Motor ET ????

[Grbmaverickmo]

Ok. After talking with my buddies at a cruise Weds nite and getting busted about my boat anchor saying a stock stroke/ rod and iron head 390 wont make power. My question is what is the quickest 1/4 mile 390 you guys have heard of. No strokers/ aftermarket heads or blocks just run of the mill ford stuff in a regular body car. Thanks guys.

[thatdarncat]

Hopefully people should be able to give you some good examples, but I'll point you to NHRA stock eliminator racers to start the conversation. 390 powered vehicles, which have to maintain stock weight, routinely run in the high 10's. They are allowed to use a PI intake and the 735 cfm CJ replacement Holley. Aluminum heads ( NHRA accepted only ) are allowed, but not all racers use them. Keep in mind that "porting" is not allowed, valve sizes are stock and cams are limited to stock lift. Stock compression ratio also. Quite an accomplishment

[machoneman]

WerbyFord just posted these old car reviews on the FE Forum. Note that he's done some smoothing of the data from numerous car rag reviews in a great attempt to eliminate variables. As expected the 390GT is pretty far down on the list as back then the 390's were slower than the competition. Not terrible but not top of the heap either.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182/thread/1403546709/MPH+ranking%2C+road+tests%2C+351b-%233+428cj-%235

Ok. After talking with my buddies at a cruise Weds nite and getting busted about my boat anchor saying a stock stroke/ rod and iron head 390 wont make power. My question is what is the quickest 1/4 mile 390 you guys have heard of. No strokers/ aftermarket heads or blocks just run of the mill ford stuff in a regular body car. Thanks guys.

[bluef100fe]

My truck's 390 went 11.1x in a 64 falcon @ 3350 lbs. with the wrong gear... Had 4.10's when it should have had 4.57's....  C4 heads and stock size valves.... Pump gas solid flat tappet engine... Story on it is in the members build section of this forum... Titled "390 pump gas deal"... Hope this helps

[KMcCullah]

Maybe Dale P will chime in. His black Mustang runs mid 10's with a 390 but I think the heads are aluminum IIRC.

[fe66comet]

I have had both a 390 Ford and a 396 Chevy in service vehicles, same gear 650 Carbs, vac secondary ECT. Did not do any slip times but power wise the Ford had more torque hands down.

[fastback 427]

I had a 68 fairlane, 3450 lb empty, 390,  factory cj heads, 427f, stock rod, .560 cam, 4.10 gear, 31" tall tire, points, ran 12.0 all day. Had 1900$ in the long block in the early 90's.

[RJP]

Since the only true high performance 390 built was the 375/401 HP 390 in the 61/62 Fords. All other 390s were built with mediocre parts and not considered worthy of the term "high performance" Even the 61 HP 390s were not as radical as the period competition from GM or Mopar since the 390 were lower compression ratio [Ford advertised 10.6 to 1 as opposed to the [?]11.5 to 1 or more of the GM/Mopar] smaller cams and less carburation [3 x 2 vs 2 x 4 setups] but even at an equipment disadvantage the Fords could and did hold their own in competition. Add to the fact that the full size Fords were 300-400 lbs heavier than the GM/Mopars the 390 was a decent competitior. Any 390 with the right parts will run just as hard, if not harder, as any other engine of the same displacement. [to add] The 66-67 390 GT/GTA engine is what most people remember the 390 as a turd. With the restrictive "S" manifold, 600 cfm carb, choked exhaust manifolds, limp cam with it's heavy valve train and weak valve springs the stock 390 could barely spin 5K. Not much of a match up against the typical 66 Chevelle 375 hp/396. with its hotter cam, more cfm carb,  free flowing exhaust and about the same weight as the Fairlane or Mustang.     

[jimeast]

I don't disagree with your assessment of 390's, but I thought the '67 GT cam was the same one used in the 428 CJ for a while and had some beef to it?

The 66-67 390 GT/GTA engine is what most people remember the 390 as a turd. With the restrictive "S" manifold, 600 cfm carb, choked exhaust manifolds, limp cam with it's heavy valve train and weak valve springs the stock 390 could barely spin 5K. Not much of a match up against the typical 66 Chevelle 375 hp/396. with its hotter cam, more cfm carb,  free flowing exhaust and about the same weight as the Fairlane or Mustang.     

[RJP]

I don't disagree with your assessment of 390's, but I thought the '67 GT cam was the same one used in the 428 CJ for a while and had some beef to it?

