1986 F-250 Progress Thread
Old School Hot Rodder
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,472
Likes: 11
From: Exmore, VA
No, had one twist in half on the 390, along with a few sheared distributor drive gear pins. The 460 like the 351s and 400 has a 3/8" oil pump drive shaft. FWIW, my 390 didn't run like a slug, it was the camper special version, and I know how to re-curve a distributor. 360 and 390 2 barrel engines are slugs, just like 351M/400 engines in stock form. At least Ford did put a 4 barrel option on the 390.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,491
Likes: 26
From: Algona,WA
I've seen picture of them just snap in half or twist 10 times around for no reason. IDK what does it.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Algona,WA
No, had one twist in half on the 390, along with a few sheared distributor drive gear pins. The 460 like the 351s and 400 has a 3/8" oil pump drive shaft. FWIW, my 390 didn't run like a slug, it was the camper special version, and I know how to re-curve a distributor. 360 and 390 2 barrel engines are slugs, just like 351M/400 engines in stock form. At least Ford did put a 4 barrel option on the 390.
Old School Hot Rodder
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,472
Likes: 11
From: Exmore, VA
My 390 was quite strong, and got 16-17 mpg highway in that F-150. I wasn't sure about the 460 when I first got the dually, after almost 19 years I do like it's power and smoothness. Yes, it's a big hunk of iron, so is a 392 Hemi, and the 430/462 the 385s replaced was even bigger and heavier, 865lbs.
pedant
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 23,576
Likes: 40
From: EXTREME southwest CT
Clearance inside the pump is pretty tight. Suck up a piece of debris from the REAL failure and it can stop the rotor in its tracks
Old School Hot Rodder
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 6,472
Likes: 11
From: Exmore, VA
Piece of valve stem seal sucked into the pump. It happens when the suction screen gets clogged usually. 302s in 1979-91 Crown Vics are famous for it,
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,491
Likes: 26
From: Algona,WA
I've seen a plugged up 390 oil pump with all the nylon teeth on the out side of the screen. My dad said he saw a '66 mustang I think it was back in the 70's. It seized up, the oil pump got something in it and it locked up and twisted the oil pump shaft around like a rubber band, I think he said it was a 289.
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FTE Legend
Joined: Jul 2010
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From: Northeast, OK
Matthew - The fact is that few of the engines we deal with are slugs if properly tuned. There were, and may always be, guys like Bill & Jim that knew how to properly tune an engine. Even I got my '72 390 2bbl to run quite well with a 4bbl and a bit of ignition work, and this 351M will run off and hide from a stock 351M and get much better MPG doing it. So, making sweeping statements that 390's are slugs is going to cause those knowledgable to help you understand the error of your ways.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,491
Likes: 26
From: Algona,WA
Well, one thing I keep forgetting is when I drive my truck I barely touch the gas, I think the glasspacks are making it sound like a slug, or more than it is. When you step on it, it goes pretty good. I'll find out when I get the exhaust done. But I have re curved my distributor, timing is where it should be. Carburetor is in good tune although I want to try a different carb to see if it runs differently down the road sometime.
Shoulda bought a '76 Ford pickup. We looked at a 76 F150 once, body was kind of gone. But it was a 4bbl 390, damn that thing pulled hard!
Shoulda bought a '76 Ford pickup. We looked at a 76 F150 once, body was kind of gone. But it was a 4bbl 390, damn that thing pulled hard!
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Algona,WA
If you all are curious it's going to be 2.5" pipes off the headers in to a single 3" exhaust pipe with a 3" cat and 3" muffler and tailpipe. With stock routing.
The flex pipe and glasspacks wasn't meant to be permanent , just temporary.
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2011
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From: Algona,WA
Our van has the same exhaust system except with no cat, I love it.