advice
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New User
Joined: Feb 2006
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advice
I need some advice i have a 1970 f-100 with a 390.i have headers dual exhust alum valve covers, holley 750 4 barrell carb, new cam (not sure about the specs)I was just wondering what i sould do next?all advice would be greatly appreciated
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,600
Likes: 4
From: Iowa
Now is when the dollars to upgrades ratio goes up. Now it's time for internal upgrades.
Higher compression pistons, a good cam, port the cylinder heads, thin head gasket, adjustable valvetrain, the list goes on. And the sky's the limit. You could go nuts and get the stroker crank, CNC ported aluminum heads, roller cam....
Make it a point to find out exactly what cam you've got in that thing.
I mention a good cam because some of the cheap "performance" cams out there for FE's truely suck. Melling and Clevite fall into this category. If you want a good one, look to Crane or Comp.
Higher compression pistons, a good cam, port the cylinder heads, thin head gasket, adjustable valvetrain, the list goes on. And the sky's the limit. You could go nuts and get the stroker crank, CNC ported aluminum heads, roller cam....
Make it a point to find out exactly what cam you've got in that thing.
I mention a good cam because some of the cheap "performance" cams out there for FE's truely suck. Melling and Clevite fall into this category. If you want a good one, look to Crane or Comp.
Lead Driver
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,844
Likes: 6
From: Albuquerque
How about upgrading your cooling system. A new Aluminum radiator with an electric fan setup. Add an aluminum water pump or better yet...go with an electric water pump setup. Will certainly free up some hp that way.
Could look into an upgraded ignition system. A D.U.I. setup REALLY works well...and only takes about 3 amps to run.
With all the added electronics...you will want to upgrade the alternator too. The high for the day 60 amp should be replaced with a minimum 130 amp.
Hope you also upgraded to a dual roller timing chain when you installed the cam. If you did not...then that is something to consider.
Best with your FE!
biz
_______________________________
1976 F150 4x4 390FE 4spd 3.50s : Many of the above FE mods +...
Could look into an upgraded ignition system. A D.U.I. setup REALLY works well...and only takes about 3 amps to run.
With all the added electronics...you will want to upgrade the alternator too. The high for the day 60 amp should be replaced with a minimum 130 amp.
Hope you also upgraded to a dual roller timing chain when you installed the cam. If you did not...then that is something to consider.
Best with your FE!
biz
_______________________________
1976 F150 4x4 390FE 4spd 3.50s : Many of the above FE mods +...
FTE Leadership Emeritus
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 42,561
Likes: 423
From: Long Island USA
Yup, you probably need a compression bump to take advantage of the new cam.
You might be able to do with that thinner head gaskets without "too much" work
Otherwise, if you have points, you might want to consider going to electronics, and re-curving the distributor. Sometimes these things top out with not enough advance and you lose a lot of power that you didn't even know you had!
Be conservative in your upgrades. If you're not running hot, why upgrade your cooling system? If the bottom end is holding together and doesn't smoke or knock, why bother taking it apart to get a few more meazly HP out of it for quite a heck of a lot of money?
What heads do you have? Get a casting number, should be visible by the middle spark plugs.
You might be able to do with that thinner head gaskets without "too much" work
Otherwise, if you have points, you might want to consider going to electronics, and re-curving the distributor. Sometimes these things top out with not enough advance and you lose a lot of power that you didn't even know you had!
Be conservative in your upgrades. If you're not running hot, why upgrade your cooling system? If the bottom end is holding together and doesn't smoke or knock, why bother taking it apart to get a few more meazly HP out of it for quite a heck of a lot of money?
What heads do you have? Get a casting number, should be visible by the middle spark plugs.
