OK, I wanna know how you would rebuild a 390 if you had an extra lying around. Every thing from the exhaust to the carb and all between. Just curious. Thanks

 

Michael, I would suggest buying a copy of Steve Christ's How to Rebuild your Big-Block Ford ISBN 0-89586-070-8 A must have.
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John

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[link:www.ford-trucks.com/users/jowilker|My Club FTE Page] Member since 01 01

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In the cool still quiet of night, you can hear chevies rusting away.

 

I agree 110% John. The book is very thorough and can be understood by even the most novice engine builder.

 

I could be wrong, guys, but I don't think he was asking for instructions on how to do a rebuild. I think he was asking how each of us, if we were going to do a rebuild, would choose to do it, e.g., what carb would we use, what cam, intake, exhaust, etc.

My answer, of course, starts by asking how I intend to use the motor. I'm already building a 410 for my truck right now, and I've gone over the details of that too many times, so I won't bore you.

I've always had a thing for the 406, though, so if I could build a 390 just for fun, I'd probably go in that direction. Start with a 74-76 "reverse 105" block, and bore it .080 over to get 406 cid. Plug the lifter galleries, drill out the main oil passage, and chamfer all the oil feed holes. ARP everything - main and head studs, rod bolts, etc. (black oxide for the internals, stainless for the externals).

Edelbrock heads with big valves, 72 cc chambers, and a full port and polish. Single plane intake manifold -- polished just 'cause they look really cool. A set of coated large tube 4-into-1 headers. Radical roller cam and solid lifters for that nice, whumpety-whump idle and 7000 rpm redline. Electric cooling fan. MSD 6Al ignition. Top it all off with a Holley Commander TBI system.

Bolt a Tremec TKO to the back, and drop the whole thing into a Cobra replica chassis.

Oh, yeah....

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 23-Feb-02 AT 01:12 AM (EST)]I do believe we did misread his post karl. If I had a good 390 block to start with it would be punched about .060 over and look something like this: http://www.clubfte.com/users/ratsmoker/Pict0004.JPG
Honestly though if I had my way$ I would like to throw a 428 crank in it and get the eagle lightweight rods. Roller rockers from dove and one of doves better aluminum racing heads. The intake would be the new Victor single plane from edelbrock. The cam would be a solid roller good until about 7,000 rpm.

 

Thanks for the replies, and that little bit of advice. This was interesting. thanks

 

If you are looking for a "little more than stock" rebuild still use this board for advice and you should have a long lasting motor. I won't be here for a while but there are many others to help you out with stuff like oiling mods, camshaft selection, headwork, etc...

 

thanks for the advice ratsmoker, I appreciate it.

 

If you don't mind waiting a couple of days,
I'll post a description of a stroker to die for...


Steve & the Rockette
'63 F100
'68 F100
'72 Capri 2L
'73 Capri 2.6L V6
'73 MG B GT 2.6L V6(Ford)
'98 Contour SVT 2.5L V6 (Mods)
'01 ZX2 (No Mods yet)

 

From Dave Williams web site...

It uses a 428 block punched .055 over, .060-over 400 Chevy dish top pistons, modified Chrysler Slant Six rods (6.7" long) with 340 rod bolts, and a 390 crank offset ground from 3.78 to 4.030". The pistons had to be trimmed .070" to get them level with the top of the block; it meant just shaving down part of the rim of the dish. No clearancing, no hassle. 4.185 x 4.030, 443 cubic inches.

I didn't take many pictures when I built it, but it was pretty simple as such things go. I also got to drive the car while on vacation in North Carolina in early '00; the Mustang is overgeared, underbraked, and serious bad fast... idles like a stocker, has the powerband of a John Deere, and pulls like a freight train. What more could you ask? Well, hooking the power steering pump back up would be nice...



Steve & the Rockette
'63 F100
'68 F100
'72 Capri 2L
'73 Capri 2.6L V6
'73 MG B GT 2.6L V6(Ford)
'98 Contour SVT 2.5L V6 (Mods)
'01 ZX2 (No Mods yet)

 

 

Wow man, sounds like a beast!