a little bigger cam.I do have a four speed manual in the truck now .Thought about going to an automatic.The engine I bought came with one. Not sure if it's c-5 or c-6 though. Also not so sure I want to take on any unnessary mods right now.I hear that the 390 c-6 are getting hard to come by though.

 

A few pesos for you from my chair in the house... First off, the C1AE heads were standard issue heads used on 61-63 352/390 motors. The dished pistons were used on the cars to keep compression around 9.5:1. Your Edel performer is very equivalent to the stock cast 4-barrel unit, just a 1000lbs lighter. My thoughts on what to do. Tear the motor down and bring it to your favorite FE engine machine shop. Have them clean/mag/inspect/hone or bore if necessary the essentials. Ask them for parts prices as they are tough to beat and better matched than an e-bay kit. Go with a "car" 390 rebuild using the correct pistons. Add to that a cam grind similar to the Crane 901 cam and top it off with the Edel performer in the garage. Have your heads rebuilt with hardened seats or buy some remanned units and have fun. I think you will be pleased with the outcome (an it should cost around $2500).

--Mike

 

Thanks Mike. I read online that the C1AE heads were a better head than the C8ae. Is this true.

 

I show they have a larger combustion chamber volume than the C8AE so I would have to dissagree. This must however be taken into context with what you plan to do and build. They would be better to use if you have 9.5:1 compression with your parts and you want to run regular grade fuel. Now if you don't mind paying for the premium stuff to run at 10:1 compression, then the C8 would be better...

It's all about checks and balances --Mike

 

Yea, I do wanna stay around 9.5 to 1 compression and run reg. gas. I wanna have that low end power mainly so dont wanna go over 10 to 1.

 

Man I screwed up again. The heads on the 390 thats in my truck now are not C8AE . They are D2TEAA. So now which is better? C1AE or D2TEAA.