OK all you FE gurus... I finally got my tax refund, time to play

Right now, my 390 is bone stock. It came out of a '74 F-250 Camper Special, 2wd Super Cab.

I transplanted this engine into my '79 over a year ago and ran dual exhaust w/ glasspacks. According to the previous owner, the F-250 originally came w/ a 360. He blew it up and had a Ford dealer install the new 390 about 4 years ago. After that, he only rarely drove the truck, racking up about 2,500 miles in 3 years. The engine does run very strong, but the "external oiling system" is working well. I plan on fixing the leaks as I upgrade.

Anyways, I am planning on massaging this engine with my new found fortune. Please take a look at my list of upgrades and tell me what you think.

The truck is a "jack of all trades". I use it as an occasional (almost daily) driver. It makes a few trips a year to the mountains, to haul 3/4 cord of wood from the high country to home, about 70 miles of hilly, highway driving. I also love to play with it off-road. Oh, and don't forget dusting the occasional Chebby off of a stoplight. I think I want the engine to basically maintain the stock powerband, just put out more of it.

The list:

-DUI dizzy (street/strip)
-Edel performer intake
-Holley Truck Avenger 670 cfm
-Rear sump Moroso oil pan (mine is a front sump)
-Edel performer plus cam
-headers (unknown which type - got an oddball application)
-Centerforce clutch

Already installed:

-K&N open 14" air filter w/ precleaner
-dual exhaust w/ glasspacks
-Flex fan


Any other suggestions and/or recommendations regarding my current plan? I think that this will fill my needs, but I've never really bolted on any performance before, so I'm looking for some experienced guys to tell me whether or not I'm headed in the right direction.

Thanks!

 

sounds good! and if you ever get headers to fit holler my way. I don't know if it is possible without custom pipes.

 

Hehe... I was afraid somebody would say that.

 

as you might know i have a 1979 f159 4wd with a c6 and there is no room for any headers. There is no application for headers available. i called summit racing and the tech guy said there was a frame chage in 77 but i am not aware of it. i then called jegs and they didn't know. then i went to a shop for exhaust ideas. The exhast pipe would have to go underneath the tranny and he looked and said he didn't think it would clear the front drive shaft even. And as you know theres like no room between the frame and the engine already. I have decided no headers.

 

Bummer deal... well, thanks for the info. I'll do some pokin around anyway, see what I can come up with. I'll holler if I do happen to run across anything.

So is this a problem with all of the '78-'79 4X4 engines? Or just a big block issue?

Lack of headers wouldn't change my mind about this FE, I really like the truck and engine combo. Sure wish there were some way to make it work though.

 

I've heard from a couple people the edelbrock performer plus cam is a little to lumpy for street use and doesn't help with mileage. I've got a RV cam in my truck, and I don't have any complaints. A windage tray is another one, and since the oil pans gonna be off, it would be a good time to install one. They cost around 28.00 bucks through JEGS. An ARP oil pump driveshaft sure is nice turning a high volume oil pump. about 50.00 bucks for that set-up. Using 2 #90 holley jets to restrict oil flow to the top end and more to the bottom is a cheap 8.00 dollar upgrade. Hope this helps.

 

I would upgrade the intake from Performer to Performer RPM. Edelbrock claims 418 hp/427 torque with their RPM heads, intake and cam.

 

The performer plus cam is very small. It isn't lumpy at all. Are you talking about the performer RPM cam?

 

I like the Performer RPM Intake

I'd reccomend a more truck friendly cam, say a Crane 343941 or comparable. Especially since you want a more stock like powerband. The RPM (aptly named) runs better at higher RPMs.

What's your budget?

 

The budget isn't much of a factor, anything I don't get right now, I will get eventually. I don't plan to dig too deep in the engine, mainly for simplicity and reliability.

The reason I chose the Performer package over the Performer RPM is to maintain good low-rpm torque. This engine will rarely see over 4500 rpm, so I figured that would be the best bet. I also ruled out an RV cam in order to maintain some of that HP in the 3000+ range. I had a buddy w/ a '79, he had an RV cam in his 400 and I didn't like it. It did have gobs of low-end torque, but it was pretty much a dog over 3000 rpms. That's not what I'm looking for.

Gtex - I'm curious about your Crane cam recommendation. Is that comparable to the edel performer cam?

 

The Performer intake is good for a high torque build that you know yoiu will never build up a little more. If you think you might eventually port or upgrade the heads or go with a more radical cam (like the Edel RPM), then spend the extra for the Performer RPM intake. It won't hurt too much on the low RPM torque, but it will let your engine breath better up top if you make the other upgrades.

As for the cam. The Edelbrock is a long duration high lift single pattern cam. It's designed more for that high revving car motor.

A dual pattern cam, like the Crane is a little better for the mild 390 build.

 

Hey greg.. What kind of HP and Torque whould you think that combo would make? Say 750 holley.hedders.full length tubes
Crossover tube.... Edle RPM..and the 941 cam...

Massaged stock heads with CJ valves? C6/Dans 60

And maybe some new rockers and stands/shafts?

Thanks ..Russ!!!

Just got another 390 block..so I can drive and build too!!!

 

Sorry, I was thinking of the performer RPM cam. You probably didn't like your buddys 400 w/ RV cam, because its a 400.

 

hehe... could be. I've dusted a few 400's in the 1/4 mi. with my FE. What I can I say?

 

Have you considered the hedman fenderwell exit headers? I know, They only make them for the 429 and460. cut the flanges off of them and weld on some FE flanges. Haven't actualy done this but it seems feasable. just a thought.