Thread: first 390 build

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Ya the gas tank is behind the seat and how do I post a picture

Roger has the best explaination for that



Also-do you have a 2 piece drive shaft???

Originally Posted by rspears

It's good not to be guessing when the facts make huge differences in the approach. One thing to consider, you mentioned in an earlier post, Noble, OK sees large seasonal swings in ambient temperature with winter highs below freezing. An uncontrolled tranny cooler piped into your line will likely keep your tranny well below it's design operating temp. The reason that the cooler is in the radiator is to both heat & cool the fluid, not just cool. Loading it when cold can be worse than letting it get a little hot. You're much better off with no external cooler, or if one is needed, using a cooler with a thermostatic fan so that it only pulls air when the fluid is over temp. Just some gray hair advice, and you may choose to ignore it.

Best of luck with your build.

I will look into a controlled temp transmission cooler, you guys know alot more than I do for sure, and it wont let me post a picture from my phone

Back in that era , options available include package for trailer towing and one for camper special--2 batteries, tow harness, aux trans cooler before the radiator so coolant did stay above min temp, higher amp alternater, camper harness, dual fuel tanks,side mounted accesssory box

Originally Posted by riley1996

I will look into a controlled temp transmission cooler, you guys know alot more than I do for sure, and it wont let me post a picture from my phone

Jerry's right about the alternate plumbing of the in-line cooler. Be sure that it's ahead of the radiator cooler and you should be OK, too.
I expect your phone pictures are too big - you'll have to reduce them down to a nominal 1024 max dimension (normal for attaching to e-mail) to post them directly, or post them to a third party host and link images. Here's a link to a description - I'm using SmugMug instead of Photobucket now, more friendly and cost is reasonable - http://www.clubhotrod.com/shop-talk/...es-thread.html

It used to have dual gas tanks but took the one out of the bed it has a little cooler in front of the radiator I expect that the transcooler and It has a towing package but that all the little bell and whistles I got

Originally Posted by riley1996

It used to have dual gas tanks but took the one out of the bed it has a little cooler in front of the radiator I expect that the transcooler and It has a towing package but that all the little bell and whistles I got

Assuming that you're tracing the lines from the tranny & back to this "little cooler" and that your lines don't connect to threaded fittings at the bottom of the radiator to (little cooler in series with in-radiator cooler/HX), IMO you need to replace your radiator with one that has an internal tranny cooler, OR replace that little cooler you have with a HX with temp controlled fan. Your "little cooler in front of the radiator" won't allow your fluid to reach operating temp consistently.

Ok I'm pretty sure I can find one online someone where

Fuel tank in the bed?????? not a factory option-they were under left hand side of bed and had selector valve at left side of seat on floor by the drivers door.

Once again--do you have a one or a two piece drive shaft?

The aux trans cooler for the tow package wasn't awfually big and was mounted in front of radiator and plumbed into line FROM trans before it was then routed into lower rad before exit and return to trans-that way during colder weather and lighter use the rad could warm the fluid to desired temp as engine coolant is controled by engine thermostat.
( it seems quite a common false perseption on this site to cool the trans with a dedicated cooler/fan/control when in reality generally the fluid will need warming and the rad/engine coolant does that function)

Thanks to Roger and Jerry for addressing the proper routing of transmission cooler lines. Out of the transmission to an auxiliary cooler. Out of the auxiliary cooler to the bottom of the radiator. Out of the bottom of the radiator back to the transmission.... just makes common sense. I have argued with other fellows about this until I'm blue in the face.

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I'm gonna get under my truck tonight and follow these lines and see where they connect so I ain't in the dark about the lines and sorry I missed that question it was a 2 piece then I converted it into a swb its just a 1 piece now, and that's what I meant about the gas tank it was in the bed (underneath) worded wrong and yes the valve for the tank is still on the driver side floor by the seat

s o you shortened the frame?????
from 131 to 115 inches??

did you shorten your frame or graph on the rear of an 115 from another truck-I don't remember how straight the rails were for being able to just cut a section out but do seem to remember that both were the same to the back of cab area so ------

Oh no its a true shortbed i did a frame swap I feel as if cutting it would take away value to the truck

So basicly your putting a 68 cab on a different frame-------but are having issues with the hook up of basic components?? speedo?? trans cooler lines?? So was the frame your using have a 390 in it? and was the rear end from which truck?
I think I'm losing interest because you haven't told anyone exactly and completely


oh well good night

I done said I do paint and body work not alot of mechanics, my truck was originally a 1968 f100 lwb 352, I bought a 390 long block then I swapped the cab and front clip onto a 1968 shortbed frame, then I thought hey lets build the 390 engine up it would be fun, and I didn't know the speed cable was bad, my brother helped me hookup all the transmission lines and gauges, the rear end came from my lwb frame from which is a 9 inch ford rear end with 3.70 gears, all the cables and lines are hooked up I just need to replace the speed cable I do not know what else needs to be addressed because I'm lost at what your wanting to know