360FE - 390FE questions
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 575
Likes: 6
From: Knoxville, TN
I have a limited knowledge of nitrous on an FE motor however I've played a lot on many old stock blocks and heads through out my years. I used to find them, build them and have them blown by the end of the weekend. Theres not a stock motor out there built to handle nitrous especially FE's.
Nitrous can be a tricky thing. Sometimes nothing happens but sometimes it does. Meaning, just cause you think it'll be OK, it'll grenade on you fast enough to wipe the smile clean off your face and possibly hurt you or someone else in the process. Been there. done that, have scars to prove it.
IMO, for what it's worth, Nitrous on base or stock FE's is senseless. That's just not what they were built for....... unless it's BUILT as a nitrous motor. Build it with nitrous capable parts able to handle the extra "pow" and you will enjoy it longer sans tires or axles or drive shafts or gears or transmission etc...... .
Now, once you build that nitrous FE motor, remember your crappy suspension and crappy brakes.......
Nitrous can be a tricky thing. Sometimes nothing happens but sometimes it does. Meaning, just cause you think it'll be OK, it'll grenade on you fast enough to wipe the smile clean off your face and possibly hurt you or someone else in the process. Been there. done that, have scars to prove it.
IMO, for what it's worth, Nitrous on base or stock FE's is senseless. That's just not what they were built for....... unless it's BUILT as a nitrous motor. Build it with nitrous capable parts able to handle the extra "pow" and you will enjoy it longer sans tires or axles or drive shafts or gears or transmission etc...... .
Now, once you build that nitrous FE motor, remember your crappy suspension and crappy brakes.......
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 676
Likes: 0
From: south east kansas
i'm going off what my buddy did to his chevy 350( problem 1), i figured if i kept my timing a tad retarded and if i gave it enough fuel i'd be fine, this me just throwing ideas around looking for some one with experience , reason being i'm young, stupid and my buddy has a faster truck( problem 2). my 390 runs good but it feel like its lacking something.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,544
Likes: 322
From: Harned, Ky
Ditch the 360 and go with the 390, 390's longer stroke and higher compression make better power plus 390 rods are stronger than 352-360 rods.
A good machine shop can fix the broken bolt problem but ether set of heads will work, I'd have the exhaust valves upgraded the larger 428cj size.
Ford had a nice 480-490 lift cam they used in 390GT, 428CJ and 68 427 hydraulic motors, it idled good, responded well, pulled strong to nearly 4500 rpm and worked with stock valve springs, mellings and perfect circle use to make copies of this cam.
Edelbrock Performer rpm is a good intake to use, takes nearly 50 lbs off the weight of the engine, has good street manners and performs well. block off the exhaust crossover to help cool the intake.
Ford retarded the cam timing in 71 or 72 so get a timing chain for a 69 model to help take the laziness out of the engine.
FE engines respond well the good flowing exhaust systems (headers).
It's difficult for a FE to compete against a nitrous sprayed small block chubby but it'll easily out last several nitrous sprayed chubbys.
A good machine shop can fix the broken bolt problem but ether set of heads will work, I'd have the exhaust valves upgraded the larger 428cj size.
Ford had a nice 480-490 lift cam they used in 390GT, 428CJ and 68 427 hydraulic motors, it idled good, responded well, pulled strong to nearly 4500 rpm and worked with stock valve springs, mellings and perfect circle use to make copies of this cam.
Edelbrock Performer rpm is a good intake to use, takes nearly 50 lbs off the weight of the engine, has good street manners and performs well. block off the exhaust crossover to help cool the intake.
Ford retarded the cam timing in 71 or 72 so get a timing chain for a 69 model to help take the laziness out of the engine.
FE engines respond well the good flowing exhaust systems (headers).
It's difficult for a FE to compete against a nitrous sprayed small block chubby but it'll easily out last several nitrous sprayed chubbys.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 0
From: Douglas, Georgia
Edelbrock Performer rpm is a good intake to use, takes nearly 50 lbs off the weight of the engine, has good street manners and performs well. block off the exhaust crossover to help cool the intake.
For a 360 without some major upgrades, the stock iron intake would actually perform better below 3500rpms.
The original poster has to have an honest look at where his engine is going to spend most of it's time.
