Hey All,

So, I'm getting my little ducks in a row to rebuild the 390FE in my truck and I'm looking for some advice.

Currently have running; stock intake D5TE 9425 MB, stock heads D2TEA, stock block incl stock cam and Flowmaster Headers previous owner installed.

Looking to use the below kit for the rebuild and go to a higher torque cam - https://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-ENGINE-R...19.m1438.l2649

Questions are going to be plentiful, but bearing in mind I'm trying to do this on somewhat of a budget and will be doing the work myself, should I change out the existing heads and intake? I've been reading a ton of stuff about them online and the intake doesn't look to be that great but the heads don't look to be that bad? Obviously have to have them all off and see what I'm working with, but would like some advice so I can start to budget.

Won't turn down advice, it's always been free for me so far!

Thanks!

 

Heads and manifold will be fine as long as the heads are in good condition. Whatever cam you get, be sure to get the springs and anything else they recommend. Stock springs won't take much more lift.

Pistons: Flat top, ok, but the real question is compression height. As OEM in a 1975 pickup motor, they used the '66-'67 Mercury 410 spec piston (if not the actual pistons from the old parts bin) These pistons had a compression height of approx. 1.66". That leaves the piston about .100 down the hole. Perfect for a low compression truck motor. (well, perfect for Ford) Flat tops with an approx. compression height of 1.77" should give you 9.5ish compression with those heads, depending on combustion chamber size. (iirc, you need to measure things to get your actual numbers)

Back to the intake: A Performer intake will perform better and weighs probably 50lbs less than the iron stocker.

Stand by for more, this is a popular topic.

 

Thanks for the reply and the info. Looking at the prices of new heads and new intakes, think it makes me a lot happier to put a Performer or StreetMaster intake on than it does to find a new set of heads!

Looking forward to more good advice coming on this build project I'm setting to get into!

 

 

Yeah I appreciate budget being a relative term but I'm trying to get the most bang for my buck I guess.
Sorry, should've included in there that I have a Holley 650cfm 4 bbl carb on there already. Came with the truck and I've rebuilt that and tried to tune it to get the most from it. Did have to buy the trans kick down bracket and springs for it but that's another story.
Looking at used intakes from DSC Motorsports, don't know if anyone's had dealings with him?
Thinking that rebuild kit I posted above will give me some extra grunt.

 

What kind of intakes - aluminum or iron? Aluminum would be the best way to go but be careful with used stuff, you really don't know for sure the condition. It might have been cut down or stripped out threads or ?.

 

Their not very descriptive about that kit
Don't say what piston comp height is
Which timing set does it have, early model or later retarded smog set. Ford changed them in 72
Looks like steel shim head gaskets, not something I'd want to use today.
Cam is .488/.510 lift, stock valve springs coil bind around .500 lift so a set of aftermarket springs would be needed that they don't mention.

They would have to answer a few questions before I would order the kit, especially about the valve springs that cam would need.
Don't let anyone convince you stock valve springs will work with a cam having over .500 lift.

 

Ditto on Piston advise , you need the specs on those Flat tops .
As for Cam , what are your plans for the Truck ? Weekend toy , Hauler ? daily driver ..... Personally I would get a kit with out a cam and buy one from a well know Name brand .
I did this with my 390 build and getting a quality cam from Lunati was almost dollar for dollar with the cam that came with the kit .