Stock 390 HP?
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Stock 390 HP?
Thought I'd give this question a try here as well,
I bought a stock '73 390 2 barrel and was wondering what the HP rating of these engines are. The door tag on my truck says my 360 has 175 so I'm curious about the comparison.
I bought a stock '73 390 2 barrel and was wondering what the HP rating of these engines are. The door tag on my truck says my 360 has 175 so I'm curious about the comparison.
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Originally Posted by Chevy_Eater
Thought I'd give this question a try here as well,
I bought a stock '73 390 2 barrel and was wondering what the HP rating of these engines are. The door tag on my truck says my 360 has 175 so I'm curious about the comparison.
I bought a stock '73 390 2 barrel and was wondering what the HP rating of these engines are. The door tag on my truck says my 360 has 175 so I'm curious about the comparison.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2005
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From: Mesquite, Texas
I don't have any documentaion on this now but my father bought a new 65 Thunderbird and I still remember him saying it was a 390hp 390ci. Maybe it was and maybe it wasnt thats just what I remember him saying
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From: iowa
remember in 1972 ratings went to SAE instead of gross. Sales, insurance, drag racing all influenced factory ratings back in the day. The 1970's were a dark age for performance, more so about mid 70's, the 302,351w barely around 140hp, the 460 had 212 in 1978, the 400 ranged from 160-180hp.
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In '66 a 2bbl 390 was rated at 265.
4bbl were, I think, 315 or 320.
Fairlane GT's, with 428 cams and better manifolds were rated 335.
There were no 390 horse 390s.
The only 390 horse rating I can recall is for the extremely rare hydraulic lifter 427 in a '68 Mustang.
All these were the old gross HP standard.
By '73 they went to a net standard, where the accessories like the water pump and fan and alternator, the air cleaner and stock mufflers were on the engine for its rating. Thus, the numbers went down.
A truck 2bbl 390 with lower compression, single exhaust, net ratings--probably like the previous post said, somewhere around 200.
4bbl were, I think, 315 or 320.
Fairlane GT's, with 428 cams and better manifolds were rated 335.
There were no 390 horse 390s.
The only 390 horse rating I can recall is for the extremely rare hydraulic lifter 427 in a '68 Mustang.
All these were the old gross HP standard.
By '73 they went to a net standard, where the accessories like the water pump and fan and alternator, the air cleaner and stock mufflers were on the engine for its rating. Thus, the numbers went down.
A truck 2bbl 390 with lower compression, single exhaust, net ratings--probably like the previous post said, somewhere around 200.
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From: Long Island USA
From my '79 Motor's Truck Repair manual:
'73 390, 2bbl, 8.2:1 was 161HP@3600, 299ft/lbs@2000
'71 390, 2bbl, 8.6:1 was 255HP@4400, 376ft/lbs@2600
In '72, they changed from GROSS numbers to NET numbers, which is the reason I gave you the '71 figures... chances are, the '73 probably puts out the same gross numbers as the '71.
Here's some more from a Motor's Automotive manual, going back to '67:
'67 390, 2bbl, 9.5:1 was 265/275HP@4400, 401/405ft/lbs@2600 - there were two different ones listed, same compression
'67 390, 4bbl, 10.5:1 was 315/320/335HP@4600/4800 and 427@2600/2800 - there were three different versions.
'73 390, 2bbl, 8.2:1 was 161HP@3600, 299ft/lbs@2000
'71 390, 2bbl, 8.6:1 was 255HP@4400, 376ft/lbs@2600
In '72, they changed from GROSS numbers to NET numbers, which is the reason I gave you the '71 figures... chances are, the '73 probably puts out the same gross numbers as the '71.
Here's some more from a Motor's Automotive manual, going back to '67:
'67 390, 2bbl, 9.5:1 was 265/275HP@4400, 401/405ft/lbs@2600 - there were two different ones listed, same compression
'67 390, 4bbl, 10.5:1 was 315/320/335HP@4600/4800 and 427@2600/2800 - there were three different versions.
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From: Long Island USA
Originally Posted by fordeverpower
a 37% reduction, thats steep. Seems like 161hp is close compared with other engines, i bet the 360 and 390 have similar hp rating.
by the way, I have no way of verifying these figures from Motor's, in some places there are obvious misprints.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Iowa
Well, keep in mind the rediculously small camshaft used, the low compression, and the low-rpm's where peak torque was made. Add to that the restrictive truck exhaust manifolds, and 2 barrel carburetor. Then, the numbers start to make sense. The cylinder heads never had a chance to do what they were designed to.
A few months ago, I had the opportunity to drive a guy's F250 from down the road. It has a bone-stock 360, truck manifolds, 2 barrel carb, and all. Starts up RIGHT NOW, and runs great, but has no power. I made him a custom throttle bracket, and we messed with the timing a little, and that helped a little. But still, the word dog could be used. So I believe those numbers. Then he had a chance to drive mine.
That's why we're here on the FE forum, to get those numbers up!
A few months ago, I had the opportunity to drive a guy's F250 from down the road. It has a bone-stock 360, truck manifolds, 2 barrel carb, and all. Starts up RIGHT NOW, and runs great, but has no power. I made him a custom throttle bracket, and we messed with the timing a little, and that helped a little. But still, the word dog could be used. So I believe those numbers. Then he had a chance to drive mine.
That's why we're here on the FE forum, to get those numbers up!
Last edited by rusty70f100; Oct 27, 2005 at 02:54 PM.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Brentwood,CA
yep krewat has the right specs. those were the final years before they killed the fe.
now what is really sad is looking at the numbers for a 391 ft engine.
way less hp and a few less torque.
now what is really sad is looking at the numbers for a 391 ft engine.
way less hp and a few less torque.