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390 fe or 302

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Coolblue, Dec 28, 2012.

  1. Opposite dilemma...have a decent '65 289-2v/C4 in my '55 Ford Victoria and a spare '64 T-bird 300hp 390-4v on the floor needing crank grind/bearings but otherwise solid. Have seriously thought about dumping the 289/C4 because of weak torque and dropping in the 390 and a Cruise-O-Matic or AOD, but this conjurs up thoughts of motor/trans mount fabrication, hammering the firewall and/or moving the radiator forward, not to mention the weight gain. A 351W/AOD for cruising/power (even with a non-traditional 'stroker' build-up) would seem to be the 'best of both worlds' if you were willing to part with both mills.

    In your position, though, I'd keep the 390 in place and drive it.
     
  2. Coolblue
    Joined: Oct 9, 2012
    Posts: 48

    Coolblue
    Member

    I drive my car maybe twice a week. With no glass it kinda sucks

    Sent from my DROID device using the TJJ mobile app
     
  3. spooler41
    Joined: Feb 25, 2007
    Posts: 1,099

    spooler41
    Member

    Blue, if you want to take some weight off the 390 ,replace the 390 iron intake with an alum. 4 v intake. I did that on my o/t '68 country sedan,probably knocked off 60 or 70 lb's.
    I also have 2 backup motors, a '70 428 and a '79 (no smog equip.) 460 that is in a 1ton van. I'm not going to screw with it until the org. 390 bites the dust.

    .................Jack
     
  4. David Chandler
    Joined: Jan 27, 2007
    Posts: 1,101

    David Chandler
    Member

    keep the 390 until it's on it's death bed. I like 302's but they can't compare with the torque of your 390, even if'it's a 2bbl engine. I''ve owned both, and can tell you that from personal experiance. Also with the right gears, a 2bbl 390 isn't that bad on highway milage, considering it's added cubes.
     
  5. Coolblue
    Joined: Oct 9, 2012
    Posts: 48

    Coolblue
    Member

    Right on I'm def gonna looks a alum intake 4v. Is a C6 tranny good or should I try something different? See this s my first ford I've ever owned
     
  6. ididntdoit1960
    Joined: Dec 13, 2011
    Posts: 1,030

    ididntdoit1960
    Member
    from Western MA

    Yes c6 is the best available auto - otherwise its a FMX or earlier MX derivitive which are inferior cast iron Borg warners - if you can fit and afford the shorty factory cast headers someone is repoping them - as outlined here the log manifolds suck
     
  7. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 23,752

    Deuces

    How about a 2x4 setup instead....;)
     

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  8. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 23,752

    Deuces

    I have a set of those Twisted-Wedge heads on my 352-W motor... Had to drill out the head bolt holes to 531" dia. so I could use the 1/2" dia. studs... Killer motor...;)
     
  9. tbucket_tot
    Joined: Dec 18, 2012
    Posts: 15

    tbucket_tot
    Member
    from kentucky

    FE 390 all the way upgrade heads and intake
     

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    Last edited: Dec 30, 2012
  10. MeanGene427
    Joined: Dec 15, 2010
    Posts: 2,307

    MeanGene427
    Member
    from Napa

    Actually you're worrying about bupkus, it's a pretty easy swap as the Y-block fit in there before, and the weight of an FE and Y-block aren't that different. The father of my buddy that had all the Cobras and GT40's had a '54 that he ran a hot 312 in for a while, then went to a Medium Riser 427- turned the original engine mounts around and bolted it in. His car as kool, had '65 LTD disc brakes on the front, a '65 Shelby 31-spline rear with 3.91's and a Detroit Locker, HD 3spd w/OD, and a Shelby Dominator intake with a 1050 on it, and the original olive drab paint withg funky hubcaps- would have made a helluva likker car, and surprised more than a few kidz in Camaros and Chebbelles :eek:
     
  11. Engine man
    Joined: Jan 30, 2011
    Posts: 3,480

    Engine man
    Member
    from Wisconsin

    It is a hassle to change from an FE to a 302. Different motor mounts and transmission as well as everything to mount the accessories. I remember a guy buying two 65 Fords for $100. One with a 289 and a rusted frame and the other with a blown up FE and a good frame and body. Even swapping year for year, it turned into a bigger project than he thought. The driveshaft didn't match up, he had to change the front springs to get the car to sit level.
     
  12. Coolblue
    Joined: Oct 9, 2012
    Posts: 48

    Coolblue
    Member

    I honk I'm def gonna stay with my 390 and sell the 302. Any takers on it?
     
