HELP - Pulling 390 info
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
HELP - Pulling 390 info
I pressure checked the number four cylinder on my 390 and air was blowing out the oil fill like mad, you could feel it.
I knew I needed the over haul it, but not this soon.
I have a few questions before I can start. I have no cherry picker to pull it, but have a 500 pound rated electric winch. Will this be enough to pull the 390. What does the 390 weigh? Second, the rafters in my garage are on 24 inch centers, if I straddle four rafters with a 4 x 6 will this be enough to support the 390. Otherwise I will have to find somewhere else to pull it.
I can always pull the manifold and heads if I need too, but would like to pull it in one piece.
Any help would be apprecicated.
Bob
I knew I needed the over haul it, but not this soon.
I have a few questions before I can start. I have no cherry picker to pull it, but have a 500 pound rated electric winch. Will this be enough to pull the 390. What does the 390 weigh? Second, the rafters in my garage are on 24 inch centers, if I straddle four rafters with a 4 x 6 will this be enough to support the 390. Otherwise I will have to find somewhere else to pull it.
I can always pull the manifold and heads if I need too, but would like to pull it in one piece.
Any help would be apprecicated.
Bob
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,624
Likes: 8
From: Missouri
HELP - Pulling 390 info
Some 390's weigh upwards of 700 lbs with the accessories attached. Removing the heads and manifold will drop about 160lbs. Strip the block of everthing you possibly can if you are going to use your winch but you are still cutting it close. Don't you have a rental place that rents cherry pickers? I rented mine for the removal and install and it was 15 bucks a day. You should be able to pull it out and drop it in in less than 1 day for each proccess. A cherry picker is going to work much better anyway unless your winch pulley is on a slider.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
Posts: 24,552
Likes: 74
From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
HELP - Pulling 390 info
Slow down Bob, I suspect that you have a bad valve, and need to pull that side head. Is the engine smoking while running?
Some of the better versed guys will be along in a bit for better help, and they will let you know if I'm all wet on that call.
http://www.clubfte.com/users/jowilker/USFlag.gif
John
jowilker email me
[link:www.ford-trucks.com/users/jowilker|My Club FTE Page] Member since 01 01
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NCFTO] North Carolina Ford Truck Owners Group
In the cool still quiet of night, you can hear chevies rusting away.
Some of the better versed guys will be along in a bit for better help, and they will let you know if I'm all wet on that call.
http://www.clubfte.com/users/jowilker/USFlag.gif
John
jowilker email me
[link:www.ford-trucks.com/users/jowilker|My Club FTE Page] Member since 01 01
[link:www.ford-trucks.net/users/jowilker/NCFTE.html|NCFTO] North Carolina Ford Truck Owners Group
In the cool still quiet of night, you can hear chevies rusting away.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
HELP - Pulling 390 info
John,
I also need to replace the rod bearings. I was going to just replace the rod and main bearings in the truck, but decided to pull it.
If it is the valves can that much air come up through the valve guides!! My understand on the pressure test was that if it was an exhaust valve you would hear it in the tail pipe and if it was an intake you would hear it in the carb. My compressor kick off at 130 and on at 90 and it took about a minute to cycle. The engine has a little over 100K on it and I don't think that the short block has ever been touched. I think the heads have been replace as well as the intake according to the casting numbers.
Bob
I also need to replace the rod bearings. I was going to just replace the rod and main bearings in the truck, but decided to pull it.
If it is the valves can that much air come up through the valve guides!! My understand on the pressure test was that if it was an exhaust valve you would hear it in the tail pipe and if it was an intake you would hear it in the carb. My compressor kick off at 130 and on at 90 and it took about a minute to cycle. The engine has a little over 100K on it and I don't think that the short block has ever been touched. I think the heads have been replace as well as the intake according to the casting numbers.
Bob
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,697
Likes: 46
From: Vancouver
HELP - Pulling 390 info
A tow truck's another option - with an extendable boom it can lift pretty high, so you might be able to leave the trans on if you'd rather.
Sounds like a broken piston to me.
Eric
Sounds like a broken piston to me.
Eric
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 962
Likes: 2
From: Collierville, TN
HELP - Pulling 390 info
I agree that it doesn't sound like a valve problem. Still, if you want to make sure, just pull the valve cover on that side and rerun the test. If the air is escaping that quickly through a valve guide, you'll be able to isolate it pretty quickly.
Using an electric winch and ceiling rafters sounds extremely dicey to me. Beg, borrow, steal or rent an engine hoist. It'll save you a lot of time and be a lot safer. I have visions of you being a candidate for next year's "Darwin Awards" when one of those joists cracks and the motor drops.
Using an electric winch and ceiling rafters sounds extremely dicey to me. Beg, borrow, steal or rent an engine hoist. It'll save you a lot of time and be a lot safer. I have visions of you being a candidate for next year's "Darwin Awards" when one of those joists cracks and the motor drops.
