390 valvetrain
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,051
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From: Douglas, Georgia
my bad, I mixed up posters.... The original poster didn't change manifold.... anyway, it's good to check.
On another note, any of you fellas with standard bore truck 390's, if you want I've got a few sets of 4.050 390 dish pistons that sit at 0 deck level if you want them. I was going to recycle them. All for the high price of free (plus shipping). Obviously you'd need a set of rings.
Drew
On another note, any of you fellas with standard bore truck 390's, if you want I've got a few sets of 4.050 390 dish pistons that sit at 0 deck level if you want them. I was going to recycle them. All for the high price of free (plus shipping). Obviously you'd need a set of rings.
Drew
Last edited by DeepRoots; Apr 27, 2011 at 01:24 AM. Reason: typo resulted in error
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,834
Likes: 25
From: Middle Tn.
Thanks guys, I'm curious about the change to adjustable valve train mostly from an academic standpoint right now; just trying to learn all I can about what makes the FE unique or different. And I figure that since I'm never going to build a high RPM engine out of it, most of what I'm doing now can be retained if I wind up going bigger. Same headers and manifold and, unless I go serious big, the 600 CFM carb will get the job done. I'm a shopper and an opportunist so if a smoking hot deal on a 390 shows up along the way, I've got no problem jumping on the deal.
I'm also learning restraint, though....I left the $300 complete, running, 460 on CL for someone else to buy.
I'm also learning restraint, though....I left the $300 complete, running, 460 on CL for someone else to buy.
Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: High Desert of Oregon
my bad, I mixed up posters.... The original poster didn't change manifold.... anyway, it's good to check.
On another note, any of you fellas with standard bore 360's, if you want I've got a few sets of 4.050 390 dish pistons that sit at 0 deck level if you want them. I was going to recycle them. All for the high price of free (plus shipping). Obviously you'd need a set of rings.
Drew
On another note, any of you fellas with standard bore 360's, if you want I've got a few sets of 4.050 390 dish pistons that sit at 0 deck level if you want them. I was going to recycle them. All for the high price of free (plus shipping). Obviously you'd need a set of rings.
Drew
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,501
Likes: 1
From: Axtell, TX
It would be news to me if there is a piston that gives a "0" deck in a 360. With the 1.77" compression height flat tops(390 4v) it still sits .104" in the hole.
In a 390 they come up to .02" deck clearance which is pretty darn good. So he must be talking 390?
Jeffsf-250: there are 2 compression heights, 0.1" difference. 1.67 and 1.77. The 410 and 390 truck pistons used the 1.67 height for reducing compression in the 390 and for clearance reasons in the 410.
In a 390 they come up to .02" deck clearance which is pretty darn good. So he must be talking 390?
Jeffsf-250: there are 2 compression heights, 0.1" difference. 1.67 and 1.77. The 410 and 390 truck pistons used the 1.67 height for reducing compression in the 390 and for clearance reasons in the 410.
Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 218
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From: High Desert of Oregon
Well, look what just popped up on CL this morning about 20 miles from home...
"390 ford needs work was running last April
comes with good headers
$ 250.00 obo "
I'm thinking that if it turns over freely I may need to have it. Don't really care if it runs as long as the crank and rods are sound. Curious what 'needs work' means but I guess I'll ring him up tonight and find out.
"390 ford needs work was running last April
comes with good headers
$ 250.00 obo "
I'm thinking that if it turns over freely I may need to have it. Don't really care if it runs as long as the crank and rods are sound. Curious what 'needs work' means but I guess I'll ring him up tonight and find out.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,501
Likes: 1
From: Axtell, TX
make sure it's actually a 390. Funny how 360s turn into 390s on sale day. You can either do a dowel test, or if you're going to have the pan off, just check the crank casting. Nice find..maybe
Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: High Desert of Oregon
Yeah, figured I'd carry a sparkplug socket, 1/4" dowel, a ruler and my trusty Sharpie along for the trip....3.5 is bad, 3.8 is good....
Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: High Desert of Oregon
So, riddle me this one Sleepy....How do you feel about that Howards Cam profile on a 9:1 390? 
