390 FE Heads

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Apr 5, 2002 | 11:02 PM

ruthless

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Joined: Feb 2002

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From: Bakersfield United States

390 FE Heads

The 390 I have has a two barrel manifold on it. Whats the deal on my heads ? Are the intake ports going to be too small for the new Performer RPM manifold I just puchased? Should I be looking to change heads, and if so, which heads will do the motor justice?

Apr 6, 2002 | 08:50 AM

dinosaurfan

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Joined: Aug 2000

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From: SW Michigan

390 FE Heads

RuthlessMike, your heads probably will be fine. Ford made two basic sizes that you are likely to see. The early large port (2.35 tall) and the later small port (1.95 tall). There are many varaitions of both. What is the casting # on the heads you have ? DF

Apr 6, 2002 | 10:27 AM

ruthless

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From: Bakersfield United States

390 FE Heads

I don't know. Where do I look?

Apr 6, 2002 | 02:45 PM

ruthless

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From: Bakersfield United States

390 FE Heads

Ok I found it. they are C8AEH

Apr 7, 2002 | 11:20 AM

karlsd

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Joined: Aug 2001

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From: Collierville, TN

390 FE Heads

Those are good heads. They are the later design, and have fairly small (67-69 cc) combustion chambers. They'll work just fine with the Ebock intake.

Apr 7, 2002 | 03:50 PM

ruthless

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From: Bakersfield United States

390 FE Heads

Cool. Anything I can do to them to make them better? springs? rockers? different valves or angle cut?

Apr 8, 2002 | 07:57 AM

karljay

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Joined: Jul 2000

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From: Northern California

390 FE Heads

I'd start with some porting work. If you don't have your headers yet, get them so that you can match them up.

Take the heads apart and bolt on the headers and feel the inside or use some wax paper to draw the ports in relation to the bolt holes. Then match up the ports to the headers. I rounded the edges on my headers and oblonged the bolt holes for a proper match. Just make sure there is no edge for the gas to hit against (have the header port larger than the heat port) Mark the headers so you can align them when installing, I use orange nail paint for mine.

Grind out the humps in the roof of the exhaust and blend in the bowl areas about 2" in from the valve. Grind down the valve guide and unshroud the valves in the combustion chambers. remove any casting flaws.

Get hardened exhaust seats and a good 3 angle valve job AFTER you've done the porting (just in case you miss and hit the sealing area)

Match the intake ports too or at least make the head a bit bigger so that the air/fuel doesn't hit a sharp edge.

I assume your running headers, the FE really likes them, the stock exhaust sucks bad.