390 cams and timing?
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 12
From: SW Michigan
390 cams and timing?
Tom, if you are looking for the best value for your money, forget the accel distributer and run a duraspark or points converted to pertronix. Your timing will depend on how good your local gasoline is. Consider dumping the performer in favor of a RPM performer. The perf. plus cam might be too small, maybe a nice crane instead. DF
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,281
Likes: 18
From: Northern California
390 cams and timing?
Most people don't like the Performer intake because it is about the same as the stock S code intake which is fairly common. The Performer RPM intake is about the best price/performance intake going (considering NEW intake not used). One guy said the Performer was a waste of money. I have the Performer RPM, Streetmaster 390, Offy dual quad, S code 390GT. I passed on the Performer because I can get the S code 390 for $25 at the junk yards (and that's what I did)
The range of the RPM is 1500~6500 and the Performer is idle~5500 but some put the Performer at <4500.
Note that this should be considered with all the other factors (carb size, timming, cam, exhaust, head...)
I'd give it back and upgrade to the RPM and get a good Holley 600 vac sec and play with the vac sec spring to alter kick in point, (good low-end, good upper end potential)
As far as the dist goes, I bought a $10 setup from the junk yard and paid $69 for a Pertronix and gave it to a dist shop that asked MANY question. Picked it up a few days later, paid $75 and it works great.
The mech adv is 12 till 1000rpm to max of 37 at 3100rpm
the vac adv is 0 @ 7HG, 12@13HG to max of 19 @ 20HG
the base is 12 deg < 1000 rpm with vac disconnected.
Total $150
As far as the cam goes, I like Crower, Crane is good, most like 268 to 272.
One last note, the FE responds VERY well to headers. The stock exhaust sucks! I like the long style headers and turbo type mufflers.
The range of the RPM is 1500~6500 and the Performer is idle~5500 but some put the Performer at <4500.
Note that this should be considered with all the other factors (carb size, timming, cam, exhaust, head...)
I'd give it back and upgrade to the RPM and get a good Holley 600 vac sec and play with the vac sec spring to alter kick in point, (good low-end, good upper end potential)
As far as the dist goes, I bought a $10 setup from the junk yard and paid $69 for a Pertronix and gave it to a dist shop that asked MANY question. Picked it up a few days later, paid $75 and it works great.
The mech adv is 12 till 1000rpm to max of 37 at 3100rpm
the vac adv is 0 @ 7HG, 12@13HG to max of 19 @ 20HG
the base is 12 deg < 1000 rpm with vac disconnected.
Total $150
As far as the cam goes, I like Crower, Crane is good, most like 268 to 272.
One last note, the FE responds VERY well to headers. The stock exhaust sucks! I like the long style headers and turbo type mufflers.
