Ok Guys and Gals, I'm building an engine for my 75 Highboy and I want your opinion. I have about a $2500 budget. This is what I plan on putting into my motor. I want you guys to tell me what I can do to make it better and if one of my parts is bad or to big or to low tell me what to exchange it for. I also need to know what kind of cam would be the best for this build. I want a choppy idle with low end torque.

Parts List
Cam & Lifters ----- Comp Duration 278/296, Lift .506/.493, Lobe Separation 107
Carburetor ----- Edelbrock 4 BBL 650 CFM
Intake Manifold ----- Edelbrock Dual Plane
Distributor ----- PerTronix Hall Effect, Mechanical Advance, HEI/Male Cap
Rings & Bearings ----- Sealed Power, Moly Rings, Tri-Metal Bearings
Plug Wires ----- Moroso Wires 8.5mm
Dress-up ----- Edelbrock Chrome Stuff

 

If I were you, I'd leave off the fancy stuff and use the money for something to get more power.

 

Fancy stuff like what? The dress-up kit? And what could I do for more power?

 

I don't see no pistons listed.....Gotta have pistons that don't rattle in the hole and that make some compression.

Serving suggestion:

Speed-Pro Forged Pistons ZL2446F30 - SummitRacing.com

About 9.5 CR.

 

The cam looks like one of those thumper things. Dunno if you'd be happy with that in a truck.
Pertronic is cool, but factory Duraspark is cheaper and just as effective.

Spend as much as you can on getting the shortblock perfect. It's only a thing to swap out the top end at a later date.

 

What are your plans for the truck , daily driver ,lowes runs,work ,hauling or just a weekend warrior ?
this is the deciding factor for your cam and compression ratio choices .
+ 1 on not getting the dress up spend your budget on go fast goodies you can add the chrome stuff later .
oh and keep the duraspark , you wont se any performance gain switching to pertronixs

 

a good "budget" piston choice . i have these in my 390
Speed-Pro Hypereutectic Pistons ZH395P - SummitRacing.com

 

Those are fine, but aren't they going to be a 10 or 10.5 CR piston? I chose the dish as that's what the old "Regular Fuel" 390 2v motors used, with 9.5 compression.

Previous posts are right also about intended use. If the OP wants a hot rod motor, the 9.5 and certainly the 10/10.5 pistons are the way to go. If he is going to pull max loads up mountain passes, maybe Ford was right with the 8is compression in stock motors.

 

Yes they will put you in the 10:1 C/R range
a thicker head gasket will bring it down a little .
i run mid grade fuel with no ping , just need to keep timing in check .

 

Oh well.my plans for the truck is to make it a weekend warrior. The reason I'm going with pertonix is because I don't have the duraspark one anymore. Also what do you guys think about a 30 bore over? Worth it or not

 

bore should be what needs to be done . machine shop will tell you what block needs .

 

Ok so what are we talking for a Cam??

 

I like Lunati , 62001 has a little lope , check out the specs on the 62003 +62004
or do you want to go roller ?

 

Voodoo Hyd Cam - Ford 352-428FE 268/276 - Lunati Power
guess Lunati redid their part numbers since i did my 390

 

62004
Voodoo Hyd Cam - Ford 352-428FE 276/284 - Lunati Power