I wouldn't worry about your MPG with the 390 - there won't be any! LOL!

 

True that , Sister !!!!!

 

i'm thinking i could get about 15 and still be happy power wise .

 

I'd bet with the right gearing and tires - 2 BBL carb, you could get 15! I bumped my mileage up with new larger tires, so I'm at a lower rpm at freeway cruise speed. It came up about 3mpg - poor mans overdrive!

Power wise this beast is a real crowd pleaser. My truck takes off and accelerates better with my 390/C6/750cfm Edel. in it that my 67 GTO did with the GM 400/400/Quadrajet.

 

i have the cam picked out, edelbrock streetmaster intake, sanderson headers (i think), trying a 500 cfm carter i have, tci Maximizer converter, 30" tires (215/85lt16) and a 3.0 rear (still trying to find a 2.79). should pull good, the cam calculator says 305hp and 432tq and the rpm at 65 should be around 2200. i think it will be a good set-up with what i have. i thought about all the different set-ups (minus injection) and decided that the cost/headache factor was worth staying with what i have as i still have other vehicles that need time and money too .

 

You're gonna like that combination (wow big tires) I have a Melling Cam in mine, th ecustom headers of course, Streetmaster Intake, and an Edelbrock (same as Carter) 750.

I have 235 75 R15 on the back (2.80 rear) and I am VERY happy with the set up - about 13-14 MPG average. How you avoid the tempation to "have fun" with that set up is one of the biggest keys to the mileage thing. And it's really tough to behave!

 

at 6am driving to work i don't think i'm awake enough for tempation , but i like the idea IF i can keep my foot out of it that i can achieve the goal of 15. i like the commercial t/a tires, they're stiff and look kinda like bias (square). one more question, are all the FE non adjustable rocker shafts the same (ratio, width and tower wise).

 

Nope there are different ones. There are stronger towers that usually come off the adjustable rocker engines. Also the shafts themselves are different not in dimension, but in how the oil ports are cut - Mine are a new Chrome Molly, and I have stainless mechanical/adjustable rockers. FE engines are notorious for over oiling rockers. The heavier towers and caps are out of the TS/S/PI (Thunderbird Special/Special/ Police Interceptor[61/65] and 61/62 HiPro Engines. They are forged steel, not cast or aluminum.

As far as I know all the rocker shaft dimensions are the same, I could be wrong though. There's lots of good info in the internet.

 

Here's the update:
Header clearance - Page 2 - THE H.A.M.B.

 

These are Sandersons for a 351W. Jet hot coated inside and out. For a Volare clip, rear dump to clear steering box. I suspect 390 would be big tube.

 

 

Why i couldn't find this thread before is beyond me... Great thread and thanks for the link to your modding photos. One thing that looks different and concerns me about mine. I want to run headers on my FE but i think my engine sits lower in the chassis than yours does. My stock driver exh manifold damn near touches the return line fitting as is! I also saw that you were able to run just a 90* on your lower rad hose. i couldn't do that either. I had to go down from the engine under the belt then immediately turn up again and then trun again into the radiator. (effectively sitting lower into the chassis) Also- i noticed that my front axle is VERY close tot he oil pan/engine mount tube aswell. Not much travel there, maybe an inch or two (my springs are a bit worn too)

Here's a couple pics. Looking a the one, do you think headers are even possible for me?

 

That would appear too tight for headers.

 

GottaShow offers a set of stainless steel braid power steering hoses for the Toy box that have low profile banjo style fittings at the box. They only protrude about 1/2" above the box and you can rotate the hose direction away from the engine for extra header clearance and cooling.
The other way to get header clearance is to off set the engine towards the passenger side an inch or two. Don't **** the engine at an angle, but move it parallel to the frame by moving the engine mounts and tranny mount an equal amount.
You will likely need a block hugger center outlet or an upswept rear outlet set of headers. Call Sanderson directly, they have a lot of experience with what fits.

 

Yeah I was afraid that was gonna be the situation. I think my Trans Dapt crossmember sits the engine down a bit further in the chassis. I think the #8 tube will come out and crash right into the p/s box itself. Wish i would have known that earlier on, i would have gone a different route. And offsetting this crosmember is not an ability either as it's already cut to width and setup to bolt-in as is. Eh...well.. one more reason to go IFS I guess. Live and learn, right?