I have a stock 428 balanced. It was rebuilt 5000 miles ago. I believe it is .60 over. I am going to drop it in a pickup I have. I want to put new Carb, Intake and headers. Can you guys recomend a good setup?

Also, I am wondering about the cam. I like a smooth running motor. Will an aftermarket cam give me a smooth idle, but increase my power?

The motor is going in an F250 Camper Special with a Bendix Gear.

Thanks for the help.

Josh

 

i would go for an edelbrock performer rpm intake and edelbrock or holley carb, depending on what you want to spend you can either get cheap headers for $100 or you can spend up tp $500 on ceramic coated headers, it just depends on what your looking for.

 

If your putting it into an F250 and want smooth pulling power, then go with an Edelbrock Performer ( not the rpm) a 600-650 cfm carb, and a cam like Crane's 272 degree energizer. There's also a smaller Energizer too that will work well. Don't recall waht its called though. Anything bigger than the 272 degree Energizer will have a rougher idle.

 

I really appreciate your replies.

From what I have read about headers, it seems to be worth the money to purchase expensive ceramic headers. I want to make sure the headers fit (I heard it can be difficult with auxillary fuel tank and bendix gear). Can anybody recomend headers that will go in as painlessly as possible?

I know it is an F250 and I should be concerned about pulling power, but I am more interested in a motor that is smooth quiet and fast. Do you still recomend the same cams? Do I need to change the valve springs? Will a pertronix ignition be suitable?

Thanks for all your help.

Josh

 

If you're gonna drive it regularly, then I wouldn't spend the extra money on coated headers. If it's gonna sit for extended periods of time and you live in a warm, humid climate, then the coated might be worth the extra cash. Headers on Ford trucks are relatively easy to install. I'm running stock springs on the Crane 272 Energizer, they were used but in good shape and spec'd close to what Crane's recommended springs were. In your case, the stock springs should be fine, you're not gonna be pushing the motor to the limits where new stiff springs are needed anyway. I would have a couple of them checked to make sure they will handle the extra lift of the 266 or the 272 Energizer cam will have though. The stock 4 bbl 390 springs will handle either of these cams. As for the Pertronix upgrade, I highly recommend it, I'm running both a Pertronix and the Pertronix II and both work great, but I can't tell the difference between the two in performance. With the Pertronix units I'm also running the Flamethrower coil and Ford racing 9mm wires. These will fit the 390 distributor by buying a cap adapter from your local parts house along with a late model V8 post type cap. The cap adapter to fit the big cap to the small distributor housing was used on late 70's to mid 80's Ford cars & trucks. It's sold as a kit thru Ford racing.

 

By the way, What is this "bendix gear" you keep reffering to ?

 

Thanks baddad457!

I plan on driving it pretty regularly. I live in Phoenix, AZ and the weather is warm, but not humid. What is the advantage of Ceramic Coated Headers?

The Bedix Power Steering Gear is a funky gear Ford used before going to the Saginaw Box. The gear was a direct bolt on for manual steering. It is shaped different and I heard it is difficult to get headers around it.

 

Ok, I understand now. There are a couple of advantages to ceramic coated headers. One is cooler underhood temps ( an advantage in AZ in summer) the other is corrosion resistence ( not likely a problem in AZ) One header MFG that may have an advantage in helping you fit them to your application ( with your steering box) is Ford Powertrain Applications ( www.fordpowertrain.com) Their headers are not cheap, but they are good. I'm running a set for a fullsize 68 Merc and haven't regretted the $420 purchace price.( I didn't have "elcheapo" options in this case) But these are nickel chromed, not ceramic plated. They offer ceramic coatings for more $$$ . The ones I have are shorty designs, they also have tri-y designs too. These may help in fitting your truck with it's bendix steering.

 

I checked Fordpowertrain. Definetly pricey, but probably the best solution. Running these older cars in Phoenix in August is heat intensive. I like the idea of having a cooler engine comparment.

Just a couple more questions for you. Is a 750 too much Carb? What do you think of the Eddlebrock Performer Cam? Is it similair to the crane?

 

a 750 isn't too much as long as it's a vacuum secondary carb. But in your case a 600-650 will do as well, if not better, in a low RPM application. The performer cam isn't much warmer than a stock 390/428 cam. Hardly worth bothering with. Even the 266 Energizer is better than that one. I don't know who makes Edelbrocks cams, but I'm pretty sure they don't make em themselves.

 

Thanks Baddad457. I am going to go with your recomendations. I did not realize Edlebrock did not make there own Cams. I checked out Summit Racing and the Crane Cam they have appears to come with it's own lifters. Is there any problem with using these lifters in conjunction with the stock push rods etc.?

 

Please use ceramic coated headers your starter motor will love you I'm using eldbrock intake & carb it works great.

Yo

 

The Crane lifters will work fine with your pushrods. Good luck on your project.

 

I have a 280H Comp cam in my 428. It idles fairly smooth but it does affect vacuum. Whenever you are trying to select a cam, you need to decide what rpm range you will operate in most of the time. What are you gonna use your rig for? Towing? Hauling? Everyday driving? Keep in mind the more radical the cam the higher rpm you have to go to get the power. Also the intake centerline will help you determine how your engine will idle. The lower the number the rougher it will be.(lope and so forth). The higher the number the smoother the idle. Most companies list the centerline for you. In my case, my 428 used to be in my 73 F250 4x4. I used the pickup primarily for hauling and driving up in the mountains. The rpm range for this cam is like 2000-6000 rpm. This is where I get my power. However it really doesn't start pulling good until about 2500rpm. After that I am haulin'. But, this cam wasn't really practical for what I was using the rig for. It didn't produce much lowend power(1500-2000) very well. I would of been better off selecting something different. But I had low range(4x4) so it helped up in the mountains. I would tell you the centerline but Im not exactly sure what it is. It's either 110 or 108. My granddad has a 300 duration cam with a 112 centerline in his 428. He has really good low and mid range power but I can take him up high. The cams Baddad427 mentioned to you should work just fine and dandy.

 

I have the Bendix gear. I highly reccomend FPA.

see installed pics here:

http://www.thedreyerfamily.com/69f25...FPAheaders.htm