Old 390
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Freshman User
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 30
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From: Green Country
Old 390
I have a complete 390 that was in my garage when I bought my house. I was told it came out of a Mercury from the 60's. Does anyone know about these engines? I will pull the serial numbers and post them. Would the heads of a 390 mate up with a 351W?
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 1,639
Likes: 2
head over to www.FORDFE.com they have the best FE forum i have a 600+ hp (depending on how much nitrous) 390 they are great engines you can get gobs of power out of them if you think your smallblock is fast you should take a ride in an FE car with similar mods you'd be amazed
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Noblesville,IN
One compromise that you CAN do - there are adaptors available that will allow you to put FE valve covers on a small block Ford. The Cobra kit car guys use'em to fake having a 427 in their cars when they really have a small block. Good luck getting them to clear all the stuff under the hood of our trucks though.
VALVE COVER ADAPTER PAGE
VALVE COVER ADAPTER PAGE
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 693
Likes: 1
From: SouthWest Ga.
To bad you're not closer to SW Ga. and wanted to sell cheap. I love those old engines. OF course if I buy 1 more I might have to sleep with it because my wife probably wouldn't let me in the house. LOL
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Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
Likes: 787
From: Simi Valley, CA
There is no serial number on the engine anywhere. Numbers matching is a GM thing.
There is a casting number on the block near the starter, but that won't tell you diddly squat.
360/390/410/428 blocks were all cast as 352's.
Only when the block is finished could it be something else.
On the drivers side of the block, most of these engines will have 352 cast there. That doesn't mean squat, either.
Measuring the stroke helps...a little.
352/360: 3.50" / 390 = 3.78" / 410/428 = 3.98"
Block casting numbers cannot be cross referenced to actual Ford part numbers.
CAVEAT EMPTOR: On sale day, 352 and 360's magically become 390's, 390's magically become 406's, 427's or 428's.
There is a casting number on the block near the starter, but that won't tell you diddly squat.
360/390/410/428 blocks were all cast as 352's.
Only when the block is finished could it be something else.
On the drivers side of the block, most of these engines will have 352 cast there. That doesn't mean squat, either.
Measuring the stroke helps...a little.
352/360: 3.50" / 390 = 3.78" / 410/428 = 3.98"
Block casting numbers cannot be cross referenced to actual Ford part numbers.
CAVEAT EMPTOR: On sale day, 352 and 360's magically become 390's, 390's magically become 406's, 427's or 428's.
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 89
Likes: 1
what an engine those were , can remember rollin my pops 68 ltd down the interstate at 115 mph then seeing the red lights.....trooper was so cool , said " son i was doing 115 and you were pullin away from me , were gonna call this ticket 75+" .
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 294
Likes: 0
From: Noblesville,IN
I've had a couple of 390's in my day. Put a Pertronix ignition on one and it would be rock solid reliable. The exhaust note on those big blocks is sweet,sweet music with a set of turbo mufflers. Just a nice little burble.
A buddy of mine in high school had a 390/4spd wedged into a black '70 Maverick. That thing handled like Wild Willie Borsch's Winged Express - google it.
A buddy of mine in high school had a 390/4spd wedged into a black '70 Maverick. That thing handled like Wild Willie Borsch's Winged Express - google it.