Stupidity confession

[a70eliminator]

Feeling pretty stupid I just cashed out >2000 bucks on a 390.
Align bore, decked .005 below deck, .030 over forged pistons, rods re-sized ARP bolts.
Now the punch line, it's a garden variety cast in 69 block, it wasn't until just recently I learned that
390 blocks with reinforced webbing at the main saddles could be found rather easily, I feel dumb because I thought the beefed web blocks were exclusive to 427 blocks, CJ's and never gave it another thought, oh well I'm still confident in it being a good engine for my street driven fairlane, old school solid lifters cam and a 4 speed, nothing serious, 375hp maybe with the headers and R heads exhaust ports opened cj valves PI intake 735cfm cj carb, hot ignition good timing curve.

[plovett]

Is it an assembled short block?  It might not be that bad of a deal.

JMO,

paulie

[a70eliminator]

Assembled! heck no that's machine work and mock up, I'll assemble it over winter in my nice warm Den.
I bought new speed pro pistons, still have to buy cam lifters timing chain, heads are done.

[TomP]

If you are worried that it doesn't have the extra webbing, don't be. The standard block will hold that sort of power just fine.

[Barry_R]

I intend to try and break a standard block in a couple weeks
I will let you know how it goes.

[Chrisss31]

I hate the feeling in your guts when you realize you just got burned or screwed up bad.  Don't sweat it too long, if that's the worst thing that happens while you're putting this engine together you'll be doing good!

[blykins]

No problem.  That block will go 500 hp easily.....I've done it.....many times. 

Don't sweat it.

If you want a stupidity confession, I once ordered 11/32" pushrods to help a clearance issue on a SBF I was assembling.   When I got them, I realized that they don't make 11/32" guide plates.   Instant face smack when I realized what I did. 

If you got a couple hours, I'll give you more examples.

[jimeast]

Seems like your build easily falls in the parameters of the block strength.  If the shop work and parts are good, the prices sound pretty good in comparison to my neck of the woods.  It's to the point where if I do another engine, I might ship things out of state to get machine work done.  I would for sure ship the heads out, maybe the block too.

[Drew Pojedinec]

If you got a couple hours, I'll give you more examples.

Hehe,
It's almost policy for me when tuning someone's car to leave the pcv hose disconnected for at least 10 minutes while I frantically try to figure out why the engine is running like crap.

I also install solenoid valves backwards, but only when they have arrows on them.

[garyv]

In the famous words of Brent Lykins, " It's only money." LOL
This is what he tells me all the time.
Don't beat yourself up over this. We've all done a few things we wish we could change.
You should have a great foundation for your build.
It's an expensive hobby.
garyv

[blykins]

An engine builder buddy often reminds me, "Hey, we're working on toys here." 

And that puts things into perspective.   We're not doing open heart surgery, we're not delivering babies.  We're building toys. 

[garyv]

Toys ! Yep expensive toys !
 garyv

[Drew Pojedinec]

I dunno, the engines I play with at work will kill us all in the middle of the ocean.... no pressure tho

[cjshaker]

An engine builder buddy often reminds me, "Hey, we're working on toys here." 

And that puts things into perspective.   We're not doing open heart surgery, we're not delivering babies.  We're building toys.

I agree with Brent, this is serious stuff! Not like open heart surgery, or delivering babies, which doctors do hundreds of times a year. If you screw up one of those, at least you get another chance or two that day to make it right

[plovett]

Making kids is easy.  You don't even have to be sober.