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 |  390 Head Gasket -- crusinbuddy, 05/26/2004
My old head gaskets are long gone to use as a reference. I have new head gaskets to install and I note that the gaskets cover up the front water passage, except for a small hole in the gasket. The rear water passage opening is large and is the shape of the passage. Is this correct or do I have some strange gaskets? The package says for 390.
Thanks for a response. |
|  | Sounds right to me. -- Dave Shoe, 05/26/2004
THe front banana slotds in the block are apparently there to support the sand cores securely during casting. They are sure not there to provide coolant flow.Water flows through the engine from the water pump into the front of the block, to the back of the block, up into the head, forward in the head, into the intake manifold, and out to the radiator.
If you allowed coolant to flow up front in the block, the rear of the engine would tend to get stagnant coolant that would get too hot. The little hole is in the gasket to bleed trapped air or steam when necessary, since a little bit of flow in that area is just fine.
Shoe. |
| |  | RE: Sounds right to me. -- crusinbuddy, 05/26/2004
Thanks for the information. I appreciate the response and the explanation. Great to learn a new thing every day! |
|  | RE: 390 Head Gasket -- Lucas, 05/28/2004
If you need any additional building info on FE Ford engines, I recommend Steve Christ's book "How to Rebuild Your Big Block Ford"
Written in 83, but a lot of very good info! |
| | | RE: 390 Head Gasket -- rusty_wallet, 12/21/2004
Hey, I got That book. But, where can I find camshaft numbers and lifts?(is there a book for that?) |
| Do I have the correct 390 GT air cleaner? -- Phil, 05/26/2004
Bought a 67 390 GT 4 speed mustang convertible in 1989. The car and engine was apart but all of the original driveline was there. The car has an october 66 build date. The car came with a 66 galaxie style air cleaner, with one snorkle and the correct 390GT style chrome lid. Everyone says the car should have the air cleaner base with the two screen openings. Is it possible my car came with the galaxie style breather because it is an early car. Does anyone have or know of any original untouched mustang with the snorkle style base with a chrome lid. Sure would save me some bucks buying the base with screens on ebay for 300+ bucks!
Thanks! |
| | are you sure your car is a GT? -- hawkrod, 05/26/2004
it may have an S code GT engine but not have the GT equipment package. if that is the case then the snorkel is correct according to ford literature. the air cleaner should actually be a Tbird unit which is a little different than a galaxie unit. do you have a marti report? also out of curiosity what is the DSO and did the car come with thermactor? hawkrod |
| | | RE: Besides, if it is a GT... -- Gerry Proctor, 05/26/2004
It would make more sense that it had a '66 GT air cleaner...if you gave any merit to the "early car" arguement. If it is a real GT car with a real GT engine appearance package then the cleaner would be as hawkrod describes -no snorkle. Any other 390 would have the snorkle air cleaner. The chrome top is the same as the painted top in '67.
Look at the fifth character in the car's VIN to see if it has an "S" in it. If there is an S then you know the engine should be the S-code 390. You can go to Woody's Fairlane site, http://www.woodyg.com/fairlane/ to decode the rest of the VIN and door tag. |
| | | | RE: Besides, if it is a GT... -- Phil, 05/27/2004
It is a real GT! I have the 999 Ford report and the Marti report showing that it is a factory GT. It came with the chrome PBF valve covers and the chrome dipstick. It is an S code car built in NJ with no smog. Thanks again for your responses. |
| | | |  | a real GT should have screens. N/M -- hawkrod, 05/27/2004
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| | | | | | That is not the correct air cleaner -- Hawkrod, 11/24/2005
That is a Fairlane unit and is much different from a Mustang. Hawkrod |
| Rollmaster timing chain question?... -- kuch73, 05/26/2004
Those of you that have one of these, how many, if any, torrington bearings did it come with? I bought one from ebay, maybe my mistake, but it only has one torrington bearing set. If it is only one, does the bearing go between the cam sprocket and retainer or between the cam and retainer? I ask because the sprocket has a machined area that looks like it is for the bearing to go, but when I installed it to check end play, there was none! Just wanted to check as this is my first attempt at the roller torrington setup. Thanks |
| Installing 390 in a 1969 Mustang. Any tips?? -- Dano, 05/25/2004
The 390 for my 69 Mustang is about ready to install. I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations on the best way to put it in. I am planning on putting the flywheel, clutch and bellhousing on first, making sure the transmission goes in ok . Then dropping the engine, bellhousing, clutch assembly in with the FPA headers on, bolt it to the motormounts and then put the transmission in from underneath. Would it be easier to put the engine, with headers, and transmission allready on, into the car allready assembled?
