Easy Performance
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 129
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Easy Performance
Sorry if the title is a little misleading lol, im just wondering what kind of performance upgrades would be the best for my 390 2v. Im not talkin about like a stroker kit or anything like that....just things that i can install and set up without completely dis assembling the engine.
thanks!
thanks!
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 754
Likes: 2
From: southwest Wisconsin
FEs love hedders. A word of caution, removing the upper bolts on the exhaust manifolds can be a bear, often times you'll need to heat them with a torch to get them out with out twisting them off.
Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 36
Likes: 0
From: Northeast Oklahoma
I put on some heddeman headers recently and was quite impressed with the difference. Also, I don't know what other people have experienced, but my truck runs smoother with more power on 91 gas. If you have 2 tanks fill 1 with 91 and 1 with 87 when they are close to empty, and then switch between tanks when you are going up a hill. Give the different fuels a minute to get into the engine and see if you notice a difference. I did.
Junior User
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: West Des Moines, Iowa
Just make sure you dont go to big on the exhaust after the headers because it will make it a moot point. And you might want to go with a copper header gasket. My header gaskets are leaking and it looks thats the rout im gonna need to go .
Cargo Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,409
Likes: 1
From: Goliad, Texas
basically headers and exhaust is what does most of the performacne. if in the engine: cam would probably be first.
since today's gas is so bad once every couple tanks throw a can of B12 in your tank.
since today's gas is so bad once every couple tanks throw a can of B12 in your tank.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
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ok, what kind of cam would you guys recommend? ive been looking, but i dont know what lift and everything i should get with the factory heads
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Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2008
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If you're wanting a good torque towing engine, get a good RV cam. I basically did what you are wanting to do but I went a little further. I rebuilt my engine with 10:1 Speedpro pistons, Edelbrock 4V intake and a Holley 600cfm with electric choke. Long tube headers and a melling RV cam with .514 lift. That woke my engine up considerably and I get 12mpg and she runs awesome. Best bet for you is a cam, ditch the 2v intake and go with a 4v, especially if you do a cam swap.
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
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well, its a factory 2v engine, but the guy who had it before me put a 4v off of another 390 on it and used the same carb....which made absolutely NO sense to me. but i was thinking about an edelbrock intake later on, and as for the pistons i know nothing about that lol. but im not going to be towing anything.....ever
Lead Driver
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 5,639
Likes: 964
From: Near Yosemite CA
SAY WHAT?!?! get it running and leave it alone?!?! Hell that's the fun of having an old truck (or 4), tinkerin wit it!
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 6,938
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yea, get a cam, carb and intake. Also, one benifit of going with an aluminum intake on a FE, is you save like 40lbs or more. Also, intakes are not hard to change at all. Then later, if you want, drive it down to a shop and have em install the cam. If you dont know anyone who is sure on how to break in a cam, have a shop do it. Theyll know what to do, and if they dont, well they have to warranty it. But the things i listed, and your exaust, is a very well rounded mild build. It will run great, get good mileage and last forever. Anything over these minor things can start cutting down on drivability and reliability. But your next steps would be, head work, and some slugs. (aka=pistons)
Oh, as far as cam choice goes, call summit or jegs, or conp or crane or someone, and tell them what you have, theyll suggest a cam for you.
Oh, as far as cam choice goes, call summit or jegs, or conp or crane or someone, and tell them what you have, theyll suggest a cam for you.