Need advice on Building my first FE 390 for my S code Mach1

[ScotiaFE]

This is my plan for his money. 
You want to take it to the track.
Set up for track day.
Work on the trans. Install the loop so you can run slicks.
Work on the converter. A 10 inch 3000ish stall will REALLY make a huge difference on track day.
The difference between a 350 hp 390 and a 425 hp 390 is the cam. And they both cost about the same.
Granted they have much different manners on the street, but your going to the track.

You want to know what it will do.
As it is with the stock converter and 270 cam and street rubber, you will be having a great day if you get into the 13's.
Low 14's on a good track, 13's maybe on a fast track.
With a bigger cam, some converter and slicks, 12's.
Put some gear in to get out of the hole and you'd get into the 11's
Pick your poison.

Just some rambling thoughts.
 

[Fine69mach1]

Thanks for all the great info guys. There is a wealth of knowledge on this forum. I`m relatively new to the FE engines and have been researching them trying to learn the do's and don'ts in building my 390.
 I will look into a converter this week. any recommendations on brands of converters? I already have a tranny cooler set-up in my car so that is one less thing to check off my list.
so to sum things up, I will want to keep my duration @.50 around low 220 max without a converter and if I do get a converter I can move up to the .230 range.
is there any advantage to a split duration lift/ vs single pattern cams with my set-up?
would there be much low rpm gain if I went to the performer rpm intake vs streetmaster. Probly not worth spending money on that as I can get a converter for the price of a new intake.

[afret]

Yup, you would see a much much bigger difference/gain from going to a good matching converter from stock than swapping between those two intakes.

Seems like the place to go now is UCC since JPT and Munsinger are no longer around.  You might consider calling them.  I don't think they have any off the shelf converters.  They just make them specifically for your setup so you need to give them all the info about cam, gearing, weight, and so on

http://www.ultimateconverter.com/

[ScotiaFE]

Well may as well make my plug.
Hughes. When I was using my C6 and Hughes 10 inch I had no issues except loss of traction with crappy street tires.
And it ships today. 

http://www.summitracing.com/int/parts/hup-35-30/overview/

[plovett]

is there any advantage to a split duration lift/ vs single pattern cams with my set-up?

In my opinion your combination could go either way it terms of single or dual pattern cam.  You have good heads, headers, and good exhaust so the extra exhaust duration isn't absolutely necessary.   

A knowledgeable FE guy once said that cams can't read.   I think what he meant was that the engine and the physics going on inside it decide what this or that cam will do.   It may or may not  follow the "accepted wisdom".  That said, more exhaust duration will generally keep your power peak going longer before falling off, and you might get a higher peak hp.    Excessive exhaust duration might reduce low rpm power some.  Single pattern cams might make more low-mid range power compared to an otherwise identical cam with longer exhaust duration. 

Most of the time in a hotrod engine I think more exhaust duration is beneficial.  Were I to pick a cam for your engine I would look for maybe 4-8 degees more exhaust duration than intake duration. 

JMO,

paulie

[plovett]

Yeah, that Crower is a nice little cam.   Ran that on my Mustang for a little while.

Can you tell us a little more about your Mustang that had that Crower 224-232 cam?   What size engine? Compression?  What gear and stall (if automatic).  Headers?  etc?  And how did it run?  What rpm did you turn it?  Maybe it's similar to the original poster's car.

thanks,

paulie

[Fine69mach1]

Looks like a found a builder who is gonna build my motor for me. He uses a custom camshaft building in California someone who will grind me a cam to match my setup. He also has a dyno in his shop so after the build is complete he will tune it on the dyno, after break in of course.  And he will help me get a proper converter too.
Looks like I'm gonna go past my budget but I want to get it built right and not have to do it again or be un happy with my results because I didn't spend a few more $$.
Thanks for all the help this far and I will keep you all posted on the progress and what parts and grind numbers for camshaft when it gets done.

Any suggestions on pistons? Hypereutectic vs forged?
Good COmp ratio to survive on pump fuel?
Rear sump oil pan vs front sump?

[Fine69mach1]

Also how much more money am I talking if go for a Hyd. Roller camshaft vs reg Hyd ?
Would I need to change my entire valve train to support and roller?

[ScotiaFE]

This is something you should seriously consider.
Buy yourself a stroker kit.
No machine shop can dress up a 390 crank to match the out put of a 4.250 inch crank.
If your going to have a shop dress up the inards of a 390 it will cost you almost the same to
purchase a stroker kit maybe even less in the long term.
And this is something you can assemble in your shed at home.
You can pretty much put any cam you want in to suit your power wants.
From low 400's to a 500 plus hp tire shedder.
It costs about 2k for the modest kit. Ask your machinist to build you a perfect 390 short block
and keep the price under 2k.  

[Fine69mach1]

Thanks for that suggestion. I will ask him to price that stroker kit out vs a short block rebuild.

[Lenz]

Jumping in late and running a 4 speed w/manual brakes but gotta say the XE274HD-10 was about the only thing in my old 390 that had me hooked. 

A little lumpy but great idle at 850-900 rpm, came off idle strong and kept on pulling.  Its in my 445 right now ready for another round of duty.  I may decide to change it out but I can't let it go without having at it in a well built stroker to see what it does.

Duration is 230 int/236 ex @ .050" lift respectively (down the middle of what Paulie was sayin' earlier).  Total lift w/stock rocker ratio of 1.76 comes in at .565".

I know you've made up your mind on direction but thought I'd kick in my seat of the pants experience with this cam in a 390.