[Title edited for clarity by Admin.] |
| Do's and don'ts on porting C3AE heads ? -- Jay, 05/25/2004
I have a set of c3ae heads. What are the basic do's and don'ts when it comes to porting. Is their alot to be gained in performance?
[Title edited for clarity by Admin.] |
| | RE: Do's and don'ts on porting C3AE heads ? -- Bob, 05/28/2004
Good question. No one on here seems to know the answer. I asked about shaving the head for some cheap horse power and got about the same results. Did cut my head down from 72cc to 69cc made a big difference in the power. |
| | | Thanks Bob for the reply -- Jay, 05/29/2004
I have always cleaned up the bowls on my heads but have never even done the gasket matching. The c3 heads I have supposedly have the 65cc chambers but I have that figure is exaggerated . I may knock .030 off of them and gasket match and clean up the bowls. |
| | RE: Do's and don'ts on porting C3AE heads ? -- giacamo, 05/28/2004
i just try to port mach to intake and clean up ruff casting.i,v sean the exaust port hoged out tohelp flow i dont know if this really helps or not. |
| | | RE: Do's and don'ts on porting C3AE heads ? -- Bob, 05/28/2004
That is all I did to mine was gasket match and clean up the old casting bumps. But if you do not know what you are doing you can do more damage than good when hoging out a head for more flow on the exhaust side. That is what is meant by the do's and don'ts. I am sure there is some fe gurus out there that knows the do's and don'ts to a fe head. Thanks in advance. |
| | | Giacomo? -- Jay, 05/29/2004
Do you gasket match the ports or just match up the intake with the heads? |
| | | | RE: Giacomo? -- Bob, 05/29/2004
What I did was spray blueing on the intake and exhaust flanges of the head,then bolt the same type gasket that your going to use to the flange intake or exhaust scribe the area you can see inside the gasket then cut and blend every thing inside the scribe mark. I also did the same thing to my intakeand my headers. |
| | | | RE: Giacomo? -- giacamo, 05/29/2004
i,v sean the exaust ports hoged out right or wroung? is anybodies gess? if this helps.i,v also sean fe heads basterized with big block cheavy valves.what a mess. |
| 351 mounting -- Apeman, 05/25/2004
Anyone know what size/ thread bolts to use to mount a 351W block to an engine stand? |
| | 7/16 coarse thread n/m -- Paul R, 05/25/2004
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| | 7/16-14 -- raycfe, 05/25/2004
n/m |
| 58 352 rear cam plug popped out!?! -- Paul R, 05/24/2004
Hi. I have a 58 thunderbird with a 352. I installed a 69 390 cam in it. I tapped the two holes in the oil galleys & converted to the 64 & up cam retainer. I also installed a double roller timming chain zero up. I drove the car about 70 miles & oil started pouring out the of the rear main area after I heard a grinding noise for a few seconds. The rear cam plug popped out. inspecting the plug, there are no marks that would indicate the cam was rubbing on it. Is this just a fluke or did something possibly cause this from the cam change? oppinions would be appreciated. Thanks! |
| | Did you install it convex out? -- Dave Shoe, 05/24/2004
The cam end-plug is installed backward from the coolant plugs, in that the "bottom of the cup" faces out, and the inside of the plug is toward the cam. The plug is specially designed to install this reverse-from-conventional direction. This assures the cam center cannot contact the plug unless the cam is really whacked out.
I installed my first cam plug backwards, but replaced it properly prior to assembling the engine.
