I have a spare 390 in my dads barn that I plan on rebuilding one day. I wanted to go with an all stock build, but before I commit to that I wanna see my other options.

I don't wanna go absolutely nuts building it, because my pockets aren't deep enough!

I got a free set of headers from my friends dad, and that got me thinking about slightly building. Shoot- I was just gonna use the stock exhaust manifolds, score!

Ok, my question is- will a 428 crank work with 390 rods and pistons? I doubt it, but just thought I'd ask. My friends dad (guy who gave me the headers) knows someone who's got a 428 crank for $50.

Not sure if I wanna mess with gettin all new rods and pistons and all that, so yeah- will that crank work with my 390 stuff?

 

If memory serves me ...
All FEs used the same size rods (There was a NASCAR rod that was a little longer). A 428 crank in a 390 nets you a 410, a combo Mercury used in the middle 60's. If the rods are the same, though, the piston pin height must be different.

 

If you can find a decent 428 crank for $50, you might be the luckiest guy on this forum. They are getting to be near impossible to find, and even ones that are turned .040" are going for big bucks around here. As was previously posted, I believe a 428 crank in a 390 nets you a 410.

-Jared

 

Holy crap....I'm gonna get ahold of this crank....might just sell it!

 

That crank is definetly a screaming deal. For the record, the 352 and 360 use a slightly longer rod than the 390,406,410,427,428. You would need to find 410 pistons to use the 428 crank in a 390. Also, the 428 is the only externaly balanced FE, so you'd need the flywheel/flexplate and harmonic balancer for the 428.

 

Just need an external balanced flexplate, balancers are the same.

However, if the engine is being rebuilt, have the rotating assembly balanced, negating the need to find a 428 flexplate.

go here Mustang 428 Cobra Jet Registry to read up on 428 cranks to make sure that $50 crank isn't a 352 paper weight.

Josh