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390 FE GT VS 460 Ford

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Larry Pearsall, Apr 14, 2010.

  1. Larry Pearsall
    Joined: Apr 7, 2007
    Posts: 1,462

    Larry Pearsall
    Member

    I have a couple 390 GT complete engins as well as a 410 FE Merc.. I just aquired a 460" Ford today ...Either Will need total rebuild.. Anyone have have rebuild experence with either or or both ? Cost Parts & Labor..Which would be the best dollar value ?
     
  2. mtkawboy
    Joined: Feb 12, 2007
    Posts: 1,213

    mtkawboy
    Member

    Put the 390 Gt heads & intake on the 410 merc. Its just a 390 with a 428 stroke. Also note the 410 is externally balanced, meaning you need the harmonic balancer and a 410 or 428 flywheel. That assuming you want to go the best you can the cheapest. 460 is a good motor but needs everything to run, You could also sell the 390Gt stuff to restorers and build the 460, all depends on the condition of the stuff you have
     
  3. ThePuck
    Joined: Apr 9, 2009
    Posts: 116

    ThePuck
    Member
    from Ottawa

    A mild 460 will kill the 390.
     
  4. flatjack
    Joined: Feb 13, 2007
    Posts: 975

    flatjack
    Member

    Got as soft spot for 390's, but the 460 is the way to go. Nothing really special about the GT heads.
     

  5. A Chopped Coupe
    Joined: Mar 2, 2004
    Posts: 1,133

    A Chopped Coupe
    Member

    With a rebuild, mild cam and 4brl carb and intake..............and a set of headers you can make 375/380hp and close to 450lbft of torque....................now try that with a 390 for the same money.................................you can't!
    Go with the 460 and you will be much happier.

    IMHO
     
  6. resqd37Zep
    Joined: Aug 28, 2006
    Posts: 3,216

    resqd37Zep
    Member
    from Nor Cal

    Fe 390 with aluminum heads and intake weights less than a small block Chevy. Try that with a 460.
     
  7. DirtyThirty
    Joined: Mar 8, 2007
    Posts: 2,396

    DirtyThirty
    Member
    from nowhere...

    You won't make more power, for less money, with anything there but the 460.
    Hands down.
    But, F.E.'s are cool.....
    If you are gonna beat it, on a budget, and don't want to cry for days when things break, go 460...
    It is, of course, a bit more on the "unsightly" side, and obviously not period correct, but....if only power to dollar matters...460.
     
  8. DirtyThirty
    Joined: Mar 8, 2007
    Posts: 2,396

    DirtyThirty
    Member
    from nowhere...

    It might help, but the power potential of those extra inches, and cheaper parts, still trump it, IMO...
     
  9. 65COMET
    Joined: Apr 10, 2007
    Posts: 3,086

    65COMET
    Member

    The biggest issue with a 385 series engine is they are HUGE and HEAVY!!!A garden variety 460 is a turd,you need better heads,cam,intake,pistons and rods to make horsepower[been there,done that]! ROY.
     
  10. 56oldsDarrin
    Joined: May 9, 2009
    Posts: 396

    56oldsDarrin
    Member

    I pulled a half decent 352/c6 out of my old 67 F250 and put in a mild 460 (sealed power cam, 429 heads, iron 4v intake). Yes it was alot faster, but the damn thing averaged 4 mpg BETTER! One look at the exhaust runners will explain a lot.
     
  11. 65COMET
    Joined: Apr 10, 2007
    Posts: 3,086

    65COMET
    Member

    I'm not saying the 460 won't make power,just that they are huge.A pickup has the room for one but most early,pre 72 don't.The stock rods are only good for stock or nearly stock engines,I could build a bridge out of all the ones I ruined,the cap is not much more than a flat strap shaped to fit! ROY.
     
  12. 55 buick
    Joined: Sep 16, 2006
    Posts: 15

    55 buick
    Member

    good thread, that answers a few questions for me too,
     
  13. mtkawboy
    Joined: Feb 12, 2007
    Posts: 1,213

    mtkawboy
    Member

  14. I've had a lengthy fling with the 352, 390, 406 FE motors, but look where the technology lies, back in 1958.

    Great engines, but I grew to like the 429, 460 family when I was into stock cars. They have huge valves and ports that you can almost stick a fist into. Lots of parts are available for them depending on how crazy you want to get.