  13. Faus
    Joined: Mar 5, 2012
    Posts: 175

    Faus
    Member

    If you install a 428 crank and other components you'll have a 410 which is easy to get parts for also... It uses the 390 heads looks like a 390 but it makes it externally balanced. It would be a cheaper upgrade for about 330 hp with a 2 bbl carb, 345 hp with a 4 bbl, and tons of torque.


    Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
     
  14. Hemiman 426
    Joined: Apr 7, 2011
    Posts: 699

    Hemiman 426
    Member
    from Tulsa, Ok.

    I would agree with the guys saying "if it ain't broke"..... you also had some good suggestions throw out there for you to take advantage of that will help in the milage dept. Get rid of the stock intake for an aluminum one, and find an AOD to replace the C-6..
     
  15. classiccarlover
    Joined: Jul 3, 2009
    Posts: 28

    classiccarlover
    Member

    I have a '66 390 and c6 that came out of a 60's merc. Its sitting for a future project. Dude keep the 390...you could even put a 428 crank in it like mercury did and make it a 410fe.
     
  16. classiccarlover
    Joined: Jul 3, 2009
    Posts: 28

    classiccarlover
    Member

    oh grap sorry faus! I didnt see your post. yep you are correct dude.
     
  17. Faus
    Joined: Mar 5, 2012
    Posts: 175

    Faus
    Member

    The only reason I know about FE is because those motors were really production experiments. Put a 390 crank in a 352 block you get a 360, put a 390 crank in a 428 block you get a 406, 428 crank in a 390 block you get a 410, Change intakes to see what happens and so on. Good motors to experiment with, even better with 4 speed top-loaders.


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  18. MeanGene427
    Joined: Dec 15, 2010
    Posts: 2,307

    MeanGene427
    Member
    from Napa

    The FE has to be the champion for having inaccurate "facts" posted about it- "production experiment"???
     
  19. dave lewis
    Joined: Dec 12, 2006
    Posts: 1,378

    dave lewis
    Member
    from Nampa ID

    And...how many more people are going to tell him to put an AOD behind it ??
    Since ford NEVER made an OD automatic with the FE pattern case.
    There are aftermarket conversions, but they are BIG $ !

    Dave
     
  20. Faus
    Joined: Mar 5, 2012
    Posts: 175

    Faus
    Member

    I never said I was speaking gospel. I got the numbers on the 360 turned around and I thought I wrote 427 not 428. Actually a 427 was really something like a 425 and ford faked the numbers for racing, if I remember correctly. Don't hold me on the 425 but it was something like that. As it is I would love the have the hemi 429 ford in my falcon.


    Posted from the TJJ App for iPhone & iPad
     
  21. MeanGene427
    Joined: Dec 15, 2010
    Posts: 2,307

    MeanGene427
    Member
    from Napa

    The AOD does indeed work sweet behind an FE, but as was said, it was never made with the FE bellhousing pattern, and the conversion setups are very good but far from cheap. HD manual 3spd w/ OD is also good, and the most common and cheapest is the 3 + OD toploader "four speed" from 80's pickups. I picked one up a while back for $150 complete with the pickup shifter that I'm going to try to put in my '52 F1 with 3.92 gears
     
  22. JeffB2
    Joined: Dec 18, 2006
    Posts: 9,484

    JeffB2
    Member
    from Phoenix,AZ

    You haven't been hanging out in the 52-59 Ford Group often enough, an FE Block is a drop in in your '55,you even use the same motor mounts you just turn them there is no firewall clearance issues and because the heads are raised the exhaust will clear the steering box the AOD would be nice but would need to have some tweaking to handle the FE's torque also the adapter from FE block to AOD runs around $850 with the special starter.The Cruise-O-Matic or a C6 will fit with stock mounts also.
     
  23. Ford-Man
    Joined: Apr 6, 2009
    Posts: 288

    Ford-Man
    Member

    I was wondering who would correct all these AOD posts...it's far from a simple slap and go setup. That being said, overdrive with the FE would be killer!

    I have always had better luck with 4-speeds personally, but as far as an automatic goes...the C6 is the way to go. The FMX and like are crap.

    For an asking price on your 302, I paid $200 for a 289 not running. $500 complete and I hear it running would be as high as I would personally go. That's just me though, some people will pay more. Kinda depends on what it has in it too....cam, miles, pistons...it all makes a difference. Just asking for a blanket price without listing specs...look above.
     

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