$100 390
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: western ky
$100 390
i have a 360 in my truck, and it runs fine, its my daily driver. i dont' have $$ to spend hot rodding it, however i could use some more umph for hualing wood and such so.... i got a 390 engine that is somewhat built up, that someone wanted off their property (some unusual circumstances) anyway... i had thought of using the rotating assembly to make mine a 390, but that would have to be at a later time. i took it apart and the heads and intake are usable for sure. not so sure about the block and crank. the intake is stamped "edelbrock 390" i just need to find a 4bbl carb cheap somewhere. what i need to know is am i better off leaving my heads on in my truck or using the ones from the 390? and if i do that which set of pushrods/lifters would i use? the advantage of using the 390 heads is i could have them all ready to go and change everything in one day. i would still take mine out cuz i want to change the head gaskets, maybe machine the heads. i have no idea what the history of the other engine is, but it was quite obviously rebuilt. mine has only 70,000 miles, however the exhaust bolts are rusted so bad i can't get them off, preventing me from putting on a set of headers i have. the 390 heads have good threads for the screws.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,600
Likes: 4
From: Iowa
I'd go through it for sure. You could probably make some improvements while you're in there. The Edelbrock 390 is a relatively old intake, which indicates to me that this engine was built some time ago. I'd tear it down, measure everything out, recondition everything that needs it, and put it back together. You should get a degree wheel and take cam measurements (duration and lift), as well as measuring the piston compression height. I would also get a new gasket set for it. I could go on and on and on...
A Holley 600cfm vacuum secondary would probably be perfect for this motor IMO.
For those exhaust bolts, soak 'em in brake fluid, repeating every day for a week. Then try it.
A Holley 600cfm vacuum secondary would probably be perfect for this motor IMO.
For those exhaust bolts, soak 'em in brake fluid, repeating every day for a week. Then try it.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,447
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From: Littleton, CO
What are the casting numbers on the heads from your "new" 390? Are the tops of your "390" pistons stamped with anything like 030 or 060? That would indicate an overbore. Are you sure that you have a "390" by verifying the casting numbers or the stroke of the motor. Your best bet may be to have the 390 block cleaned and checked, the crank done and then put it together and drop the whole thing in where the 360 resides. Of course you will probably be looking at around $1500 for that, but then you have a nice 390.... Get us some head/crank casting numbers and we'll go from there. if you just want to put the "390" heads on, have at it, they are the same as your 360 heads...
--Mike
--Mike
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: western ky
the #'s on the heads are D2TEAA and 16 and 203. they have tags under the rocker cover one is 5H15 the other 5F30. i could have them cleaned resurfaced and the valves redone for less than $200, less than that if they don't need resurfaced. water came in the intake and theres some rust on the cam lobes, i don't think i can use it, and i don't think i'd use the block either. i'll keep the other rotating parts tho, i may be able to use them later, but for now i can only do the top end. i already have a set of headers in my garage and could get a used quadra-jet pretty cheap. i'm trying to set up an inexpensive one-day project that would get the truck breathing better, and cut a few pounds. a complete rebuild would have to be some other time. i would of course replace all the gaskets and valve seals.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,447
Likes: 1
From: Littleton, CO
Well then. Freshen up the D2's and drop those on with the aluminum manifold, that will do as you wish with regards to lightening and breathing. The heads are probably the same castings on your 360, so they will drop right on and you can reuse the push rods, just be sure to drop them in where they came out. You won't even need to change lifters, since you are not changing cams, again, don't disturb them so they don't get out of their bores. Another note, I don't think the quadra-jet will work for you, but I have been wrong before...
--Mike
--Mike
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