no thank you. 
Sorry(?) guess I'll stop being a wise...guy.
390 Rebuild
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Freshman User
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390 Rebuild
Hey guys. Recently aquired a '66 with a 390, bored 30 over. I'd like to stroke it, but have asked around and the consensus seems to be that its a "waste of time." Any opinions? Thanks in advance!
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
gashog, I think he can get as good an answer on this forum as the other. You will have readers posting their opinions there and here.
havoxx33, What is the end result that you are looking for? Are you planning on racing the truck? use it for towing? a daily driver?
Give us a little bacon to chew on.
John
havoxx33, What is the end result that you are looking for? Are you planning on racing the truck? use it for towing? a daily driver?
Give us a little bacon to chew on.
John
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
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Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Near Fresno, California
Is a 410 better than a 390? Stroke is the only differance between the two. Cubic inches are cubic inches, the more the better. Longer stroke normally gives you more torque down low, but you will match the cam to the engine so you get to pick the RPM it performs the best.
You will also need to work over your intake, heads, and exhaust to make use of more cubes - it just depends on how much you want to spend.
Of course, the more horses you have the bigger your feed bill.
You will also need to work over your intake, heads, and exhaust to make use of more cubes - it just depends on how much you want to spend.
Of course, the more horses you have the bigger your feed bill.
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From: Texas
putting in a stroker crank to a 390 won't gain much. your actual displacement of a stock 390 is 386. (4.05 bore, 3.75 stroke) bored to .030 over its now a 392, and if you took it to .060 over, you'd have a 398; basicly a 400. thats half way to your goal for the cost of new pistons and a bore.
the thing is, 20 more cubic inches is only 5% more displacement on a 390. that ain't much. Especialy considering its stroked inches, so you will see most of that power in the form of torque, with little to no horsepower gains.
If it was me, I could find a dozen even ways to gain 5% more power, and probably do all of them for the cost of stroking the block. Better oil, freeer exaust, indexed plugs, warmer thermostat, better intake, better filter, hotter spark, electronic ignition, underdrive pully. heck, switching to an electric fan is suppose to give 5% more ponys.
Now if it was a 352/360, they might be worth stroking if a rebuild was needed anyway. I can't see opening up a good 390 for a mere 5% gain
the thing is, 20 more cubic inches is only 5% more displacement on a 390. that ain't much. Especialy considering its stroked inches, so you will see most of that power in the form of torque, with little to no horsepower gains.
If it was me, I could find a dozen even ways to gain 5% more power, and probably do all of them for the cost of stroking the block. Better oil, freeer exaust, indexed plugs, warmer thermostat, better intake, better filter, hotter spark, electronic ignition, underdrive pully. heck, switching to an electric fan is suppose to give 5% more ponys.
Now if it was a 352/360, they might be worth stroking if a rebuild was needed anyway. I can't see opening up a good 390 for a mere 5% gain
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: Near Fresno, California
A 410 is nothing more than a 390 with a 428 crank. Overbores are possible, but only after a good sonic check - not all blocks can be bored very far over.
The stroke for a 390 is actually 3.784, which makes it a 390, not a 386. There is a book by Steve Christ "How to Rebuild Big Block Ford Engines" that is the bible on the FE blocks - you can buy it from one of our sponsors, or from Amazon. You should get a copy if you are serious about building a FE.
Yes you can and should do a lot of things to get a similar gain in power, but if you want that gain plus more, you have to stroke it. There is no substitute for displacement.
Again I urge you to check out the FE forum - they have members with computer engine programs who will predict your horsepower/rpm limits for whatever combination you can come up with.
I have a 390 that has served me well, but it is tired and I am going to a EFI 300 six and C6 in my truck - I no longer need the horses, and object to the feed bill.
The stroke for a 390 is actually 3.784, which makes it a 390, not a 386. There is a book by Steve Christ "How to Rebuild Big Block Ford Engines" that is the bible on the FE blocks - you can buy it from one of our sponsors, or from Amazon. You should get a copy if you are serious about building a FE.
Yes you can and should do a lot of things to get a similar gain in power, but if you want that gain plus more, you have to stroke it. There is no substitute for displacement.
Again I urge you to check out the FE forum - they have members with computer engine programs who will predict your horsepower/rpm limits for whatever combination you can come up with.
I have a 390 that has served me well, but it is tired and I am going to a EFI 300 six and C6 in my truck - I no longer need the horses, and object to the feed bill.
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Thanks for the input...I didn't realize it would be such a minimal gain. I was thinking about an electric fan, I've heard they do add a bit more 'umph'. How about an electric H2O pump, anyone heard good or bad on those? I don't think I am going to race it, she'll be more of a show-girl with an attitude.
Postmaster
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From: Littleton, CO
Originally Posted by havoxx33
I don't think I am going to race it, she'll be more of a show-girl with an attitude.
What does your current 390 have? If it's running regular heads and a 2-barrel carb, there's about $1500 worth of aluminum goodies you can bolt on and increase your umph for maximum bang for the buck... Like John said, gives us more to work with and we can spend as much as you would like 
--Mike
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As of now the plans are a 4-speed and 4.11 posi in the rear. New heads, cam, carb, intake...the goods. As far as dollars go, its not much of an issue (within reason). Project is for my pop. Currently it has a 4-barrel, mediocre intake, and a bit beefier cam and springs. The guy I bought the truck from basically half-azzed it when he put the engine together, cam bearings are pitted pretty well, oil was black as night, running way too fat, etc. So I'm just starting over from scratch basically.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
xx33, You are sounding like a drag truck is in your mind. I get really amused at show vehicles. I see a vehicle with $8,000.00 worth of engine in it that is a trailer queen. It only runs between where it's parked and loading and unloading for shows. You can doll up a 352 and call it a 390 at the show or a 410 for that matter, no one can look and tell the difference. 
Running a way too rich gas mix will make the oil black, soot is coming off the cylinder walls and mixing with the oil.
Pops probably has a limit on what he is willing to spend. You really need to figure that out first so you can make a plan, and have a budget to work with.
You can't get that kind of advise on that ol FE forum.
John
Running a way too rich gas mix will make the oil black, soot is coming off the cylinder walls and mixing with the oil.
Pops probably has a limit on what he is willing to spend. You really need to figure that out first so you can make a plan, and have a budget to work with.
You can't get that kind of advise on that ol FE forum.
John
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2000
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From: Sun River St. George
For tons of information on FE's you may want to drop over to the engine forum. I'd recommend you have a look at what a 460 could do for that old 66. These engines are plentiful, cheap and have plenty of power. I have both a fe and a 460 and honestly can say stuff for the 460 is more readily available. Neither of these engines are economical but lots of fun!
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