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| 69' 390 Heads -- TW, 06/30/2005
The exhaust manifold bolts are not straight across on the heads of my 390? Tried to put headers on and the holes are not in the same line. The outside holes are on a different plane than the inside holes. Anyone have any ides what is up here? |
| main caps -- mike, 06/30/2005
I am about to build my 428 cj after being apart for years.At the moment I cant find the main caps for crank.Can I get some others or am I screwed |
| | RE: Not totally screwed, just a little, though. -- Gerry Proctor, 06/30/2005
If you absolutely can't find the caps that go with the engine then, yes, you can use "other" FE caps. But you will have to get the crank bores at least line honed if not line bored. A good (heavy emphasis on "good") machinist will be able to do this. This might be a good time to upgrade to studs if the crank bore will need attention anyway. |
| | | A good time to... -- Kevin66, 06/30/2005
A good number of people believe that the CJ blocks were made of a higher nodularity iron material, including the caps.
This would suggest that 'standard' FE caps are less desirable, though whether it's true or not, or how much, is anybody's guess.
Since you would have to align bore the engine anyway if fitted with different caps, why not consider going right to cross-bolt main caps?
Along with high quality main studs, the improvement in bottom end strength (far less prone to cracking up through the main-cam saddles) is very significant.
Used ones from a 427 block come up often enough on eBay (typically about $150-200), or they can be sourced through some of the known FE parts vendors.
There are also heavier-duty steel ones, designed to be easier to fit/install on standard FE blocks, such as the ProForm ones. As suggested in another post, a GOOD machinist won't have any trouble fitting either of them to your block.
With good CJ blocks getting harder and harder to come by, this investment should then guarantee that yours will be up for whatever you're going to ask of it, for many, many years to come. |
| rust treatment / prevention -- Vic Bradley, 06/29/2005
Does anyone have a product they would recommend for treating surface rust on frame, floorboards etc. after wire brushing to contain & prevent spreading. I came across a product called POR-15 (the website is http://www.prp-porstore.com/POR-15-Info.html ) that looks interesting, but don't know much about it other than what their website represents. Thanks in advance for any suggestions / recommendations. |
| | | Metal Prep -- John, 07/01/2005
Any of the autobody metal preps, such as Dupont M-10, will neutralize the fine stuff (after you get all the rough stuff removed...wire wheel, etc.). Then use zinc chromate primer vs the red oxide stuff. No, it's not only for aluminum, just most people consider it too expensive to bother with for clean steel. I don't. Another coat of trem-clad between the primer and the final paint helps also, but trem-clad alone chips easily. |
| 390 gt sissy after rebuild -- eric, 06/29/2005
ive got a 69 s code mach 1, i rebuilt my engine, im not really a beginner, ever since its really a dog, i did some moderate build uo to it and expected it to be somewhat of an animal, always used to be, im not sure if my components are fighting eachother o whatm any input would be great, its a c6 auto, 3.50 trac lok thanks |
| | RE: 390 gt sissy after rebuild -- giacamo, 06/29/2005
what did you do to it? |
| | | RE: 390 gt sissy after rebuild -- eric, 06/30/2005
30 over, forged pistons, block shaved, heads 209 165 stainless valves, edelbrock rpm intake, 514 cam at 280, 725 holley, c6 was rebuilt with shift kit, i even changed my rear gears from 3.00 to a 3.55, the car should be good, i cant mash the gas and even get a tire chirp, i mess with the timing to no avail, after around 35 or so the car really performes well, but a real slug up to that point whatcha think |
| | | | RE: 390 gt sissy after rebuild -- bill mackinnon, 07/01/2005
Did you tune the carb? most out of box holleys need to be jetted. is the carb a double pumper or vacuum secondary? Your distributors advance may need to be recurved, Did you install the cam straight up? most aftermarket timing chains come with several keyways on the crank gear. Did you install a new torque converter with your trans? A stock stall converter will cause no balls down low. You may need a converter with a stall speed about 1000 rpm increase. I have seen many nicely built motors that do not perform because the owner did not install a converter to match engines tourque curve. |
| | | | RE: 390 gt sissy after rebuild -- giacamo, 07/02/2005
i,d try lighting up on the carb first.maybe a 650 will wake things up? |
| | | | RE: 390 gt sissy after rebuild -- walt, 07/06/2005
check the distribor curve,timing,a fast trick was on the 390 was drop in a 427 stock distribitor,and ithe same worked with small blocks,ie drop a 289 hp dist in a boss 302,you won't believe the diff in the performance |
| C4ae-g -- Erik, 06/28/2005
?? What type of head is this? |
