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Old Nov 9, 2012 | 01:22 AM
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horsepower estimates

Hi I have a 390 wit a 1974 block and heads,stock butterfly pistons,bored .60 over,mild hydraulic rv cam,long tube headers,edelbrock performer intake manifold,and factory adjustable rockers....does anyone know roughly how much horsepower I will be pushing?
 
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Old Nov 9, 2012 | 09:06 AM
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260-275 would be my quick estimate based on dyno simulatino software. Need more specifics on carb size, heads, and cam profile.
 
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Old Nov 9, 2012 | 10:03 AM
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Didn't the 390 come out with 275-300 depending on the year. The heads unfortunately do have the little smog ports on them but they are running into some 2" headers. I don't know the cam specs and valves havnt even been adjusted yet
 
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Old Nov 9, 2012 | 10:26 AM
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Yeah....265 hp an up I believe. Headers definitely help, but I need more specific's, valve size, carb size, cam specs and I can plug them in and fine tune the numbers. Also knowing the exact compression ratio helps. A good intake and good headers definitely help but are bottle necked and don't realize full gains with stock smog heads.
 
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Old Nov 9, 2012 | 10:34 AM
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Originally Posted by jerry73
Didn't the 390 come out with 275-300 depending on the year. The heads unfortunately do have the little smog ports on them but they are running into some 2" headers. I don't know the cam specs and valves havnt even been adjusted yet
Car 390s

9.5 CR, 2bbl = 265 gross HP in late '60s to end of the run.

10, 10.5 4bbl = 300, 315, 320, 330 and 375(!!) over the years.

FE Series Engine Specification Chart

Pickup motors, especially near the darkest days (1974 would be a dark day) with compression in the 8s or lower, lazy cams, 2bbl carbs, did not make the power the car motors did. Add to that the change to net HP ratings, and they look pretty weak. (which they were, for the size and amount of gas they used....) But they pulled a low revs and lasted a long time. So you've corrected a couple flaws, but still have low compression. Thus the wags (multiple, as you have 2 threads going on this....) at the "low" numbers.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...stimation.html
 
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Old Nov 9, 2012 | 10:38 AM
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73FOMO
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From: Hartford, AL
Originally Posted by 85e150six4mtod
Car 390s

9.5 CR, 2bbl = 265 gross HP in late '60s to end of the run.

10, 10.5 4bbl = 300, 315, 320, 330 and 375(!!) over the years.

FE Series Engine Specification Chart

Pickup motors, especially near the darkest days (1974 would be a dark day) with compression in the 8s or lower, lazy cams, 2bbl carbs, did not make the power the car motors did. Add to that the change to net HP ratings, and they look pretty weak. (which they were, for the size and amount of gas they used....) But they pulled a low revs and lasted a long time. So you've corrected a couple flaws, but still have low compression. Thus the wags (multiple, as you have 2 threads going on this....) at the "low" numbers.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...stimation.html
Ditto that....I used 8.5 - 1 for comp ratio and 2 barrel carb in my simulation. And small valves on the heads...not sure of the exact valve size on the heads he listed.
 
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Old Nov 9, 2012 | 10:53 AM
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So what's your dyno thingy say for a 10.5/1, 0.40 over, 282/292 cam (only numbers I remember off the top of my head) holly street avenger 770 cfm, heddman long tubes & gasket matched intake.
 
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Old Nov 9, 2012 | 11:33 AM
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It's a car motor out of a cougar...it's 4bbl but I still can say for the valve and cam specs,I could try to look but I don't have the spec papers at my house
 
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Old Nov 9, 2012 | 03:01 PM
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Originally Posted by gpence
So what's your dyno thingy say for a 10.5/1, 0.40 over, 282/292 cam (only numbers I remember off the top of my head) holly street avenger 770 cfm, heddman long tubes & gasket matched intake.
Got anymore info on the heads or valve sizes? Plugging in what you said approximate as I don't have ALL of the cam timing and lift numbers....325 hp @ 4500 and 400 torq @ 3000
 
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Old Nov 9, 2012 | 04:06 PM
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Basic 70's crap PI heads with nothing more than hardened seats & valve job on them. I'm working on some after market aluminum heads as my next upgrade. Idk what my timing is set at but I can look at the lift and such when I go out to the shop.
 
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