It's Alive!!!!!!
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Elder User
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: UTI student
It's Alive!!!!!!
I really want to thank you guys who have helped me in the rebuild of my 390. Special thanks to: Putt, Bear 45/70, LXman1, hiball3985 and MBdiagman and anyone else I forgot to mention.
I put a 40 over 390 with 8.5 pistons, Edelbrock heads and intake, Holley 750, MSD pro-billet dist, 6AL, Blaster 2 and 8.5 wires and other parts from Crane, Melling and too many other companies to remember right now. I've been having carb problems for the last month and you guys really helped me with it. Well today I fixed the problem. I really don't know what it was but I reset the floats for the 5th or 6th time and changed the advance springs and she purrs like a kitten. Now I can start with the rest of the truck. I love this site.
I put a 40 over 390 with 8.5 pistons, Edelbrock heads and intake, Holley 750, MSD pro-billet dist, 6AL, Blaster 2 and 8.5 wires and other parts from Crane, Melling and too many other companies to remember right now. I've been having carb problems for the last month and you guys really helped me with it. Well today I fixed the problem. I really don't know what it was but I reset the floats for the 5th or 6th time and changed the advance springs and she purrs like a kitten. Now I can start with the rest of the truck. I love this site.
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From: UTI student
I have the RPM intake. I really don't know what cam or the specs cause I can't find the paper work. I ordered a short block crate job. I do know it is close to stock idle wise. I really good vacuum and ALOT of tire smoke when I hit the gas and I run 38"x15.50x16.5
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Texas
That's pretty impressive to spin those tires. What tranny and gears are you running? It's probably a Melling cam. Not sure why I think that. guess I read somewhere before that some crate FEs come with a mild Melling cam.
What is your timing set at, initial and at full advance?
What is your timing set at, initial and at full advance?
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Elder User
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From: UTI student
I know the oil pump was melling. The cam could be also. I have a C-6 and what I believe are either 4.56 or 4.88 gears. Initial timing is set at 12* and I haven't checked full advance yet. I just changed the springs and bushing tonight and the auto hobby shop on base is closed on Monday. Tomorrow I will go over there to set the idle mixture screws and idle with the vacuum gauge and check timing. I put the silver advance bushing in and two blue springs in the MSD if that helps. I had the blue bushing and the two light silver springs which brought my advance in way too fast. It's not perfect yet but I feel safe driving it to work tomorrow. I was thinking about putting the Crane roller rockers on it. They run a little over $400 iirc. Any opinion on those? once I have adjustable rockers I want to switch the cam. Then on to other things. I'm trying really hard to stay away from blowers and nitrous. Would be nice to have both though.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
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From: Texas
You might look at the Erson complete rocker-shafts-stands. They cost more than the Crane setup, but you can see why if you look at the stands. I had some issues with my ersons, but they took care of them at no cost to me (and it could very well have been something I did). Others run the Ersons with really big cams/springs with no issues.
here are some good pics of the Ersons on my FE446: http://www.thedreyerfamily.com/69f25...valmay2004.htm
here are some good pics of the Ersons on my FE446: http://www.thedreyerfamily.com/69f25...valmay2004.htm
Lead Driver
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From: Texas
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Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: iowa
melling and clevite make most of the panzee cams used in crate motors and at engine shops. I tore out the cam in my 390 that was rebuilt with an unknown rv grind. I tracked it down to be a clevite cam with fomoco stock specs. Go figure!
I would be changing that hog before roller rockers. Heck on my 1979 I didn't even move the engine 1 inch to do a cam swap. I Did take out my radiator and tranny cooler of course.
I would be changing that hog before roller rockers. Heck on my 1979 I didn't even move the engine 1 inch to do a cam swap. I Did take out my radiator and tranny cooler of course.
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From: UTI student
I still have a slight off idle hesitation but I really think it's timing now. I still need to get to the auto hobby shop today. I want to get the Crane 942 (I think thats the kit) but I've never installed a cam by myself and I'm kinda scared I'll mess something up. I had to ask an old timer who works there a few questions when I built the motor and he asked why I put Edelbrock heads and intake on. I can imagine asking him to help with my Crane cam install. Anyway I really like the Erson rockers. Just wish the budget allowed it right now.
GTEX you weren't kidding about those wires. I don't have all those wires because I didn't get the part in your pic. Forgot what it was called. I have very few wires under my hood thankfully. Less stuff to catch on fire.
GTEX you weren't kidding about those wires. I don't have all those wires because I didn't get the part in your pic. Forgot what it was called. I have very few wires under my hood thankfully. Less stuff to catch on fire.
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If you are going to go with a much bigger cam than stock, you will probably want to put 390 car/360 type flat top pistons in that engine. More compression and cam will acutally get you more usefullness out of those heads.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Iowa
As much as I do like the 343941 cam and higher compression pistons, I wouldn't tear apart a perfectly running newly built motor to do it. I say, run it 20,000 miles, then decide if you want to upgrade. You may decide you like the motor as it is.
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From: Long Island USA
Good advice Rusty, you should really run that motor for a while to make sure it holds together before going out and changing things.
Even with the mild cam, that motor is breathing much better because of the heads. Valve size is bigger, at least the exhaust, I know.
Going to a much bigger cam (like the 941), you'll need to raise the compression. If you can roast the tires now, I don't think you have a torque defficiency
Even with the mild cam, that motor is breathing much better because of the heads. Valve size is bigger, at least the exhaust, I know.
Going to a much bigger cam (like the 941), you'll need to raise the compression. If you can roast the tires now, I don't think you have a torque defficiency
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From: UTI student
I may change the cam and pistons after november when I get out of the military. Right now I'm trying to get it to hold together long enough to make that trip. I kept the old 33's just for the up comming trip. Unless you guys think the lower RPM's of the 38's will net better gas milage on the highway. The only thing left to worry about is the tranny. It seems like it's slipping sometimes. Sometimes when I gas it up to 2500 rpm's I'm really not moving fast. Other times I hit 2500 rpms and it's spinning the tires almost the entire time. I just need it to hold together for a few more weeks.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Iowa
I'd contact a good transmission shop and have 'em adjust it. I suspect the intermediate band is out of adjustment. It is a C6, right? Mine was like that, and a simple intermediate band adjustment fixed it right up.