390 oiling Question
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 40
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From: Washington
390 oiling Question
Was reviewing the inside diameter of the oil pump delivery passage and the diameter of the passage from the oil pump mounting on the block to the filter mounting on the block. My question is why is this passage so small? I thought that the ford engineers were using it as restricter. I plan on installing a high volume pump with this rebuild so I was contemplating increasing this passage inside diameter. Has anybody done this to increase or take advantage of the high volume pump ? I hope this question is clear enough.
:-X12
:-X12
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,624
Likes: 8
From: Missouri
390 oiling Question
This is actually part of the recommended modifications to the FE. Drill it out to 7/16". It should presently be 3/8". You will have to go at it from two angles as it isn't a straight shot. Some say to go to 1/2" but I have also heard or people running out of metal. Get an ARP oil pump drive shaft. The stock shafts tend to be twisted in two with a HV pump. Also you might want to chamfer the main saddles to make the oil holes line up. IF you do not want to pin this thing over 5,000rpm on a constant basis or pulling very heavy loads I would go with a stock pump. High Volume pumps rob more power.
Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 40
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From: Washington
390 oiling Question
Thanks ratsmoker for the info. Do you have a percentage of HP consumpsion for the use of a high volume pump verse stock? Also is there any other oiling mods that can be made? What do you think of cross drilling the mains.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,624
Likes: 8
From: Missouri
390 oiling Question
I don't know about a percentage. Somebody should see someday how much horsepower it takes to turn the shaft at 3,000 rpm of both pumps and compare. Its not a crazy amount but in my opinion why waste the power to pump more oil than you need. Most of it will bypass the pump anyway. There are other oiling modifications that can be done but only possibly help under the most extreme conditions. I really don't know much about crossdrilling mains but others here do.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 12
From: SW Michigan
390 oiling Question
Sled, the 390 has issues with oiling. Some of the passages are too small, like the one you mentioned. Some are to big, like the one feeding oil to the heads. I usually also do a bit of work with a die grinder where the oil passages meet the main saddles. The front sump oil pan most FEs have is a problem as well. A windage tray and 6 qts of oil helps alot. What are you putting this engine into ? All of the problems an FE has are correctable. At the shop where I've worked, we put a HV pump into every engine we build. Most of our customers like to see lots of oil pressure and the HV pump helps. It also means that 100K mile from now, when the bearings are worn, you'll still have lots of pressure. Yeah, HV pumps take a little more power to turn them, but it is only something like 1/4 hp out of a 400hp engine. I don't think you'll miss it. Watch your clearances when assambling. Lots of guys run an FE too tight. I like to see .0025-.003 on the mains and .002-.0025 on the rods. The extra clearance lets your HV oil pump flow lots of oil across the bearings, which keeps them well lubricated and cooled off. DF
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Freshman User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 40
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From: Washington
390 oiling Question
Dynosaurfan, The engine is going into a 4x4 F250. I plan on to installing restrectors in the heads for oil control (.090 ) I have already got started on cleaning up the (cast flashing, opening up drain backs etc.) I want to build a 390 @ 9.5:1 engine so I'm curious about what pistons to use with D2TE-AA heads. The plan is to for 6,000 rpm just in case when in a jam the I rap it there. I intend normal operation to be around 2,500 to 4,000 K. Do you have any ideas that I can contemplate on? In fact any and all Ideas would be appreciated thank for the help. 
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Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 12
From: SW Michigan
390 oiling Question
The pistons you need are silvolite 1130s. They will give you 9 to 1 if you use the D2 heads with a felpro gasket (.041 thick ). Don't use a a silvolite 1131, they will give you 10 to 1, and don't use a 1139, they will only give 7.8 to 1. DF
Logistics Pro
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 3,565
Likes: 9
From: Sun River St. George
390 oiling Question
Sled, Do a search for Oil Mods for FE Top Oilers. All the info you need is there. I would do a couple of more mods. Drill NO1 and NO5 main galleries to the same size as 2, 3, and 4 all the way through to the main center gallery. Use a round file or a small grinder to tip the oil galleries for NO1, NO2 and NO4 main galleries. This is the most critical mod if you don't make any others do these. If you checked the inserts as you pulled the engine you will notice that the oil galleries for these bearings do not line up with the hole in the inserts. You will also notice excessive wear on these three bearings as compared to NO3 and NO5. Drill the NO5 down shoot from the main center gallery to remove the restriction. This is do able with a hand held electric drill. All the big galleries should be 7/16th. If you can drill the center gallery all the way through at 7/16. It is already 7/16th but Ford drilled this from both ends and sometimes the holes did not match and there will be a restriction where the drills should have met. Check for this with restriction a flashlight or if a 5/16 wooden dowel will pass through this gallery it is OKAY!
William in Atlanta
William in Atlanta