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| oily spark plug threads -- ed cougar, 08/02/2003
I removed the plugs on my newly rebuilt scj. The plugs were dripping with oil only on the threads, the electrodes look clean and whiteish grey. The valve covers aren't leaking I'm just wondering how the oil is getting there. The oil feed to the rocker shaft is restricted, the baffle under the shaft is the early type with the gutters that return oil back through the pushrod area to the valley as well as the front and rear of the heads. valve seals are positive type. Engine lets out a puff of smoke on start up. I'm thinking maybe the valve seal job was bad, What would be the first thing I should look at? The motor has about 300 mi. on it, and it runs good. |
| | It will be an external leak. -- Dave Shoe, 08/03/2003
The valve cover seals are the main culprit here, possibly leaking at the valve cover bolt heads. You'll have to poke around to find the exact source.
Which plugs? It it near the oil sending unit and maybe the oil is being blown from the filter adapter area?
If it was internal to the engine, the inside of the plug would be affected before the threads.
JMO, Shoe. |
| | | RE: It will be an external leak. -- ed cougar, 08/03/2003
I'ts pretty much all of them the rear ones the most, I'm running oil cooler and the adapter and sending unit are tight, this engine is spotless clean I'm going to get a mirror and micro inspect the vave cover gaskets I hear you when you say it's external how else can raw oil get around the threads. I remember useing rubber gaskets on the aluminum cj valve covers and I didn't crank on them in fear of cracking the ears. |
| | | | RE: It will be an external leak. -- ed cougar, 08/03/2003
Ok, I found the problem, I appears that the early style drip rails ( the ones with the 3 fingers) were dircting the oil flow back down the head rather than down the valley flooding the intake valves, It appears they don't work well with cj medium riser head, for the angle is wrong and the oil doesn't quite make it into the valley, beware if anyone is trying to use them with their solid lifters. |
| 361, 391 FE truck engines -- Earl Wood, 08/02/2003
I have a flywheel that has a counterbalance and a 12" clutch pattern. Someone told me it was either a 361, or 391 truck part. Does anyone have any idea which of these engines, if any, were externally balanced? It definitely is not a 428 flywheel. THe part # ia C4TE 6380 J. |
| | RE: 361, 391 FE truck engines -- tom, 08/04/2003
both were int . just like 390 you have a y block flywheel i belive. |
| | I'm gonna go out on a limb, and guess that... -- Dave Shoe, 08/05/2003
...the 330FT was internally balanced at both the damper and flywheel, and both the 361FT and the 391FT had damper bobweights of 27.1 oz-in, and flywheel bobweights of 27.1 oz-in.
12 inches on the clutch pattern sounds kinda truck-like to me. if it's not offset balanced, I'd suspect 352/360FE/390FE, or 330FT origins, otehrwise 361FT/391FT.
Sorry, no time to cross check the part number and 12" applications right now.
Shoe. |
| | | Crossover... -- KULTULZ, 08/23/2003
C4TE 6380-J C4TZ 6375-D 330HD/361/391 168 T Ring Gear 15" DIA. (8) 3/8"-16 Pressure Plate Attaching Holes On 14 1/8" Base Circle |
| | RE: 361, 391 FE truck engines -- giacamo, 08/22/2003
the 391 and 361 wer externley balanced |
| | Sparkely*n/m -- ponyboy, 08/01/2003
n/m |
| | My Thermactor theory must be wrong. -- Dave Shoe, 08/01/2003
I'd deduced that all 1968 390GT engines got Thermactor emissions controls, in order to allow the large-overlap GT cam to pass the new emissions standards of 1968.
Here's yet another example of the 1968 390 GT engine which lacks Thermactor. I am doubting my deduction, and starting to think Thermactor was not required on the GT engine in 1968.
Hmmm.
Oh, pretty engine. Kinda spendy, but a lot of time and money seems to have been put into it.
Shoe. |
| | | Dave, -- Royce Peterson, 08/01/2003
Better check with Kevin Marti on that one. It's my understanding that all the 390GT engines in 1968 had Thermactor. Kevin has a record of all engine tag numbers installed in "S" coded vehicles, they should all be Thermactor builds.
Note that this was a 50 state requirement in 1968. In 1967 California was the only state to require Thermactor on some engines.
What's the thing laying on the rear of the intake manifold?
Royce |
| | | | Formal name is, 'Control, distributor vacuum advance.' [n/m] -- Mr F, 08/01/2003
n/m |
| | | For '68 390s, 49-state T/E was only req'd. w/ standard trans. [n/m] -- Mr F, 08/01/2003
n/m |
| | | | I disagree because..... -- Royce Peterson, 08/02/2003
There is no listing in the Fomoco 1968 shop manual for IMCO equipped 390GT engines. For example the specification chart on page 8-127, all 390GT applications are Thermactor equipped. There is a small difference in 390GT auto and manual engines that required a different tag number for each in the Master Parts catalog. The carburetor calibration was different and manual transmission cars received a dual vacuum advance while auto trans equipped 390GT's needed only single vacuum advance.
Another great place to look is in the Ignition system schematics for vacuum hose routing. Page 9-27 details the only two schematics for 390GT. There is Figure 41 for Automatic transmission 390GT's with Thermactor. And right below it is Figure 42 which shows 390GT with manual transmission and Thermactor. There is no schematic for IMCO (non - Thermactor) in a 1968 390GT.
Allen, perhaps you were thinking of the 302-4V?
Royce |
| | | | | Some April 1986 Shop Tips info from Ford. -- Dave Shoe, 08/02/2003
This image is from the April 1968 Shop Tips.
