rebuilt 390 Question
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4,656
Likes: 4
From: Northern and Southern Cal
It's "take this with a grain of salt" time.
Up to you but I would like to know what cam is in my engine.
I just want my engine to breath well.
Seeing that it's on the stand, and assuming you want a little grunt out of it, I might have a talk with myself about if I want to spend money on a Performer or something comparable from another manufacturer.
If I couldn't find out what cam is in there, for me personally, I would buy a new one for what $140-180 it's pretty cheap and easy. But that's me. Only you know what you have invested in it and how much BS you want to deal with.
BTW I'm doing my engine with the same heads.
Up to you but I would like to know what cam is in my engine.
I just want my engine to breath well.
Seeing that it's on the stand, and assuming you want a little grunt out of it, I might have a talk with myself about if I want to spend money on a Performer or something comparable from another manufacturer.
If I couldn't find out what cam is in there, for me personally, I would buy a new one for what $140-180 it's pretty cheap and easy. But that's me. Only you know what you have invested in it and how much BS you want to deal with.
BTW I'm doing my engine with the same heads.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 185
Likes: 0
From: Graham, Wa.
I went though the same situation on my 390 with it being rebuilt but never fired and sitting around. Make sure the builder was smart enough to put the oil galley plugs back in (there are 7 of them, 1 is tucked in the distributor hole), mine got left out. There is also 3 screw in ones in the back of the block too I believe that you need to verify got installed. The other thing to check is the preload on the lifters. The PO put in nice ARP pushrods, but they were too long and I had to shim the tower to get 30%. Hope he put the head gaskets on with the hole in the back on both sides, might be good to take the heads off and check and retorqe the studs.
I chose to put in a 268H cam, new springs and a double roller timing chain while I was tearing it apart checking it over.
These can be good finds, but never assume that the PO knew what they were doing.
I chose to put in a 268H cam, new springs and a double roller timing chain while I was tearing it apart checking it over.
These can be good finds, but never assume that the PO knew what they were doing.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,261
Likes: 15
From: Big Sky Country
Good advice, but if you don't want to pull the heads you can check by feeling with your finger inside the water passage to see if the head gasket is blocking the hole at the front of the engine (it should be blocked).
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 422
Likes: 2
From: Arlington
I am actually embarassed that I need to be asking these questions, because I have been building offroad rigs my whole life and have never built an engine
.
I do appreciate all of the input for my first engine build
.I do appreciate all of the input for my first engine build
Postmaster
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 4,656
Likes: 4
From: Northern and Southern Cal
Don't be. We all love this stuff.
I don't know squat compared to many I know. I'm constantly asking my brother (that owns a gasket company) and my nephew ( a drag racer) about engine stuff. Compared to them I'm an idiot on engines ( go ahead, insert joke
) even though I built my first one in high school.
I don't know squat compared to many I know. I'm constantly asking my brother (that owns a gasket company) and my nephew ( a drag racer) about engine stuff. Compared to them I'm an idiot on engines ( go ahead, insert joke
) even though I built my first one in high school.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 422
Likes: 2
From: Arlington
First thing i want to say is you guys are going to cost me money
. I just called my napa store to price me out the 268h cam and a set of 360 pistons, I am thinking this might make a nice little towing engine for my truck, any opinions.
My truck is a 1976 f250 4x4 with a np 435, 410 gears and 35" tires.
. I just called my napa store to price me out the 268h cam and a set of 360 pistons, I am thinking this might make a nice little towing engine for my truck, any opinions.My truck is a 1976 f250 4x4 with a np 435, 410 gears and 35" tires.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 422
Likes: 2
From: Arlington
Don't be. We all love this stuff.
I don't know squat compared to many I know. I'm constantly asking my brother (that owns a gasket company) and my nephew ( a drag racer) about engine stuff. Compared to them I'm an idiot on engines ( go ahead, insert joke ) even though I built my first one in high school.
I don't know squat compared to many I know. I'm constantly asking my brother (that owns a gasket company) and my nephew ( a drag racer) about engine stuff. Compared to them I'm an idiot on engines ( go ahead, insert joke
) even though I built my first one in high school., i did build a 302 in my highschool auto shop [1984]but that was so long ago it doesn't count
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 2,315
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From: Rossmoor at Seal Beach
Rather than NAPA for a camshaft... hit up Summit racing or Jegs you will find the pricing to be much more agreeable with your wallet... and the choices and explanations of other things you might need such as Stronger valve springs, are a big help..info that a NAPA guy probably won't give you... Summit has a section as you are deciding which Cam to buy , that will tell you exactly what other things you should consider for that specific cam... Very Educational indeed!
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 185
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From: Graham, Wa.
It does make the dual 40's sing nicely.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,931
Likes: 2
From: Ohio
On the FE Network Forum I was recommended by a few guys, Barry R. being one of them, to use a comp 270H for my 390. They all told me that it would work a little better with my combo of truck and engine than the 268H, 260, etc. 75 F100 4x4 390/4speed 4:88 gears on 36's. Now it's just a suggestion, but again the Big name FE builders suggested that cam. I've read a lot of good about the 268H though, your call. I'd definitely consider it while the engine is out though.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 422
Likes: 2
From: Arlington
I posted this on the engine forum and mikesf100 has been running some desktop dyno numbers. Lunati 62002 shows peak torque of 489lb/tq at 2500 rpm and the 343901 peaks at 470 they have similar durations but the lunati has a bit more lift