390 F100 Dyno Results

[price5113]

We wanted to share the dyno results from a 390 that was built for our 70 F100 2WD B/W T85 3spd truck. Very 'old school' build! The lowdown on the engine is as follows: Stock crank ground .010/.010, C7 rods with Pioneer bolts, vintage TRW L2291F.030 pistons, P/Circle moly rings, Balanced, deck hgt averaged -.014", C8AE-H heads with replacement 2.03/1.56 valves, some minor bowl cleanup, Int. runner port matched to Med Riser size, Exh runner roof cleaned up, TFS springs(125lbs on seat-330lbs open)Comp retainers, locks,& lash caps, OE adj. rockers and shaft hardware except for DOVE shafts, Crane P/Rods, NOS Ford "shell" lifters, a early 70's vintage Racer Brown cam(230*@.050 INT&EXH, .525 Net Lift @ the vlv, 110*LS) Replacement Timing gears & chain, a Streetmaster(Gasket matched & the plenum 'cleaned up') Intake, and a Melling 'stock volume' oil pump with a ARP driveshaft, and the OE pan. The headers used on the dyno are the period correct Kustom brand pieces that will be used in truck(1 7/8" X 3.5 collector). The carb used was a 800 Holley dbl pumper. We tried a 600 dbl pumper as well , but the motor was down on TRQ & HP so the 800 was the choice. The Dist. is a old Accel "30200" Dual Point model with NOS Accel "Yellow jacket" plugs. The Comp. ratio worked out right at 9.7:1. Prem. pump gas was used on the dyno runs. All in all we are very happy with the outcome for the sum of parts used in this build!

[ScotiaFE]

Nice retro 390.

[jayb]

Nice job on that.  I like the paint job on the engine, and the valve covers.  Very 1970s...

[chilly460]

Very nice build, well matched pieces

[bluef100fe]

Very nice build should be a real nice street engine at right around 1 hp per cube... Cool old school build.

[price5113]

Thanks for all the compliments guys! Probally could have squeezed some more out of it, but figured that's enough for what its intended for. The original drivetrain would not stand up to much more torque! Would have liked to use the appropriate "Yellow" wires, but had these sitting on the shelf so we used them up. At least it will have the big "yellow" coil hanging off the cyl. head!

[hotrodfeguy]

Like Cody says those 390's don't make much power with iron heads do they, proving you don't need alloy to make power Nice job

[Grbmaverickmo]

Nice job!!!!! That would look perfect in my 54 I hope to make that kinda power out of my 390 when its done.

[Ford428CJ]

Awesome job! Love the old school stuff 

[plovett]

That's a nice build!  Seems like more than the sum of the parts.  And who doesn't like motors made out of blue collar parts, that make good power?

JMO,

paulie

[price5113]

Thanks Paulie and everyone else! Yeah, it sure makes a guy feel right when the 'combo' works out for the better! Especially when its with pieces that been have been around the better part of 4 decades. Its really inticing to play around with this combo. More compression(10.5ish), & cam and see how far a person could get with what little has been done to the cyl heads...............

[plovett]

I would think that going up to 10.5:1 compression would gain 10-12 hp.   Maybe worthwhile if could be done inexpensively with a head gasket swap, or inexpensive milling.

I think the bang for the buck mods at this point possibly could be modifying the intake more (if there's room for improvement there, maybe in the plenum?), and carb spacers.  In an F100 you should have lots of "intake height" room.  I tend to believe in using all that room up with carb spacers and air filter height.

More cam could help, too.  But not too much given the truck application needing at least some low end power.  Also, breaking in a new cam and lifters is a risk as well as being a fairly significant cost.

I guess what I'm saying is your combo seems to be achieving very well and I'm not sure there are any more easy/inexpensive gains to be made.  Carb spacers and air filter height might be the best bet for now.  Carb spacers often require different jetting if you go that route.  Typically an open spacer will require more jet than no spacer or a 4 hole spacer.

I'm assuming you optimized the ignition timing on the dyno? 

JMO,

paulie

edit:  I see the ignition timing on your dyno sheets now.  Did you try timing between 37 and 42 degrees?

[cjshaker]

I would think that going up to 10.5:1 compression would gain 10-12 hp.   Maybe worthwhile if could be done inexpensively with a head gasket swap, or inexpensive milling.

10.5:1 in a 3spd truck is really pushing it. Big jump in between gears and you can't help but lug them, especially with any kind of a load.

Really nice old school build. You can't beat a solid with the old shell lifters. darn near bullet proof and will last until the truck or engine (or both ) is plumb wore out.

[price5113]

I know what you guys are saying on the 10.5 comp. ratio deal. Flirting with disaster in this truck with the tranny gear splits as CJ mentioned! On the dyno a 1" plastic open spacer was used and yes the timing was optimized. It would be nice to send this combo with the comp. ratio & cam upgrades to a some what lighter chassis OR slide a C6 behind it in the truck. I have another F100 (69 STD bed 2WD) that came with a 302 C4 combo originally. I am seriously considering this similar 390 combo(WITH more C/R & Cam) in that truck with a FE-C4 bellhousing. Would make for a nice driver I believe..........I for got to mention on the Streetmaster that was used, I did cleanup the plenum and gasket match the runners 2" into each runner....................