    Bob
     
  15. ThePuck
    Joined: Apr 9, 2009
    Posts: 116

    ThePuck
    Member
    from Ottawa

    I believe that site closed about a year ago.
     
  16. does all the 460 info here apply equally to a 429? i have a 69 429 and a couple of f.e.s ive been leaning torward the FE because of size and weight but, if i can get more bang for nthe buck out of the 429 i might go that route
     
  17. propwash
    Joined: Jul 25, 2005
    Posts: 3,857

    propwash
    Member
    from Las Vegas

    Ch1 V61 of the Hotrodders Creed will answer your question:

    Verily I say unto thee...there is no substitute for cubic inches...Praise the Enlarged

    dj
     
  18. All things being equal, I'd go with a 1969-1971 vintage 429 over any 460 any day. They were pre-smog equipment motors in most of the country. I used to seek these out for cores for my stock car power plants.

    Bob
     
  19. I'll second what others have said. If you are going for looks and the cool factor, hard to beat the FE. A few dress up parts and your 390 looks like a 427 Shelby or 428 Cobra Jet...But if you want big power, the 429/460 is the way to go. Cheaper to build as well.
     
  20. RancheroMan
    Joined: Mar 31, 2006
    Posts: 260

    RancheroMan
    Member

    FE's are cooler. period.

    and expensive.
     

  21. I ran into some of those too, but the 429 was more available in my neck of the woods. Either one would be my choice over something newer, regardless, they made plenty of power on the cheap.

    Bob
     
  22. Heo
    Joined: Jan 8, 2010
    Posts: 524

    Heo
    Member

    ha if you think FE parts are expensive
    try to build a Mercedes V8
     
  23. Probably not.:rolleyes:
     
  24. What are you putting it in ?

    I personnally like the 385 series stuff (429-460), the early 460's were rated at 365 hp and 500 lbs/ft of torque. I have a '69 and a '70 sitting in a storage container. The fe's have a wider variety of "Hot Rod" looking parts but you can get 4x2v Webers and 2x4 intakes for the 460's from Blue Thunder. The biggest problem I have with the 460's is the lack of cool looking valve covers, so we made an adapter to allow for the use of any BBC valve cover. I've also had better luck with fuel milage out of the 429-460 stuff.

    My 521 with valve cover adapters and Cal Custom valve covers;

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  25. johnnie
    Joined: Jan 7, 2009
    Posts: 493

    johnnie
    Member
    from indiana

    Got any details on those adapters? I would like to do this too!
     
  26. A friend of mine designed them and makes them on his CNC machine. They are $130 a set plus shipping, I will get you some pics tonight.
     
  27. I have a '56 and a '57 Ford both 312 Y-Block powered and a '61 Starliner with a 390. All are recently rebuilt and none are stock and I love them all!

    If you want the bigest bang for your buck the 460 is the only way to go. My '58 Tudor uses a '70 Lincoln 460 with about 10.0:1 compression, 290 duration cam 750 Holley, Edelbrock intake and cam. It's balanced with some mild porting on the exhust side of the D0VE A iron heads. It turns a C6 auto and a 3.70:1 Traction-Lok 9-inch rear end. It's mounted with a Crites engine & trans mount kit and Crites headers.

    I've got less than $3,000 in this engine and it pulls like a freight train and will run 12's in the quarter all day long.
     

    Attached Files:

  28. johnnie
    Joined: Jan 7, 2009
    Posts: 493

    johnnie
    Member
    from indiana

    Thanks bud. I would like to make my 460 look more like it was built in the mid '60s. Valve covers and the Blue thunder 2x4 intake with velocity stacks should do it!
    To add to this thread, I have both FE's and 429-460s. It is easier and cheaper to build the 460 over the others. Way more piston selection and head choices. Still, I love the look of my chrome Merc Lightening bolt covered, 2x4 intake, cross-bolted 390!
     
  29. 067chevy
    Joined: Sep 18, 2005
    Posts: 2,073

    067chevy
    Member

    Anyone put a FE in a 30 Model A Coupe? I've been wanting to but am concerned about the size, and wonder if it will look kinda funny.
     

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