Too much engine?
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Elder User
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 977
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From: Houston, TX
Too much engine?
Hey guys, I'm planning on replacing my knocking 360 and ran across this engine for sale in my area. Unfortunately I'm not a big racer or pro at all this lingo. I just like my truck and know how to work on it and keep it running. This was out of a truck for racing and I'm wondering if it would work as a semi-daily driver? Would it be worth the money to put in my truck? Maybe if I tuned it down a bit or something? Thoughts?
-J.Banks-
390 cubic inch motor with a 428 crank and it is bored .60 over, 11:1 pistons, triangle valve job and ported and polished, 750 cfm double pumper Holley, MSD ignition, High Rise intake, Headers with full 3" exhaust back to Delta Force Flowmaster mufflers, 4 core radiator, electric cooling fan, C6 transmission with 3750 rpm stall and TCI upgrade shift kit, B&M shifter, Edelbrock chrome valve covers, HD chrome air breather, 740 Hydraulic Cam, High Performance Valve Body, Dyno said 700-745Bhp.....
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 285
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From: Houston
JD,
There is no way you could drive that thing on the street very long. That compression ratio is a little much and so is taking a 390 block .060 over. I didn't look over the cam specs, but I bet it is too high for daily driving and that stall converter would be a pain on the street. Add in some rain or damp streets and you are dead or in a ditch. That motor was built to go down the track so many times and then be rebuilt. I don't think it would last 15K miles.
That being said, I have a couple of spare truck and I sure would want it for one of them, so I could use it as my "track" truck. I would paint my track truck to match my regular daily driver so everyone would think it is the same truck.
There is no way you could drive that thing on the street very long. That compression ratio is a little much and so is taking a 390 block .060 over. I didn't look over the cam specs, but I bet it is too high for daily driving and that stall converter would be a pain on the street. Add in some rain or damp streets and you are dead or in a ditch. That motor was built to go down the track so many times and then be rebuilt. I don't think it would last 15K miles.
That being said, I have a couple of spare truck and I sure would want it for one of them, so I could use it as my "track" truck. I would paint my track truck to match my regular daily driver so everyone would think it is the same truck.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 311
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.060 over on certain 390 blocks is not a problem ...I forget ,I think the '65 390 block is the "thicker walled" block ... the stall converter is a bit high , I run a 2800 stall behind my 460 ... wet streets are a blast ! unless you want to drive straight 
11:1 compression will need hi-test fuel , unless it has alum Edelbrock heads , then you might survive with just Premium fuel with proper timing ....
11:1 compression will need hi-test fuel , unless it has alum Edelbrock heads , then you might survive with just Premium fuel with proper timing ....
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 984
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From: Winnipeg, Manitoba
I've had several 390 blocks to .060 over without any problems at all. You'll find that much compression is over-kill on the street, and will need high octane fuel, and probably an octane additive for daily driving. You'd be better off rebuilding your 360. The 360 was and is a fine engine, basically a 390 with a slightly shorter stroke. Give it a mild over-bore, say .030 over, install new connecting rod bushings, pistons, get your heads checked at a machine shop for worn guides, valves, springs, and rocker shafts, change out your push-rods, a nice mild rv cam, machined crank with new bearings, and new bushings for your connecting rods, and you'll have a nice engine for years to come.
