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Just picked up a Galaxie 2V 390 out of a 67 car. I want it to be a performer not a economy cruiser. What are the differences between a standard 390 and a 390 2V? Are there a few simple change overs like higher compression pistons, a four barrel intake, carb and cam? Or are they completely different all together? Im new to the forum and new with working with the FE engines.
Only difference would be the fact that it was a 2 barrell engine... Some of the 4V's had the GT heads and cam, made for a 390 horse torque monster....
There's a bunch of different stroker kits available for the FE's, makes a high torque engine have even more torque..... Also a couple companies making Aluminum heads for the FE's, along with roller cams and anything else you could want. Big question is, how much do you want to spend???? Best to have a budget in mind, then carefully select the best components for the money you want to spend. Also select components that will work together towards achieving what the engine is best at doing, making big torque at low to moderate RPM levels.....
or, as with any aspect of Hot Rodding, plan your work, work your plan........
Im going to go with a set of Edelbrock aluminum heads, and also one of there performer RPM intake manifolds. I have been reading many upgrade tips on the 390 and both seem to be popular. I glad I got that clarified. So if I change over the pistons, intake and give it a double pumping holley, I should be up around the 320HP mark? Of course I'll be doing more than that, but I want to have at least a 300HP baseline. Any modification tips would be great. I have an expanding budjet.
You'll easily make 300 horse.... Might want to take a look at the entire Edelbrock Performer RPM package for the 390's. The heads, cam, intake, and carb are offered as a package and designed by the engineers to compliment each other. I'm a Ford guy, installed a number of these Edelbrock packages on customer cars, everything from a 302's to a 514... Never have had any complaints about their performance......
I understand the Aug 08 Car Craft has 2 390 stroker builds for about $5k each. Jay Brown from FordFE.com did the writeup with Barry R from Survival MS. I haven't seen the mag yet but supposedly a couple of nice builds in the 500hp range I believe. Might be a good read for a few ideas? Also what are you planning to drop this in? And what kinda HP and TQ vs $$$ are you looking for and to spend? Dave is 100% on the budget. These can get kinda pricey the more you want.
Im dropping this motor into a 1990 T-Bird Super Coupe. The cars OEM motor spun bearings and instead of having it machined, im going to go ahead and convert it for the 390. These cars weigh in around the 3800lb mark. Anyone heard of anyone doing something like this? I would like it to be in the 450HP area little less or a little more, while still retaining all the torque. Anyone have any tips on a conversion like this? What needs to be done?
I was reading through some of the archives on articles concerning the 390 and I came across a thread saying that the C6 was never offered with a cast iron housing. Is this true? I bought my 67 motor with the so called C6 on it and I was told this it was a better C6 because the housing was cast iron, not aluminum. I dont know how to tell the difference between the cruise-o-matic and the C6.
Keep in mind thats a very heavy engine combo ,heavy enuff to require different front springs..........and a good engine stand with 4 wheels ,not the 3 wheeled tippers.
Most anything I've seen with a with a cast iron case is either an FMX or a Cruise-o-matic....If it's an aluminum bellhousing with a cast iron case it would be an FMX.... I've never seen a cast iron C-6, but that doesn't mean they never made one......There's a lot of things I've never seen.....
Check out the references that FFR posted.... Barry is IMO THE authority on FE buildups. His company is Survival Motorsports, some really first rate products!!!!!
As for shoehorning it into the T-bird, anything can be made to fit.... We drag race a same vintage 'bird with a 501 BBF in it.... Headers are going to have to be custom made, as well as engine mounts, tranny mount and a bunch of little things.... I'd suggest some careful measuring, especially the width between the strut towers before you get too deep into the project....
My transmission has an aluminum housing, with a cast iron case. How beefy is the FMX? Is it worth using over a C6? As for the t-bird 390 conversion, I still havent 100% decided on using it yet. I wanted to sell it but never got around to posting an add. I might go and do that. Anyway, I took the cast intake and one of the heads off to look at the condition of the pistons and they seem decent, I'll be installing a set of new forged pistons, but it seems the 73,000 miles that where on the engine where somewhat takin care of miles. Any suggestions on what I could drop the motor into without too much custom work?
Most any of the full sized Ford, Mercury, or Lincoln from the 60's, the majority of them came with an FE engine. Ford pickups had an FE engine available from the 60's til about '76.... A mid sixties shortbox halfton would make a very nice home for it!!!!
Can't tell you much on the FMX's, I usually go with a 4 speed behind an FE. The extra gear sure does make it easy to keep the engine in it's peak torque range....
As for the t-bird, either a Big Bock or a Windsor would be an easy install. All the parts are available aftermarket.... Headers, oil pan, etc.
I'll try the 390 in the bird. If I dont like the feel of it in the bird, i'll just put it into something else, maybe a 84-85 crown victoria. I guess I'll use the FMX until its cooked, I dont know anything about them. If thats even what it is. I was looking forward to installing a shift kit but I havent found anything for the FMX transmission.
www.broaderperformance.com can help with the FMX parts or whatever Ford trans you have to use. Not cheap but very good. I know there are some conversion kits for the FE into a late model Stang of which some parts might apply. I'm not up on the differences but I'd imagine the stang and bird forums would know. There is a cat named Damon Sea on www.460ford.com who's done the FE/Stang swap and now runs a stroked 385 series in it. Or did last I knew. But he might be able to share a few things with you. Worth asking anyway.
Thank you FFR428, I'll make sure to check into that. Does anyone know if a 390 would fit into a 63 falcon?