I found a .020" under 390 crank on Craig's list for $100.
Does that sound worth while to you?
It's been stored since it was ground.
He said it'd been stored on end after I asked.
How bad is it, if it's been stored laying on its side for a year?

The crank doesn't come with rods and remember reading something about
using "long" 360 rods in 390's but I don't know the details. Not that it's a
good idea to do or anything, just would like to understand it is all.

Anyway I'm looking and I'm not in any hurry.

Alvin in AZ

 

360 rods too long for the 390. Post number 22 here:

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...0-crank-2.html

390 crank and rods, 360 pistons.

Have it checked for straightness--perhaps call a machine shop and check the price to do this. Your $100 crank could be no bargain if it needs work.

 

Alvin;

360 rods are very weak. They are not recommended for any high performance usage. Before paying any money on a crank, I would have it checked at a good machine shop. It could be bent, or cracked, or have other problems. If it was in great shape, turned to .020 under, and polished, then $100 would not be a bad price. A good machine shop can sell you some reconditioned 390 rods for a reasonable price. They should magnaflux them also. If your crank has been on it's side for a year, it could be bent. No matter how it has been stored, it should be checked out by a good machine shop, before you buy it.
I have two sets of 428scj/427 LeMans rods that have been magnafluxed and reconditioned, and I am not going to use either set on our race 434. These rods are over 40 years old, and for high performance usage, an aftermarket rod like the Scat H beam rod is a better choice, for my project.
There are many "opinions" on this, but my opinion is:


360 rod is good up to 300 hp
390 rod is good up to 450 hp
Lemans rod up to 550 hp
Anything over 600 hp should have new aftermarket rods like the Scat H beam.
JMHO

 

Thanks you guys, I tried searching and was getting nothing but junk. :/

From post #22...
...the stock 360 piston at 1.776.
360 crank, rod, piston:
1.75 + 6.57 + 1.776 = 10.066 with a deck at 10.17--that's the stock 360,
low compression.

390 crank, 390 rod, 360 piston:
1.89 + 6.488 + 1.776 = 10.154, which is a darn site closer to 10.17 and
the magic "zero deck".

390 crank, 360 rod, 360 piston:
1.89 + 6.57 + 1.776 = 10.236 or, as they say "clank".

rusty70f100 wrote somewhere:
>390 truck piston compression height: 1.680"

So...
390 crank, 360 rod, 390 truck piston:
1.89+ 6.67+ 1.68 = 10.14

But anyway, thanks for the advice guys (Maxtor too, yeah I'll get some 390
rods) didn't even think about having the crank checked at a machine shop.

I'm new to all this V8 stuff. LOL :)

I'll look into buying rods at a machine shop too, didn't think of that one either.
Heck, should call around and ask for a crank while I'm at it, huh? ;)

Guaranteed re-buildable 360 FE's are $200 around here at the wreckin yards.
I have no idea what it'd cost me to find out it's no-good tho. :/

I've got time and tools, but no money.

Alvin in AZ