I understand what is being said and I hate to go against a specialist, but ratsmoker is right it is total BS. They talked you out of using a 428 crank in your 390 which makes a 410 which was a factory motor and a great one at that. I have a 410 and it's a great motor and it's got about 15k on it and the guides are fine. Hell, the modular 5.4 has a lot longer stroke than the bore is big and I havent heard anything bad about them. Again, im not trying to argue, but if you get over the fact that a big wig said it and apply the science, it doesnt make any sense. But like I said, i will build the the 464 (4.19x4.25), and i will let everyone know how it runs a couple of thousand miles of life and if it all falls apart I will eat $#%! and get a 460. Not to mention, the majority of engine builders nowadays will tell you to scrap the old FE in favor of a 460, I even bought it for a while but my love for FE motors is thriving once again.

 

Hmmm...here I am at square one again. The only reason I scrapped the 410 project was because the "experts" said not to do it. I am at a loss for words. Thanks for the info guys; I guess I need to do some more research.

 

LOL You are back at square one. Right back where I suggested you get some books. Forums are a great source of info, only problem is you are also goint to get opinions that taylor to what that individual likes. I'm not knocking anyone here.

My suggestion is to do what I did. Get some books, make a plan, gather more info, start the project and turn to the forum for guidance. I can't tell you that my way is the best way, but so far it is working!!

Good Luck!

 

It's not that funny. I have at least five books just on BB Fords. Maybe I should get a sixth. Everything is pretty much laid out, except for whether to stroke the 390 or not. This only changes my piston order; I already have the crank.

But, you are right. I should post a thread asking guys who have 410 in a truck if they have had problems, as opposed to asking whether or not I should build one.

 

Well first off, Giddie Up is right. The answers you get here are sorta taylored to personal likes among the users. Most of the users seem to agree about most things just maybe in a slightly different way. I will say the 460 has more all around potential than any FE made due to the more modern design and vast amounts of aftermarket support. The bigger bore engines do offer more power potential as the bore size determines what valve/port sizes can be used in designing a head. The information you were given here chrowen is just incorrect. Not only by my opinion but if you read into some books and articles that REAL experts/mechanical engineers write, then you will not only know the concept, you will understand it. I was kind of shocked when you stated what you were told by the so called experts. You should not take my word for it though. Just keep in mind the experts don't have any 428 cranks to sell, but they sure have plenty of blocks. There are a handful of people I would consider FE specialists. One of them is named Dennis Carrico. His number is (909) 763-9765. Give him a call. If you decide to go FE he will have the parts you need. If you decide to go with the 385 series you have not made a bad choice.

 

Heck no, I love my 390. It hasn't let me down since I bought the truck. Everyone has 460's - they can keep them. I just meant that I was advised to go with the 429/460, instead of stroking a 390 if I wanted more cubes. I do not intend top switch.

Thanks for the number. I will drop him a line.

BTW rat, got any info on my ceramic posting?

 

One thing that stands out on the comment is that you'll be replacing valve stuff at 1000 or 2000 miles. That's total bull****.

I bet we have several 410/428's here that have much more than that on the clock and have no valve problems.

I have found that best info to be from the books and forums, I called the experts at ford racing and they seemed to know the 460 engines very well but didn't have much info on the FE's, but that was several years ago.

The actual stroke difference is .2" and I just can't see that making that kind of difference. The I3 300 was used on UPS trucks for years and it has a stroke of 4.00" I think.

 

There is no such thing as an expert. We all have oppinions. You either love FE's or don't. I think that if was sitting at a desk and giving sugestions to callers and did not feel the excitement and thrill of owning an FE, I would tell them all the problems of an FE and try to sell the 385 series, and mostly because it would be eisier. But I do not drive a 67 Fairlane Ranchero 428 because it is eisier I like to have a different car/truck and kick *** on those so called experts.

 

ratsmoker has it figured out- the guys at Ford Motorsport, and whatever shop they might recomend, have no FE parts to sell you. But if they can convince you stroking an FE is a bad idea, they have truckloads of 429/460 stuff for sale. So if you build an FE in any fashion, they make no money. They are simply looking out for their own wallet. As far as 'experts' go, we have guys like Dennis C., Rob McQ, and 'Shoe'. I think all those guys are experts. You'll find them on internet forums, some times even this one. We also have guys on this very board who already have a 390 with a 410/428 crank, I'm one of them. I've run mine very hard and have never had any trouble...I DO have to feed it racing gas, but that was my fault for choosing 11 1/2 to 1 pistons. A lower compression stroker FE would make a fantastic truck engine. We also have old guys here on the forum who remember when, back in the early 60's, ford was setting all kinds of records with a Galaxie powered by a 482 Starlifter FE engine. The 482 started as a 406 block and had a 4.385 stroke crank dropped in it. Those engines didn't seem to have any problems. And we have to consider John V down @ Ford Motorsport, do you know what his personal car is ? He drives a Galaxie, with a 427 SOHC engine. And he can get any Ford engine he likes. Yes, the 429/460 engines have alot of power potential- but they cost a bunch too. You would need the new engine, then new headers, new engine mounts, differant tranny or bell housing, and the 429/460 is heavier by almost 75-100 lbs. If you already have an FE powerplant in your vehicle, stroking it is easier AND cheaper than strarting over with a whole differant family of engines. DF

 

So, where do you find the pistons for the 410? Do they have to be custom made? Do they come .030 over as well?

 

You can buy replacement pistons for a 1976 390 and have about 10.5:1 compression. These pistons are actually 410 pistons used to make a lower compression 390. They will be plain ol cast pistons though. Ross makes a nice set of customs pistons for the job. You can mill the tops off of a set of L2291F pistons to have forged pistons. Most any piston you can find for the 390 comes .030 over as an option. There might be a couple other pistons that work. Others will probably have other alternatives.

 

I had psitons ordered with an engine rebuild kit. How can I tell if they are low compression or not?

 

The difference in the pistons is in the distance from the top to the centerline of the pin. Without having a book or specs on that piston, you could install one of them in the engine and see where the hit compared to the top of the block.

Most true truck pistons hit just below the top of the block, probably about 1/8" or less.

Also the design of the top of the piston too, some have 4 eyebrows (valve reliefs) and others dish down and still others have two eyebrows. The dish down's are going to be lower compression and less squish effect.

If you don't have the pistons yet, you should be able to make a few calls to find the pin height.

 

One thing to remember when you're talking about the 410 and 428 is that Ford built those engines to be low RPM/high torque powerplants for the full-size Fords and Mercurys in the sixties. These were not light vehicles. Just a thought....

Also, I agree that Dennis C. is a good source for performance FE parts. He lists a lot on Ebay. Another place is Gessford Machine; they've been building HIGH performance FEs for a long time and their website is full of pictures to drool over. Here's the link....

www.gessford.com/cobraparts/fords.htm

 

to build a 410, you have a couple of options that don't need any machining to fit- the speedpro 381P is a 410 piston, it would give only 8 to 1 in a 390, it gives about 10 in a 410. the other choice is a silvolite 1139, also a 410 style piston. Ford dropped the compression in mid 70s 390s by using up mercury's leftover stock of 410 pistons.....it was cheaper than designing a new piston, and Ford already had lots of them. The 381P and 1139 are copies of that design. My stroker has TRW L2291Fs that have been shaved, are at zero deck, and my heads have been milled. This works great, and the TRW forgings are really strong, but I also have more than 11 to 1 compression. The cost of racing or aviation fuel keeps that one parked most of the time, and I am driving a 390 with 7.8 to 1 for everday stuff. DF