Drew
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 676
Likes: 0
From: south east kansas
its in my Daily, that being said i do like to go cruise in it, as well as race my buddies here and there. i'm may just spend the money to build up the 390 i currently have if i go this rout this is what i'm thinking... 490ish cam, either have the heads done up or go to aluminium, headers, switch from the edelbrock preformer 390 to the preformer rpm, a holley 650 aluminium double pumper, i'm thinking a set of 3.70 gears would help the rear end and wouldn't be to bad on gas or a go back to the 3.00 gear that was stock.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,544
Likes: 322
From: Harned, Ky
Performer intake- idle to 5500 rpm
Performer RPM- 1500 to 5500 rpm, This manifold is a closer design match to Fords PI manifolds that are a good all around manifold.
Vacuum secondary is a better daily driver carb.
Depending on tire size (od) 3.25's are a nice daily driver street gear with a little extra getup, 3.50's is what a lot of 70's 4x4's came with, but would work better today with OD trans, with todays higher speed limits 3.70's are going to suck gas without a OD trans, but will launch good in a race.
Performer RPM- 1500 to 5500 rpm, This manifold is a closer design match to Fords PI manifolds that are a good all around manifold.
Vacuum secondary is a better daily driver carb.
Depending on tire size (od) 3.25's are a nice daily driver street gear with a little extra getup, 3.50's is what a lot of 70's 4x4's came with, but would work better today with OD trans, with todays higher speed limits 3.70's are going to suck gas without a OD trans, but will launch good in a race.
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 676
Likes: 0
From: south east kansas
i think i may update my heads( or go aluminum), put the 490ish edelbrock cam in, and get a perfomer rpm , and headers, with my 40 over bore should be a stout engine. being i'm running a C6 what stall and rear end gear would you guys think is best?
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 0
From: Douglas, Georgia
biggest issue with a 360 is compression ratio.
This will dictate cam to some extent. Rear end and stall are based on this whole package as well.
Just tossing heads/cam/intake at a 7:1 360 may not make it a powerful engine.
This will dictate cam to some extent. Rear end and stall are based on this whole package as well.
Just tossing heads/cam/intake at a 7:1 360 may not make it a powerful engine.
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 891
Likes: 0
From: Mayfield, KY
its in my Daily, that being said i do like to go cruise in it, as well as race my buddies here and there. i'm may just spend the money to build up the 390 i currently have if i go this rout this is what i'm thinking... 490ish cam, either have the heads done up or go to aluminium, headers, switch from the edelbrock preformer 390 to the preformer rpm, a holley 650 aluminium double pumper, i'm thinking a set of 3.70 gears would help the rear end and wouldn't be to bad on gas or a go back to the 3.00 gear that was stock.
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,544
Likes: 322
From: Harned, Ky
I believe the .040 over engine he's talking about is a 390.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,051
Likes: 0
From: Douglas, Georgia
Bonus!
I'd go custom cam and convertor that being the case. The off the shelf Edelbrock cam isn't great for all applications.
Rear gears are kinda dictated by your tastes in what you can stand on the highway.
I'd go custom cam and convertor that being the case. The off the shelf Edelbrock cam isn't great for all applications.
Rear gears are kinda dictated by your tastes in what you can stand on the highway.
Thread Starter
|
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 676
Likes: 0
From: south east kansas
yes it is. it has slightly milled heads, unknown cam, its 40 over with flat top cast pistons. my grandpa said it was built to 68 tbird specs ( dunno what he meant by that).
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
robm3308
FE & FT Big Block V8 (332, 352, 360, 390, 406, 410, 427, 428)
3
Jun 11, 2010 08:58 AM
slinger34
FE & FT Big Block V8 (332, 352, 360, 390, 406, 410, 427, 428)
8
Jun 28, 2009 10:53 AM
wildhog8
FE & FT Big Block V8 (332, 352, 360, 390, 406, 410, 427, 428)
6
May 17, 2007 06:31 PM
Renzen
FE & FT Big Block V8 (332, 352, 360, 390, 406, 410, 427, 428)
1
Sep 12, 2006 08:42 PM
Goodold71
FE & FT Big Block V8 (332, 352, 360, 390, 406, 410, 427, 428)
10
Jul 23, 2003 08:11 PM