redline for a 390
redline for a 390
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,113
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From: the side of a mountain
i have a 390 C6 3.50s and 32" tires when i had my foot to the floor the tranny shifted to 2nd at 55. it was probably more like 60 and probably around 5500-5600. if it hadent shifted right where it did i was going to let off becuase it was screamin and i was going WAY too fast for the 20mph mountain road i was on. but i found a straight away and couldent resist.
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 126
Likes: 1
5600???? I didn't think a 390 would be safe over 2500. ROFLMAO Really though... It depends on your build. My 396 (.030 over 390) will easily turn 7500 and that's with a Hydraulic cam. Most people think they will EXPLODE at over 4500. A bone stock 390 will usually float the lifters(Hyd.) at around 5000 - 5500. Add a few goodies and they will "scream" way past 5600. JMHO. - Tyqmonn.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,658
Likes: 4
From: "Islander"
You must of used that new math again, rpm's at 60 mph on a C-6 in second with a 1.46:1 2nd gear ratio with 3.50 gears, this is without allowing for converter slip so add 250 or 300+ rpm's, may be more with a loose converter call it 3,520 rpm's at 60 mph. This will get you 58.66 rpm's per/mph, so 5,000 rpm's will get you 85 mph. Tire growth will lower your rpm's as speed increases, a small percentage.
I have pulled 2nd with a 414 to 5,400 rpm's, this is 92 mph.
.....=o&o>.....
I have pulled 2nd with a 414 to 5,400 rpm's, this is 92 mph.
.....=o&o>.....
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,056
Likes: 8
From: Union, Washington
Most car motors are good to 4500 to 5500 depending on whether it is 2 or a 4 barrel.
Truck motors, because of the cam generally die by 4000 to 4500.
All these engines will rev higher but are not accerating as fast as they were below the max power point. Mainly you are beating the motor to death for nothing.
Truck motors, because of the cam generally die by 4000 to 4500.
All these engines will rev higher but are not accerating as fast as they were below the max power point. Mainly you are beating the motor to death for nothing.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,658
Likes: 4
From: "Islander"
With banging 5,500 on occasion you have more guts than me, I did that with a 473K mile 360 with cam, headers, intake 4 barrel but didn't care as the 414 was ready to install. I wanted to blow it up. You might be beyond the tq and hp useful operating range of that motor besides shortening it's life ten fold.
.....=o&o>.....
.....=o&o>.....
Postmaster
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 3,934
Likes: 0
From: iowa
its best to keep a stock 390 at or under 4500 rpm. At that point your are making more noise than anything. my current 390 has a 5800rpm limit wether its the lifters or springs, i do not know.
Had the truck out today for a top speed run, got 4400 out of 3rd gear with 29.5 and 3.50's.
Had the truck out today for a top speed run, got 4400 out of 3rd gear with 29.5 and 3.50's.
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,056
Likes: 8
From: Union, Washington
I don't rev my 1984 stock 460 past 4500 either. Why?, because it goes flat at about 4600, so there is no point in it. My other truck with 390 in a 1968 F250 (just don't much use it any more) has a 9 to 1 CR, GT heads, intake, carb and cam plus dual exhaust has no problem with 5500, stock the thing died at just over 4500 also.
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 6,658
Likes: 4
From: "Islander"
Would that be with manual or auto? At 4,400 without tire growth and manual trans your at 110 mph. No brakes required when you backed out of it, felt like you hit the silk with a Cd. of a low .60 to a high of 1.0 for a truck. As one member stated with OD (which was 3,700 at 100) he should pull redline with a 390, must of been in a vacuum? Sounds like another Bonnieville dream that failed.
You didn't find top end, you were just removing carbon.
.....=o&o>.....
You didn't find top end, you were just removing carbon.
.....=o&o>.....
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,056
Likes: 8
From: Union, Washington
It doesn't really matter how many revs you can pull in 1st and 2nd, because pushing a full size truck thru the air at 100 plus tanks a bunch of horsepower. 120 with a stock truck motor is pretty much impossible and even with a modded motor, it better be better than 450. My stock 1969 Torino Cobra with 428CJ would pull and honest 6000 rpm in high gear with 3 to 1 rear gears, but it was with short tires. But then this body style was pretty slippery, which a truck isn't.