390FE,

Yeah, I could be wrong about the amount of 390 parts / prices, but I never saw much in the ads in rod mags, mostly just sbc and sbf and BBC.

I'm sure you would agree that there is a greater range of sources for parts, and parts available for the aforementioned small blocks, than the 390.

Doesn't say the 390 isn't as good, just says that a lot of Big Blocks, like the 390/428, Buick 455, Olds 455, Pontiac 455, AMC 390/401 etc., don't have as big a chunk of the high perf., market, as do the SBF/SBC .

 

AMC's V8 blocks were all small blocks. 290 thru 401 was all the same block size. It was smaller and lighter than a small block Chevy.

 

What would you want? It's all out there. Lets see, Keith Black, Silvolite, TRW, Ross, and Probe all make pistons for 390's. Edelbrock, Dove, and Blue Thunder make cylinder heads. Genesis and Robert Pond make blocks. Edelbrock, Blue Thunder, Dove, and Weiand all make intakes. Scat makes various cranks, both stock replacement and stroker. Various places make rods. Cams are made for FE's by about everybody. The fact is, in this day and age you can build an FE using NOT ONE SINGLE PART originally produced by Ford. Of course, Ford did produce quite a few good parts for this motor. The number of possible combinations are staggering. You could build an FE with a combination of parts that nobody has done yet! Also be aware that the above is not a complete list of who makes parts for FE's.

The other thing is, if all you're going to build is the simple 400hp 390, you dont need a lot of it. Forged flat tops, port your heads, a decent cam, maybe an aluminum intake, you're there. Of course there's more to it, like some possible valvetrain mods and ARP rod bolts, but that's essentially all there is to it.

 

Taken from Ford Motorsports Crate Engine web site. HP Starts @ 500

Part Number M-6007-D514*
Displacement 520
HP 625
Torque 600 ft./lbs.
Key Feature Cubes & horsepower
Comp. Ratio 9.8:1
Heads SCJ Super Cobra Jet
Camshaft A514 Mechanical Roller Cam
Crank 4.30" Stroke Cast Crank
Pistons 4.390" Forged
Intake Victor Jr.
Distributor Ford Billet Distributor
Valve Cover Ford Racing Polished
Oil Pan Production
Waterpump V Belt
Conversion Fits Fox body cars and Cobra replicas
Availability Available Now
MSRP $7,995.00
Return to the Crate Engine Home NOTE: specs may vary

 

V-10 Triton or a Viper motor. Either with a 6 speed trans.

 

I don't disagree, you maybe able to build a 390 without, using one fomoco part, but my question again, would be that perf. 390 parts would, in all probability be more pricey, than similar parts for a 351 sbf or, certainly for a chevy sbc.

If the price difference is insignificant, than if a guy wants a built 390, that's the way he should go.

If the price difference is significant, than you would have to think, how much you wanted a 390, versus, a small block ford.

 

The difference is not significant. I would even argue that the 390 may even be cheaper.

Machining will be a wash. Same with either motor.

With the FE, you can run the stock heads, block, crank, rods, and even the intake if you wish, and still make 400hp. You port the heads yourself. Like I said, not hard or expensive.

Now I haven't built 400hp smallblocks, but from what I understand, you pretty much need aftermarket heads. There's some $$$.

Crane Cams cost the same. Some TRW pistons cost the same, others cost more for the 351! Go take a look on Summit.

At best, the 390 will be cheaper. At worst, a wash.

 

im with rusty on this one. 400hp out of a 390 is pretty easy and can be done on 87 octane even though the dynamic cr is 8.5+ and the stock heads when ported out flow edelbrock heads and the stock 4bbl manifold will outflow a edelbrock performer.