Trending Topics
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 12
From: SW Michigan
HELP - Pulling 390 info
UnionBob, that 390 is about 720 Lbs. If you are replacing the bearings, how about upgrading the oiling system to make life easy on the new ones ? We can tell you how. DF
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
HELP - Pulling 390 info
DF,
I want to do the oil mods, but lost my info that I had on them. Could someone point me in the right direction.
I found a cherry picker at a rental place, cost is $30.00/day kind of steep.
I have a feeling that it is a broken piston by the amount of air that was coming out of the oil filler hole. Hopefully the cylinder wall is not damaged.
Bob
I want to do the oil mods, but lost my info that I had on them. Could someone point me in the right direction.
I found a cherry picker at a rental place, cost is $30.00/day kind of steep.
I have a feeling that it is a broken piston by the amount of air that was coming out of the oil filler hole. Hopefully the cylinder wall is not damaged.
Bob
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 430
Likes: 0
From: Deatsville, AL
HELP - Pulling 390 info
There is a special gauge set called a leak down tester to pressure check an engine. If you were not using that then your results are suspect. (The leaker down tester has a pair of gauges and a regulator to limit the input air pressure to about 80 pounds.)
You seem to have a lot of blow-by which is usually ring problems. But again if you weren't using a leak down tester then who knows.
You seem to have a lot of blow-by which is usually ring problems. But again if you weren't using a leak down tester then who knows.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 692
Likes: 0
HELP - Pulling 390 info
If it's blowing lots of oil/crankcase vapors,
your rings are done, if you've got no oil pressure,
your cam bearings are done, if it's smoking like
a freight train, you intake valve stem seals are
done. If it's doing all of the above, the engine
is done. Time for a rebuild. Rent a cherry picker,
but first, unbolt everything, then rent the CP for
4 hours. Buy an engine stand, a 1000lb minimum
capacity...
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)
your rings are done, if you've got no oil pressure,
your cam bearings are done, if it's smoking like
a freight train, you intake valve stem seals are
done. If it's doing all of the above, the engine
is done. Time for a rebuild. Rent a cherry picker,
but first, unbolt everything, then rent the CP for
4 hours. Buy an engine stand, a 1000lb minimum
capacity...
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)
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,175
Likes: 21
From: Texas
HELP - Pulling 390 info
Just an FYI.
I found you can get a decent 2 ton Shop Crane (Engine Hoist, Cherry Picker, whatever) at Harbor Freight Tools for about $200 and a 1000lb engine stand for about $40 bucks. I've used that hoist for a lot more than pulling engines. I realize alot of their tools are cheap, overseas steel, but for limited used in a small or home shop they are adequate. Do you most of you have a Harbor Freight Store Handy?
I guess I should post this in the Shop forum also.
I found you can get a decent 2 ton Shop Crane (Engine Hoist, Cherry Picker, whatever) at Harbor Freight Tools for about $200 and a 1000lb engine stand for about $40 bucks. I've used that hoist for a lot more than pulling engines. I realize alot of their tools are cheap, overseas steel, but for limited used in a small or home shop they are adequate. Do you most of you have a Harbor Freight Store Handy?
I guess I should post this in the Shop forum also.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,281
Likes: 18
From: Northern California
HELP - Pulling 390 info
If you hear it in the crank case (remove dip stick and listen) then it's the rings or cracked piston.
I've done this several times and you really need a cherry picker. I bought a new one from Costco for $178 and it folds up nicely. the legs detatch and sit upright, so you could actually store it in a standard closet.
I like to remove the intake and heads in the truck because I can mount the short block easier that the whole engine. Not just because of the power brakes or A/C box or hood clearance, but that it's easier to wiggle the shortblock to get it to drop into the tranny. Also, the bolts are easier to reach from the top without the heads on.
I've done this several times and you really need a cherry picker. I bought a new one from Costco for $178 and it folds up nicely. the legs detatch and sit upright, so you could actually store it in a standard closet.
I like to remove the intake and heads in the truck because I can mount the short block easier that the whole engine. Not just because of the power brakes or A/C box or hood clearance, but that it's easier to wiggle the shortblock to get it to drop into the tranny. Also, the bolts are easier to reach from the top without the heads on.
New User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
HELP - Pulling 390 info
If you squirt some engine oil into the spark plug hole and then use a regular compression tester and the compression is better than without the oil, then it is the piston rings.
But, from what you tell I suspect stuck rings on that piston, and they will be stuck in the most inward postion possible. When the piston then comes to the top and the cylinder is wider, there will be a lot of blowby.
Hpoe you get a healthy engine when you have rebuilt it.
Good luck.
Bill Brox
But, from what you tell I suspect stuck rings on that piston, and they will be stuck in the most inward postion possible. When the piston then comes to the top and the cylinder is wider, there will be a lot of blowby.
Hpoe you get a healthy engine when you have rebuilt it.
Good luck.
Bill Brox
