I am interested in building a stronger FE for my 1969 F-250 pick-up. Currently, I am running a recently rebuilt 390, low compression, plain vanilla camshaft engine, that is anemic. I recently ran it on a dyno and it is putting out about 200 HP and about the same torque at the rear wheels. This is where I need this forums experienced advise. I am considering starting over with a 428 block, crank, rods with a complete edelbrock top end, aluminum heads, cam, and intake. I am told by people who seem to be "in the know" that this would be a great combination. I am interested in making 350 to 400 HP and torque in the RPM range of 1500 to 4000, with an emphasis on TORQUE... What do you guys think? Other thoughts? Originality is not important to me. Also, I am running a stock C-6 trans with 3:73 gears. Thanks in advance for your help.
I am in the FE torque camp as you are for the "real world" torque rules the world! Go with a 220 deg at .050 with around half inch lift put some long tube headers on and you will be grinning from ear to ear with your combo. Or get a "prison break" stroker from Survival and go for 450 ft-lb! heck you could probably go 3.50 or 3.25.
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Unless you absolutly have to have a 428 you can get what your looking for out of the 390. Think Alu heads, Cam and long tubes with 2 1/2 exhaust and you should be close to your goal.
I think I need to replace pistons (8 to 1 compression)with 72cc heads, cam and heads. So... why not? It seems if I am replacing all of these items anyway, why not do it with more displacement. Or am I hearing you say just bore my block to 428 specs?
I'm used to a truck having rubber floor mats and a six and a bed full of tree branches, and pepsi bottles rolling around on the floor from the summer farm heat - but ok - if you want more:
Sure if you have a 428 then use it, if not, I agree about the 445cid idea with your 390 block, 390+.030"+4.25" crank.
More cubes is the key to that truck.
Headers will add torq all across too and lucky you there
is plenty of room.
The Edel heads and intake will work ok even in your truck, due to the better burn you won't lose much low end but they'd be a waste without the headers.
Use forged pistons, and I'd aim for 9.5cr given it's a heavy F-250.
Don't use the Edel RPM cam, that cam is bigger than any cam Ford ever put in anything, about equal to the stock 427 SOHC cam. I'd stay under 220 deg at .050, because 3.73 is a tall gear with those big tires.
Except for the part about the Pepsi bottles in the truck bed. Mine has beer cans! Amazing how one can just toss 'em outta the sliding rear window and cut down on extra handling. And, when the bed is full, we can be good citizens and take them right to the recycling center. LOL
Better add a disclaimer to placate those who I know will castigate me for drinking road pops while driving:
I'm just kidding and do not advocate drinking and driving. I never, ever do that anymore! It's a joke!
Use all of your existing parts with a 428 crank and a 214/224 cam, headers w/ 2.5" exh. and a Edelbrock Performer RPM intake and it ought to run pretty good. Going with the 428 crank will also up your compression around a point and a half also. Should be cheap and fun if you already have most the parts in the current engine. JMO Rex
Ran it with my F100 and loved the power, My only problem was when i has no load i could burn the tires! Also, when i had 3000 pounds of bricks in the trailer and 1500 pounds in the truck, starting on a hill with the stock three speed manual (no compound low and 3.5 gear) and the 218/224 cam was a little rough, but once rolling, that thing was a power house! I had 9.4 CR and it was ok, but for heavy work, 9.0 would have been better here in CA with crappy gas.
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1967 FE 390GT engine: 416 CID 233/238* @ 0.050 Solid Lifter w/ 4 spd TL.
1968 GT/CS Mustang. 289/c4
1995 Mercedes e320 I6 DOHC, 216 HP wagon.
2003 Tundra SR5, 4.7 DOHC, 4x4.
Another Galaxie (one day.)
Oh and a Bicycle - daily driver to save gas for the 'F'un 'E'xcursions.
cant u just put 427 heads on there also . i have a 332 block , and the 428 crank and 64 390 heads machined out to 427 specs. i dont know much aboutthis and anything helps
Rex's comment reminded me: What 390 do you have now?
July 9 2008, 9:38 AM
Is it a 2v or 4v?
Car 390 (about 10.0 CR) or truck 390 (under 8.0 CR)?
If it's a truck 390 then Rex has a good inexpensive idea - since you'd already have 410 pistons you can drop in a 410/428 crank and use the pistons you have.
But, if you have a car 390 that idea wont work, you'd need new pistons too. Do you know which one you have?
Re: Rex's comment reminded me: What 390 do you have now?
July 9 2008, 10:01 AM
Unfortunately, I am not sure exactly what 390 I have. I bought it used, but never started, from the previous owner. I was told it started out as a mid 60's Mercury, then was sent to one of these assemblyline rebuilding shops (where they use the lowest common denominator parts). So... the exact parts are currently unknown. I do know the compression is down as I can currently run regular fuel, add advance to the distributor and still not ping under load. I am running a Ford cast iron 4V intake, Edelbrock 625 AFB with long tube headers and 2.5" dual exhaust.
Of course I can investigate the casting numbers, but don't have access to them right now.
If I was to add some stroke to this engine, what parts have to change to accomidate the interference @ the upper end of the stroke, shorter rods, or pistons with wristpins that are closer to the piston crown?
What is the consensus regarding the Edelbrock heads? Are they that much better than the Ford cast iron heads?
Brian, thanks for the info!
I wondered how you got the 200rwhp, my computer calculates/gonkulates that our similar but bone stock F-250, car 390, dual exhaust, makes 186rwhp so you are doing pretty good so far.
Yes, check the head and intake casting numbers and post but it sounds like you have about a 10.0 +/- 0.5 car 390 in there.
So to make it a "417" you'd need 30-over 410 pistons, the rods you have now, and a 410/428 crank.
To make a "445" you'd need 30-over pistons, rods, and a 4.25" crank, Survival Motorsports (Barry R here on the forum) has kits for it and in fact there was just an article about it in one of the car mags I think.
The edel heads are good but on your truck are they worth $1600? I'd figure the "445" kit is a better deal for what you want to do, go for about 9.5 compression and keep the heads you have. All the inches you can get in that big F-250 is what matters. Even a 460 conversion might be cheaper, but it is 40 years old, a classic truck - better value to keep the FE in it.
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