Shoe.
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| | | | | | I sorta winder if that isn't... -- Dave Shoe, 08/02/2003
...a 1968 390-4V non-GT Fairlane/Mustang engine with a GT carb installed onto it.
Is that a GT air cleaner? I always thought the GT got an open element air cleaner. This one does have the cold air vacuum valve on the drivers side which opens to allow more air in under full throttle, indicating it might be for some kinda performance application.
Curious.
Shoe. |
| | | | | | | 427-4v got open element in '68..... -- Royce Peterson, 08/03/2003
Nothing else did.
The air cleaners for the '68 GT 390 were all snorkle type with air valve on the side of the housing that opened at WOT.
Royce |
| | | | | | | RE: I sorta winder if that isn't... -- chuck, 08/03/2003
That breather and lid look just like mine on my 68 GT 390 C6 |
| | My 68 390GT (built 12/67) doesn't have T/E -- Walker, 08/05/2003
Always wonder about guys so concerned with re-using original bolts and painting things factory shades etc...and then they blissfully go along and put in non-original pattern cams. Is this truly 'as original' or not? Wonder if he reused the rod bolts? Head bolts? |
| fe forum -- tom, 08/01/2003
does any body know what happened to the other fe web site ? |
| fe victor intake -- tom, 07/31/2003
has any one used one how good was the power band did you like it . |
| | I've only heard good things about them. -- Dave Shoe, 08/03/2003
You'll need to have a rather racy build to be able to use the flow capacity of the Victor, but those who have used it claim it's a great intake.
Lotsa cubes and lotsa valve overlap will work well with this intake.
Shoe. |
| 390GT rebuild -- Mo Diesel, 07/31/2003
Looking for an engine rebuild shop in the SE Michigan area that has FE knowlegde. Not going to say money is no object but will pay for experience. Thanks |
| Switching to synthetic at 96k..... -- Mike, 07/31/2003
I'm thinking of switching to Mobil 1 10W 30 synthetic in my 96 Explorer 5.0. It uses 1 qt of oil at oil change on Valvoline 10W30 now. I've heard alot of things about synthetic (good and bad). What do you guys think? I'm hoping to get better mileage (14 on HWY now), but I don't want to use more oil or have leaks start. What has your experience been? Thanks, Mike |
| Noisey 390GT -- Anthony, 07/31/2003
I have a 67 Mustang GT with a 390. The engine runs smooth at idle and normal driving conditions. During hard accelleration and higher rpm, the power tapers off quickly, and the engine gets very rattley. It sounds like valve train noise. It is not timing, it will just barely ping so it should be right on. The oil pressure is good- ie I have a guage that reads normal, the pressure is not going down. Could it be valve float, or lifters collapsing?? I know this is hard to diagnose like this, but any ideas?? |
| | RE: Noisey 390GT -- giacamo, 08/22/2003
you have a 390 that neads rebuilt the bearings are thin and when it warms up you lose oil pressure and lifters bleed off, the your engin gets noisey |
| erson rockers-bolt hole alignment? -- Chad, 07/31/2003
Getting ready to install these, and well one assembly went on the studs well, for the other head the rocker assembly wouldn't go on. the main shaft holes and stand holes didn't align, what is the trick on aligning these holes. you could twist the stand's. Thnks. |
| | RE: erson rockers-bolt hole alignment? -- Monty, 07/31/2003
The shafts on the Erson rockers are free to spin on the shaft supports. If the holes do not line up, which is common, you use a screwdriver to manually align these. Do not worry about whether the oil holes face up or down since on the Erson assembly it does not matter. If you use Edelbrock heads you will have to get a shim kit from Erson to relocate the rockers to align to some of the valve stems. |
| Edelbrock RPM Heads -- BarryMcLarty, 07/30/2003
I was considering using Edelbrock RPM heads on a 66 390 GT engine I am rebuilding but was concerned with compression loss with 72cc chambers.Am using stock compression ratio forged pistons .Anyone know what I will end up with? |
| | RE: Edelbrock RPM Heads -- steve, 07/30/2003
About 9.5 to 1,if I'm not mistaken.Perfect for pump gas. |
| | | RE: Edelbrock RPM Heads -- BarryMcLarty, 07/30/2003
That will work.Thanks.Now to find a solid cam to go with that C.R. |
| | RE: Edelbrock RPM Heads -- Frank Cricenti, 08/04/2003
I am actually doing a rebuild on the same engine but out of a 67 Fairlane GTA.
What else are you doing with yours? Maybe we can cross notes....?
Frank from Canada
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| | | dont forget the usualy spec out with more CC's n/m -- FE427TP, 08/04/2003
n/m |
| | | RE: Edelbrock RPM Heads -- BarryMcLarty, 08/07/2003
Hi Frank.I am using Speed pro forged copies of the stock pistons with moly rings.A Comp Cams solid lifter cam(294S),stock type Crane adj.rockers,with forged steel rocker shafts.On the bottom end ARP main studs,rod bolts,and oil pump drive shaft,with a moroso deep pan.We used this combo in a 69 Mach 1 when I blew up my CJ,and couldn"t find a replacement before the racing season ended.Shifting at 6500 with a C6,3000 stall converter and 4:56 gears,it went 12:77. The CJ was a second faster,but the 390 ran fast enough to keep us in our class and we finished the year in 2nd place.That was 18 years ago and now I have dug it out of the corner of my shop to go into a64 Galaxit with a 4spd,and a3x2 intake set up.With the heads and new more radical Comp Cams number,I think it will be a lot of fun to tool aroun in. |
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