No, the 390s didn't have CJ heads. The cam was milder than previous years. Remember that the 428CJ had a smog pump on it, while the 390 didn't. It was detuned slightly to meet smog requirements.

Tim B

There was only one sidewinder that would fit "comfortably" on the low port heads. I think it had a "K" suffix. Ive only seen a couple in my life so dont expect to find one. You can get the others to seal, but you have to choose your gasket wisely or make your own. A lot of people add material to the lower lip. The EDC or "Edsel" heads as I nic-name them are a really good set to run, and respond very well to modification. For mid range torque they are unbeatable if ported right. You can put a good hump and ring in the bowl area like the Hi-Riser had if you put larger valves in. This will permit a large radius under the intake seat. They will have about 69 cc if you just put C-J valves in with a .015 skim cut and you dont have to mill the intake face to get them to seal right at this amount. You will need to weld the corners to get them to hold the C3AZ 6051-B 406 head gaskets on them, or else use the Fel Pro #1020 with 427 bore size. If you are using a smaller bore block, the #1154 BS gasket will work fine.

C3AE-D is a 1963 "406" (no crossbolts but you should have the bosses)

That like asking wich is better Coke or Pepse, both are excelent manafold's the sidewinder has the carb mounting ofset to drivers side by 1" ,for more top end {equalize runner lenght's} will you noitice the diff?

If that C7AE-F is your casting number then you have a PI. That is my nuber and my carb. is centered. <<Have Fun>>

Looking in some old Ford performance books, this is what I found. The regular 427 single 4v aluminum is C7AE-9425-F while the sidewinder 427 single 4v is C7AE-9425-C.

sorry forgot to add to my million questions some rods are 11/32" some are 3/8"?

Thank you James and Ron. I've seen the listing for the 11/32 which is smaller than the 3/8". whenever I read about the push rods they say they are all the same. Guess not huh? thanks for the input- I'll call Summit.

390 block makes a 410 with a 428 crank. If verified by sonic testing, there are 390 blocks capable of a .080 overbore to make a 428 engine.

Ed

The side oiler did not have a dry sump as standard; I've never heard of one in a Ford factory vehicle.

The side oiler has an oil gallery, etc, down the driver's side of the engine that feeds oil to the main bearings, etc. Most "regular" center oiler 427s have this gallery but is not drilled. I know of no other differences but there may be some.

I'm just going to get the ball rolling for you on this one Al. FoMoCo did offer a tri power package factory installed in '63. I think it was factory installed unlike the mid '61 HP 390 package that came in the trunk and was dealer/owner installed that bumped the horsepower rating from 375 to 401. By '62 the tri power was installed on the engines at the factory. To both early '62 390HPs and then to 406-405 horse engines. And of course up to mid '63 on 406s.

The '63 Thunderbirds got a unique tri power intake manifold. The carb bases were flat vs. the full size intakes that were stepped from low in front to a little higher in the middle and a little higher on the last back base. There are a couple of other unique features about the 'bird tri intake too but the main difference is the height of the carb bases.

For a few years I believe a person could order this entire T-bird system over the counter from a Ford dealer. The full size car tri power package was available over the counter into '67 for sure. There are others that know way more than I do about these details.

The mythical car/package to me is the '64 Galaxie that supposedly was engine coded M. I say supposedly because I've never seen one in real life or in any article. An M code '64 is listed in various Ford publications so it may have been built. The myth is that a 390 PI engine was equipped with the tri power and it was rated at 340 horsepower. I've also been told that this 340 horse 390 was nothing more than the '63 T-bird tri power 390 which did have a unique and now very rare came...C2 or C3SE...? warm hydraulic camshaft. And that the Full size '64 ran the stepped tri power intake.

The variation in the intakes was due to the angle/mount system between the full size framed Fords were vs. the unibody system of the 'birds.

One thing is for sure......T-bird tri power intakes are very rare and they seem to bring a correspondingly higher $price than the full size tri power system.