Glenn, Richard,


Thanks. I got a copy of the Christ book today and spent a few hours looking it over. Lots of good information. Given my budget, or lack thereof, I may have to settle for the 390 but could certainly get good hp out of it. I'll still keep an eye out for a 428 but right now under $500 to get started is all I could afford. My first kid (of three) just started college and we are determined that she not have a ton of debt when she gets out so we're paying it all (which is making money pretty tight).

I had mentioned several times that I was not sure I could recognize suitable models or years in a junkyard that might have candidate engines. There are some great websites that show pictures of all the ford models by year with engine info; very helpful!

As a matter of interest if I wanted to get the right date code 390 what would be involved? I've heard several people say that it has to be within three months of production or something to that affect?

Everything you guys have said so far, and what I've read suggests that it is always better if you can see the motor working (as in buying an old beater) or disassembled so you can check wear and damage yourself.

We just had our first snow fall today here in Indiana so I probably won't be wandering any junkyards for a while. Many are online or at least have a phone number to call. My job takes me a lot into rural areas and I have seen some larger older junkyards in the middle of nowhere that might be less picked over.

An interesting option on my mustang that is very rare, is a tilt fold away steering column. Pretty cool.

Rob