Got out there last night and found he'd already sold the headers to someone else and 'needs work' meant that he dropped a valve seat on #2 (and he thinks #7 since they were both dead holes). As the story goes, he only pulled the one head to see why 0 compression. Found the valve seat dangling, bolted the head back on, had it towed home and dropped a 5.9 Cummins in its place.
But, with my admittedly imprecise measuring stick the difference between up and down was 3-3/4" and it turned over by hand just fine so I'm betting the crank and rods are just fine. I'll pull it apart over the weekend to double verify everything. It was on a pallet, on the ground and I couldn't find a casting number on the crank. I saw some numbers on the front counterweight but none of them were what I expected (2T, 2U, 3U, etc) and the angle and bad light took their toll.
I'm out $180 and he had a virtually new distributor to go with it so I think I'm good to go.
Got out there last night and found he'd already sold the headers to someone else and 'needs work' meant that he dropped a valve seat on #2 (and he thinks #7 since they were both dead holes). As the story goes, he only pulled the one head to see why 0 compression. Found the valve seat dangling, bolted the head back on, had it towed home and dropped a 5.9 Cummins in its place.
But, with my admittedly imprecise measuring stick the difference between up and down was 3-3/4" and it turned over by hand just fine so I'm betting the crank and rods are just fine.
I'll pull it apart over the weekend to double verify everything. It was on a pallet, on the ground and I couldn't find a casting number on the crank. I saw some numbers on the front counterweight but none of them were what I expected (2T, 2U, 3U, etc) and the angle and bad light took their toll.I'm out $180 and he had a virtually new distributor to go with it so I think I'm good to go.
Last edited by JeffsF-250; Apr 26, 2011 at 10:01 AM. Reason: typo
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,501
Likes: 1
From: Axtell, TX
You could throw some steel shim head gaskets on and up the CR a little bit(10:1) and use it but it's not going to have much at low rpm. I don't know how they are saying 9:1 CR for it. That would give it a dynamic CR of 6.6:1 which is very low. I just don't think it's a good cam for a truck unless you are running high rpms through the mud all the time.
Good deal on the engine, even with the heads in need of rebuilding. There is only 1 junkyard here that has FE's and the block alone goes for $300 with no sonic check, no guarantee, and no returns.
Good deal on the engine, even with the heads in need of rebuilding. There is only 1 junkyard here that has FE's and the block alone goes for $300 with no sonic check, no guarantee, and no returns.
Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: High Desert of Oregon
I'll rethink the cam selection then; as I said before, always easier before the parts are purchased. I was thinking 9:1 would be a good place to be so I can continue to run regular gas and pull the trailer over some hills when needed.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,834
Likes: 25
From: Middle Tn.
Hey Jeff, Your manifold should be delivered Thursday. Mike
Mechanic
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 218
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From: High Desert of Oregon
I did check on that, Mike 
... I'll drop you an email when it arrives. I forgot I'm flying out on Sunday so it's a short weekend this week 
I've actually got quite a few of those coming up in May and June but I talked to my boss about taking some 3 day weekends in between my 1 day weekends and he's all for it.
... I'll drop you an email when it arrives. I forgot I'm flying out on Sunday so it's a short weekend this week I've actually got quite a few of those coming up in May and June but I talked to my boss about taking some 3 day weekends in between my 1 day weekends and he's all for it.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 13,834
Likes: 25
From: Middle Tn.
I did check on that, Mike ... I'll drop you an email when it arrives. I forgot I'm flying out on Sunday so it's a short weekend this week I've actually got quite a few of those coming up in May and June but I talked to my boss about taking some 3 day weekends in between my 1 day weekends and he's all for it.
... I'll drop you an email when it arrives. I forgot I'm flying out on Sunday so it's a short weekend this week I've actually got quite a few of those coming up in May and June but I talked to my boss about taking some 3 day weekends in between my 1 day weekends and he's all for it.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,501
Likes: 1
From: Axtell, TX
Basically you can't start compression until the valve is closed. So you need to know the actual dynamic stroke during the time the valve is closed to determine your Dynamic (or actual) Compression Ratio. With a truck you don't really want to go over 8:1 DCR. You Can run it up to 8.3:1 or so but it's going to get finicky if not tuned right or with bad gas. All figures here are for iron heads.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,051
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From: Douglas, Georgia
I gotta stop posting when I first wake up.
thanks,
dp