390FE upgrades
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 676
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From: south east kansas
390FE upgrades
Ok so i want to put headers and a pertronix dizzy thing ( replace the points), on my 73 F-100, 390FE, do you guys have any suggestions as to what brand of header i should get, as well as mufflers( i was thinking Flowmaster super 50's) and which pertronix system/ dizzy i should get, Currently the truck has a '68 390FE ( most likely around 400 hp) so it's not for performance it gonna be a daily driver.
whats your opinion on what i should get.
whats your opinion on what i should get.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
400 HP? Hmmm... okay, whatever makes your day.
Headers.. how much work do you want to put in? Can you fabricate? Auto or manual transmission?
With that said, low-end long tubes - Hedman, Flowtech. Upper end long tubes - Doug's and Stan's . Strap on your patience and wrenchworthiness because they're a PITA to install. For shortys, I suggest Sanderson FF427 (slips right in).
Excluding glasspacks, low-buck mufflers - Summit's welded clones of Flowmasters, Thrush "Turbo" mufflers. Midrange - Noisemasters... I mean, Flowmasters
. Magnaflows (perforated core or regular mufflers). Upper end... Borla.
Here's what I did to the trans crossmember for a manual trans truck to run duals down each frame rail:
Headers.. how much work do you want to put in? Can you fabricate? Auto or manual transmission?
With that said, low-end long tubes - Hedman, Flowtech. Upper end long tubes - Doug's and Stan's . Strap on your patience and wrenchworthiness because they're a PITA to install. For shortys, I suggest Sanderson FF427 (slips right in).
Excluding glasspacks, low-buck mufflers - Summit's welded clones of Flowmasters, Thrush "Turbo" mufflers. Midrange - Noisemasters... I mean, Flowmasters
. Magnaflows (perforated core or regular mufflers). Upper end... Borla.Here's what I did to the trans crossmember for a manual trans truck to run duals down each frame rail:
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 8,678
Likes: 191
From: On the Edge of the Desert
Obviously this 390 is not stock.... Because even the mighty cougar eliminator with the 427 was only rated at 390HP.
So what's been done already? Pertronix is great.
If a 400hp 390FE isn't for "performance", I'd like to know what your definition of performance is....
So what's been done already? Pertronix is great.
If a 400hp 390FE isn't for "performance", I'd like to know what your definition of performance is....
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 56
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Agreed there is no 390 in stock form putting out 400hp. I went with a 65 tbird 390 because it was 325hp. Now after some upgrades "headers, intake,cam,ECT" I think I might be close to 400
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2015
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From: south east kansas
well 400 hp was a rough guess, the motor is a 68( came out of a 68 f100 4x4) some where rated at 300 stock, but the motor has been punched 40 over, shaved heads, dished pistons so the valves don't hit the piston, the heads have been ported and polished, has hardened seats, has a mild cam( no clue cam was put in in the 80-90s), also has a Edlebrock performer 390 intake, and a holley 600 cfm carb. so I don't know what true hp few chevy guys said 400hp , but I have a c6 long tail shaft, and 2 piece driveshaft
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2015
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From: south east kansas
i only have a arc welder so can't fab much auto zone has a set for $158(flowtech) they look long, i know that there are some problems with the header starter location, but other than that i dunno.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
Likes: 82
From: NorCal
well 400 hp was a rough guess, the motor is a 68( came out of a 68 f100 4x4) some where rated at 300 stock, but the motor has been punched 40 over, shaved heads, dished pistons so the valves don't hit the piston, the heads have been ported and polished, has hardened seats, has a mild cam( no clue cam was put in in the 80-90s), also has a Edlebrock performer 390 intake, and a holley 600 cfm carb. so I don't know what true hp few chevy guys said 400hp , but I have a c6 long tail shaft, and 2 piece driveshaft
Also keep in mind that in the early 70s manufacturers changed the methodology in which HP was stated ... Gross SAE versus net SAE.
Lastly, those Chevy guys are likely using the rule of thumb of one hp per cubic inch of displacement considering the parts and work allegedly done to the engine.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 133
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From: San Diego
Nobody addressed your dizzy question...
I used the Accel 2020 kit in my 390. Since you said $$$ is your concern, I got it at O'Reilly for $65.
It doesn't do anything as far as "boost" performance except to say that replacing the points/condenser in itself is a performance boost, since there's no "wear" as there is with the conventional system. Starting is perfect, instant and consistent with this system. It was recommended that I replace the coil as well, so I did.
Installation of the kit is a breeze, but I did choose to ignore the manufacturers' instruction to remove the distributor, and I just fitted the kit with my dizzy in place. Only took 10-15 mins to install, and the truck fired up instantly when I was finished (since I didn't dick with the timing).
As for exhaust headers, I've pretty much given up on that myself as Camper Special models can't use headers.
I used the Accel 2020 kit in my 390. Since you said $$$ is your concern, I got it at O'Reilly for $65.
It doesn't do anything as far as "boost" performance except to say that replacing the points/condenser in itself is a performance boost, since there's no "wear" as there is with the conventional system. Starting is perfect, instant and consistent with this system. It was recommended that I replace the coil as well, so I did.
Installation of the kit is a breeze, but I did choose to ignore the manufacturers' instruction to remove the distributor, and I just fitted the kit with my dizzy in place. Only took 10-15 mins to install, and the truck fired up instantly when I was finished (since I didn't dick with the timing).
As for exhaust headers, I've pretty much given up on that myself as Camper Special models can't use headers.
Senior User
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 133
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From: San Diego
Accel "Super stock" off-the-shelf-nothing-fancy type coil, supposedly gives a hotter spark. $35-ish. I'm not hot-rodding my truck so no need (yet) to try boosting performance.
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 676
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From: south east kansas
cool thanks, if you want headers for that truck you should look for shortys or mid lenght but they do tend to get expensive as i hear, for your application shortys would probably be your best bet or stock cast iron headers