Shoe. |
| | | RE: Did you install it convex out? -- Paul R, 05/25/2004
This engine appears to have never been apart prior to me checking it out. It still has its original bearings in it as they are still good. The plug was however installed backwards by your description. factory error? I checked a 360 truck motor I have out (also untouched) & the plug is in the way you said. The only thing I can think of why it blew out was when I was installing the cam, I pushed it to far in initally, the cam tapped the plug & upset it. That combined with it being in backwards caused it to blow out. I cant see any other problem. I am going to drill 3 small holes in the block face around outside of the plug face, tap them, & install 3 machine screws with washers to hold the plug. I know its overkill but I dont want to pull the tranny again! Thanks for the input! |
| | | | The factory used a tool to install it correctly. -- Dave Shoe, 05/26/2004
It's unlikely the factory could have installed it backward, as they used a special tool shaped to install it correctly.
It will pop out quite readily when installed backward, and that is a GOOD thing, since if you drive it when any wear contact was made, you will generate metal debris which will certainly work itself into the cam bearing and further, would often destroy the rear main bearing.
The plugs are commonly available at auto stores, and are specifically tapered to only work properly in one direction. I'd probably avoid the screws, since any bad fit will result in intolerable oil leaks. The screws themselves may create a leak. When I first attempted to correct the backwards installed plug in the engine I was assembling, I went out and bought a half dozen plugs from the auto store and practiced until I felt I knew how to properly drive the plugs in.
Focus on a good seal, as it's far more important than figuring out how to retain the plug if it's installed in the proper direction. I sue permatex hardening sealer with good luck, but I've heard of others who more strongly swear by the sealers they use. The sealer "Hylomar" comes to mind as one that is regularly mentioned, though I've never seen or used it.
Note also that any protruding irems off the back of the engine, such as maybe threaded oiling plugs or added screws, should be accompanied by matching holes in the engine plate, otherwise you'll be bending the plate when you bolt the bellhousing to the engine.
Shoe.
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| | I've heard others w/ similar problems. Not sure of the cause. [n/m] -- Mr F, 05/26/2004
n/m |
| | RE: 58 352 rear cam plug popped out!?! -- giacamo, 05/26/2004
i use indien head gasket salack on my cam plugs thay never leak.and make shure you drive them flush with the block surface. |
| 390 distributor?? -- Josh, 05/24/2004
just wonderin if anyone knows of any good high performance distributors for a 390, dont know the exact year. its in a 74 ford but its no where near the stock engine. i need a new one cuz mines shot, and i was wondering which works best. i went on jegs and looked and found a few, i want the MSD but i dont know which is best. thought id ask. any info would be best. |
| harmonic balancer spacer -- brad, 05/24/2004
hi my nane is brad and i have a 1969 mustang convertible that i am rebuilding.my question is this i have a 390 engine in this car and i am about to put the harmonic balancer on the engine but i have this spacer that is about 7 or 8 inches long and about 3 or 4 inches around and it is narrower at one end than the other my question is how does this go back on, does it set behind the timing chain cover or does it go on afterf the timing chain cover and which way does it face small end towards the timing chain or small end towards the balancer itself. |
| | Spacer -- Royce, 05/25/2004
The small end fits into the hole on the timing cover and provides a surface for the seal. You need to install the cover with a couple loose bolts, then slide the spacer into place to locate the seal properly before installing and tightening the rest of the bolts.
Royce |
| | RE: harmonic balancer spacer -- giacamo, 05/25/2004
royce has it right i,d allso check and see if it neads a repair sleave so the seal has a nice new smouth surface to ride on.. |
| c8aeh heads - free to a good home -- Charlie, 05/24/2004
Moving to new house and need to clean out garage. Free to good home c8aeh heads. They are in good shape with about 100k miles. Pay shipping or pick up in Cheyenne, WY. I don't have the room for them, but I don't want to see them pitched either.
Charlie |
| | RE: c8aeh heads - free to a good home -- Ross, 08/04/2004
I just run across this message and I know it's couple months later but do you still have the heads?
thanks
Ross |
| | | RE: c8aeh heads - free to a good home -- Scharlie, 08/04/2004
Sorry,
They lasted about 2 days
Charlie |
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