General Question bout FE years
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From: Huntsville, Alabama
General Question bout FE years
I've recently been given a 390fe from a 67 or 69 ford galaxie (i'm taking it on the givers word that it's a 390, he definitely knows more about these things than I do). As I have a 75 390 fe, I am curious which would be the engine to build up?
The 67's heads are C7AE-A, will they bolt onto my 75 390 with no problem?
The 67's heads are C7AE-A, will they bolt onto my 75 390 with no problem?
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They will bolt up, but as OEM, did not have hardened seats like the '75 heads should have.
A car 390 from those years could be 9.5 CR regular fuel 2bbl, or 10(maybe 10.1 or 10.5, can't recall) 4bbl (or some 2bbl) premium fuel.
FE Series Engine Specification Chart
As far as which engine to build up, the one with the better bore, as you are going to put new pistons and cams in this, right? As for heads, consider aftermarket heads if both sets need a complete rework. (check the price of the rebuild vs. aftermarket heads...)
A car 390 from those years could be 9.5 CR regular fuel 2bbl, or 10(maybe 10.1 or 10.5, can't recall) 4bbl (or some 2bbl) premium fuel.
FE Series Engine Specification Chart
As far as which engine to build up, the one with the better bore, as you are going to put new pistons and cams in this, right? As for heads, consider aftermarket heads if both sets need a complete rework. (check the price of the rebuild vs. aftermarket heads...)
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From: Huntsville, Alabama
Thanks for the spec chart. I suppose my question is pretty general.
If you had two 390's, one from the late 60's and one from the mid 70's, which would you build up? Or, does it not make a difference? I suppose the inherent question then becomes are all 390's made equal save bolt on parts? Where there improvements over the years, or what the engineers thought were improvements that turned out to be not so bueno for folks trying to modify their engines?
If you had two 390's, one from the late 60's and one from the mid 70's, which would you build up? Or, does it not make a difference? I suppose the inherent question then becomes are all 390's made equal save bolt on parts? Where there improvements over the years, or what the engineers thought were improvements that turned out to be not so bueno for folks trying to modify their engines?
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Since you are looking at blocks with the same engine mount configuration (it changed prior to the years you are talking about), the only consideration is block condition. The less "over", the better. You could check core shift, line bore, other "blueprint" items as well to see which one was better if both were equal as far as bore goes.
Basically, the one in best condition.
Basically, the one in best condition.
