Blown Engine
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
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Blown Engine
Ok, so what is the outcome of a blown 390? ENDLESS possabilities!!!! buttttttttt i just dont know what to chose lol. so i figured id get some opinions from the guys that know best. so its between samll block....probably a 302, 460 (found one on ebay for $300, but it probably needs to be rebuilt, no big deal), rebuild the 390, or just plain sell it (if anyone picks that option i feel sorry for you). im sure theres other things, just wanted opinions!
Post Fiend
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 6,948
Likes: 44
What do you hope to accomplish with the FE? Is it gonna be a stock re-build? What do you plan on putting it in?
Some dollar factors should be considered. I mean will your transmission actually bolt up to this, or will you have to change it to accomodate the bellhousing bolt pattern?
This adds to cost and time.
For a build, the investment of 300 bucks is nothing, but how much do you intend to drop into machine work? Is your application gonna be fine with the FE, or would the better choice be a larger 385 series engine?
Machine work is about the same for anything being built and if overall power is what you are looking for, then you might be able to buy and sell the FE and start out with a larger displacement engine.
Though I am not a giant fan of the FE, I do appreciate them, and have respect for their abilites, but having built both FE's and 385 series engines, can tell you that dollar for dollar the larger displacement engines have never been a disapointment.
Cubes are cubes, and the more the better.
Now if the application is an original FE equiped vehicle, then you may have something. If you are looking for all out power, and want to spend the least amount of money, then the 460 might be the way to go.
Guess it all depends upon application.
Some dollar factors should be considered. I mean will your transmission actually bolt up to this, or will you have to change it to accomodate the bellhousing bolt pattern?
This adds to cost and time.
For a build, the investment of 300 bucks is nothing, but how much do you intend to drop into machine work? Is your application gonna be fine with the FE, or would the better choice be a larger 385 series engine?
Machine work is about the same for anything being built and if overall power is what you are looking for, then you might be able to buy and sell the FE and start out with a larger displacement engine.
Though I am not a giant fan of the FE, I do appreciate them, and have respect for their abilites, but having built both FE's and 385 series engines, can tell you that dollar for dollar the larger displacement engines have never been a disapointment.
Cubes are cubes, and the more the better.
Now if the application is an original FE equiped vehicle, then you may have something. If you are looking for all out power, and want to spend the least amount of money, then the 460 might be the way to go.
Guess it all depends upon application.
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 522
Likes: 0
From: South Central PA
I read in my ford engine parts interchange book, that if you just put a stock 428 crank into a 390, that strokes it out to a 410cid. Sounds easy enough- the book said nothing about other changes, but then again ive never done it.