The 66-67 390 GT/GTA engine is what most people remember the 390 as a turd. With the restrictive "S" manifold, 600 cfm carb, choked exhaust manifolds, limp cam with it's heavy valve train and weak valve springs the stock 390 could barely spin 5K. Not much of a match up against the typical 66 Chevelle 375 hp/396. with its hotter cam, more cfm carb,  free flowing exhaust and about the same weight as the Fairlane or Mustang.     

If memory serves the 67 GT cam was 270/290 dur. but with slow ramps so the effective duration [@.050"] was only about 210-220 deg...Not a real barnstormer compaired to what GM was installing. But also the bigger cam was still inhibited by the "S" intake [more suited for F-250 trucks] choked exhaust and the 600 Holley. Valve train and springs were from the 2V/270 HP-300HP bread and butter 390s found in Galaxie sedans and wagons. My daily driver is a 66 GTA Fairlane with a fresh .030" over 390, 9.6 to 1 c/r, mild Crane hyd. cam, stock exhaust manifolds, unmodified Streetmaster intake with a 600 Holley. I did the heads with SS CJ size valves and C/M retainers with good springs. Engine spins to 54-5500 effortlessly and enough power to easily hold it's own in any stoplight confrontation.

[fe66comet]

Didn't. The Cyclone and 500 have a higher output engine?

[CaptCobrajet]

I know of at least one 390 Stocker with iron heads and .481/.490 lift cam that can go 10.50's at 3600 lbs..........if he lets it.

[jimeast]

What RPM range? 

I know of at least one 390 Stocker with iron heads and .481/.490 lift cam that can go 10.50's at 3600 lbs..........if he lets it.

[Posi67]

My390 does have aluminum heads with some port work otherwise it's pretty much old school stock. Factory crank, rods and some used TRW 12.5 pistons. Cam is relatively mild by todays standards at .600 lift and the stock BT 2x4 is mostly for looks because I like 2 carbs. 10.50 is normal but it slows when the air goes away. Best was 10.38 at 129 MPH. Iron heads will hold you back unless someone like Blair gets his hands on them.

[CaptCobrajet]

What RPM range? 

6K to 8K.  Cams get lazy with no lift, so we have to spin'em up.  I am not the only one......there is a short list of those who can get the goods out of an iron head for the rules............ but with no rules to bind you..........the right CJ sized valves and the right valvejob and bowl cut goes a long way.  Seems like we did some "R" heads for a guy over in Dallas a few years ago with no rules and a little porting that made about 600 hp on his builder's dyno.  I sent them the heads, flat tappet cam, and other parts, and they assembled it.  I think it was a 445 best I remember, but iron heads, anyway, and between 6000 and 6500 rpm peak.

[Grbmaverickmo]

I`m gona be asking for phone numbers to get stuff from the short list of guys that can make that kinda power outa old iron. I`d be happy with a mid 11 pass and be drivable. This thread is interesting to say the least

[Mike Caruso]

I don't disagree with your assessment of 390's, but I thought the '67 GT cam was the same one used in the 428 CJ for a while and had some beef to it?

The 66-67 390 GT/GTA engine is what most people remember the 390 as a turd. With the restrictive "S" manifold, 600 cfm carb, choked exhaust manifolds, limp cam with it's heavy valve train and weak valve springs the stock 390 could barely spin 5K. Not much of a match up against the typical 66 Chevelle 375 hp/396. with its hotter cam, more cfm carb,  free flowing exhaust and about the same weight as the Fairlane or Mustang.     

My new 1967 Fairlane only the 4 speed 390 GT's with wide ratio 4 speed 2.78 first gear had the 304/324 camshaft. I forget the lift right now but had 94 degree's overlap. Yes, it was the same camshaft that I removed from my friends brand new 1969 SCJ. As they said in My Cousin Vinny they are IDENTICAL LOL in 1969 I worked in a Ford Parts dept and could not buy the Purple stripe camshaft, which was also THE 428 Highway Interceptor hyd stick. The only way I got a new one was to order in a 67 GT 390 short block take it out and drop in a new Pink stripe.
Service cam sold over the parts counter Pink stripe C6OZ-B same as the reg 66-69 390 GT automatic cam and close ratio 4 speeds in Mustangs was 270/290, 46 degree's overlap good upgrade for a stock 390cam. Crane used to and still does grind them both and I think Comp does also all under one part number C60Z-6250-B pick your poison.