Quick ?
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2005
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Quick ?
Hey Guys,
I've got a 390 in my 71 shorty and im curious of what kinda numbers i should be getting. The guy i bought the truck from said the motor was out of a old station wagen. He also rebuild it stock before he wedged it in the truck. The date codes on the motor components are all over the place : starter was a 69, heads are 72, intake is a 68. so what am i looking at as far as comp ratio hp and tq
the few goodies ive added:
-MSD blaster 2 coil
-Splitfire sparkplugs 45 gap (is that what i should be running?)
-Dynomax Headers
-Flowtech purple hornies for mufflers(glasspacks) with no pipe after yet.
-Replaced points with stock for now
oh yeah.....2bbl carb.....almost forgot
I've got a 390 in my 71 shorty and im curious of what kinda numbers i should be getting. The guy i bought the truck from said the motor was out of a old station wagen. He also rebuild it stock before he wedged it in the truck. The date codes on the motor components are all over the place : starter was a 69, heads are 72, intake is a 68. so what am i looking at as far as comp ratio hp and tq
the few goodies ive added:
-MSD blaster 2 coil
-Splitfire sparkplugs 45 gap (is that what i should be running?)
-Dynomax Headers
-Flowtech purple hornies for mufflers(glasspacks) with no pipe after yet.
-Replaced points with stock for now
oh yeah.....2bbl carb.....almost forgot
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,600
Likes: 4
From: Iowa
Out of a station wagon and he rebuilt it stock... any number of things could have happened when he rebuilt it.
For instance, he could have put low compression truck pistons in it. He could have changed the cam timing. You dont know.
Anyway, I'll assume the best case scenario. If he rebuilt it as a 390 2v car motor, used the correct pistons, and a Fel-Pro rebuild kit, you're probably at about 265hp, 415ft-lbs, and 9.4:1 compression. You're really being held back by the 2 barrel carb. Put a 4 barrel intake and Holley 600cfm on there, and you're probably around 300hp. The headers are *really* helping this thing out.
For instance, he could have put low compression truck pistons in it. He could have changed the cam timing. You dont know.
Anyway, I'll assume the best case scenario. If he rebuilt it as a 390 2v car motor, used the correct pistons, and a Fel-Pro rebuild kit, you're probably at about 265hp, 415ft-lbs, and 9.4:1 compression. You're really being held back by the 2 barrel carb. Put a 4 barrel intake and Holley 600cfm on there, and you're probably around 300hp. The headers are *really* helping this thing out.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,600
Likes: 4
From: Iowa
If your heads are 1972, then they probably have the hardened exhaust valve seats. You shouldn't need to put lead in. Run unleaded and be happy. Heck, I run 89 octane 10% ethanol gas in mine, but I have earlier heads with hardened exhaust valve seat inserts.
Just to be absolutely sure, take a look between the center two spark plugs. The casting number should be there. If it's something like D2TE or D2TE-AA you're good to go.
Just to be absolutely sure, take a look between the center two spark plugs. The casting number should be there. If it's something like D2TE or D2TE-AA you're good to go.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2005
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At what point do i really need to be worried about really beefing up the frame? Just looking under the hood makes me feel like i need to grab a welder and get to work. I was thinking about crossbrace under the bed and boxing the frame in around the motor with straight braces across the rails. I really have never owned anything with such a big motor. Everytime a see the hp and tq numbers next to each other i think this is a small diesel motor.
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Junior User
Joined: Sep 2005
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so i dont have to worry about twisting the frame at all? Wow. What intake would you suggest for the truck. Something in me wants to go cast iron. Any good Cast Iron intakes that i can find easily?
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: Eastern Pa
The cast ones are ok but you need a herculean effort to lift them on and off and then you have to get a hernia repair. The Edelbrock performers aren't anything super but they are ok, readily available and light. The older F427 manifolds are good but hard to find.
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Originally Posted by 71F100/390
so i dont have to worry about twisting the frame at all? Wow. What intake would you suggest for the truck. Something in me wants to go cast iron. Any good Cast Iron intakes that i can find easily?
Like tastyklair said, the iron 4bbl is a killer to lift. However, it's just as good, basically, as an Edelbrock Performer.
The Edelbrock Performer RPM might be TOO much for a stock-cammed engine.
And an F427 is probably overkill
I'd suggest either a cast-iron 4bbl from the junkyard (cheap!) or an Edelbrock Performer. Or, if you might be going to a bigger cam later, an Edel RPM.
Read up on intake gasket leaks with aftermarket intakes (do a search) and if you do go with an Edelbrock, make sure the bolts are the right length (and use washers on the aluminum).
Keep us informed!
art k.
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Junior User
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Thanks Guys....while im here ill tell you my plans. The motor will keep basically a stock 390 rotating assembly. I plan on putting a good low torque cam in her(still trying to find the right one). Roller valve train (hydro of coarse). 4bbl intake with a Holly 650. MSD 6 ignition box with optical trigger distributor. And im going to put a bug catcher coming out of the hood. It wont work too well for ram air but the air will be a hell of a lot colder goin into the motor. Im going to have a 4" cowl that will go on with zeus fastiners to keep rain out. Few other things but nothing power wise.