| C2SE-C Heads? -- 68S-Code, 06/28/2005
Ran across a set of these heads at swap meet this weekend. Owner claimed that these were "Medium Riser" heads. Also claimed 2.09 and 1.63" valves and 71-72cc chambers. Had verticle manifold bolts. He was very proud of these, asking $1800 for the pair! I didn't think Med Risers came out until later. Did this guy know what he was talking about? |
| | RE: C2SE-C Heads? -- 68S-Code, 06/28/2005
I did a search and found nothing, but after surfing around the forum, I found these were used on '62 406's. Also possibly the 385HP 406 in '63. Are these heads similar to Medium Riser or CJ as owner stated? |
| | | RE: C2SE-C Heads? -- giacamo, 06/29/2005
thay sound like 1962 406 heads, that wer hoged out for the bigger valves. $1800 is a littel steap thay would problie bring good money for a 62 406 restro project outher than that i,d not get to excited |
| | | | RE: C2SE-C Heads? -- 68S-Code, 06/30/2005
Thanks for the info. I was not interested in buying, just intersting subject! The owner talked like they were the greatest thing since sliced bread. So those were not original valve sizes? I might have guessed as much, but didn't know for sure. |
| | | | | RE: C2SE-C Heads? -- Glenn, 07/03/2005
Yep those are 406 lowriser heads. 64-67 cc chambers with std size valves stock. Not a bad head but $1800? sheesh! G. |
| | | | | | more like $500 or $600 if there nice...n/m -- Lou, 07/03/2005
..n/m |
| | | | | | RE: C2SE-C Heads? -- 68S-Code, 07/05/2005
Yea, they were nice. Fresh paint, looked like new valves and springs. Owner claimed 72cc chambers though... |
| | | | | | | RE: C2SE-C Heads? -- giacamo, 07/05/2005
thay may be 72.s after the valves wer changed and opened up a littel,thay may of had a littel canfering done to relive the valves.i,d consider a good thing. |
| | | | | | | | RE: C2SE-C Heads? -- 68S-Code, 07/06/2005
Thanks for the info all. |
| | | | | | | | | RE: C2SE-C Heads? -- walt, 07/06/2005
remmer the 427 did not comeout till 63 1/2.those are 406 or 390 hp heads, |
| holley carbs -- bret harrison, 06/27/2005
i have a 67gt mustang and need to replace the 2 carbs.what size would yathink i need |
| C0AE-9601-C air filter -- HDD, 06/27/2005
Any idea what the applicatons for this air filter is? |
| 390 Valve Lash -- Jason, 06/26/2005
Can anyone help me out with the proper technique to set valve lash on a 390 FE? |
| | Solid or Hyd w/adjust? -- raycfe, 06/26/2005
?. |
| | | RE: Solid or Hyd w/adjust? -- bill mackinnon, 06/26/2005
sorry its hydraulic. I know the valves are adjusted correctly but they are making alot of noise. He are the specifics of the motor.
390 block .030, 10.5 forged pistons, head have oversized valves, comp cams xtreme 262 cam 513 intake 520 exhaust. comp cams lifters, valve springs, crane adjustable rockers edelbrock performer rpm intake, holley 700 carb, msd distributor. oil pressure is 60psi cold, but drops to 20psi when it get hot. from what I hear this is pretty much normal for an fe motor. |
| | | | RE: Solid or Hyd w/adjust? -- bill mackinnon, 06/26/2005
Sorry wrong post....my bad |
| lifter noise -- bill mackinnon, 06/26/2005
Just installed a rebuilt 390 in a 68 gt. I am getting alot of valve train noise. the lifters seem to be tapping quite abit. The cam and lifters are by comp cams, push rods are crane w/ adjustable rocker arms. I adjusted them properly, I even used a dial indicator but they make a lot of noise. I have 60 psi of oil pressure. has anyone else every had this problem. |
| | Valve adjustment -- raycfe, 06/26/2005
The cranksaft goes around twice for every once the camshaft does. So if your firing order is 15426378 as a 390 is, when #6 exhaust valve is just closing and #6 intake valve is just opening---#1 is starting its compression stroke and the adjustments on #1 can be checked. (All I did was divide the firing order in half. 1&6, 5&3, 4&7, 2&8) The start of the compression stroke is when the valves are closed the most. To check the adjustment the lifter has to be bleed down(Collapsed), push down very hard on the pushrod end of the rocker will do this. The clearance can then be checked with a feeler gauge--the spec is 0.100-0.200 of an inch. If you have too much clearance you need longer pushrods(the ford way) or adjustable rockers. There is different lenght fe rushrods. **To adjust hyds with adjustable rockers loosen the rocker adjustment until the pushrod is loose, then tighten it back down until the looseness is just gone, then another 3/4 to 1 turn. The gap can be checked as above if needed. **Solids are just adjusted with each cylinder starting it compression stroke and the clearance checked with a feeler gauge between the tip of the valve and rocker. .025 hot or .028 cold. **After the first cylinder is done (#1) ,turn the engine over by hand and watch the rocker on #6, exhaust just close intake just open and adjust cylinder #5. And so on and so on until all 8 cylinders are done. |
| | RE: lifter noise -- giacamo, 06/26/2005
is your tin now tuching the rockers or springs making noise? |
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