Original Message
The torque convertor is fine.
By Dave Shoe - 07/08/2002 11:40:46 PM; IP 63.233.196.142
You're just suffering from a lack of torque and horsepower.

Step one is to learn whether you have C6AE-R heads or other heads. If C6AE-R heads, then get some headers for a 428CJ from FPA, Hooker, or somewhere else. The casting number can be found between the center spark plugs, and sometimes the suffix letter can be found near the right-hand spark plug.

If you have C6AE-J, C6AE-L, C6AE-U, or another casting, only get FPA headers for 390GT engines.

An alternative is to get 428CJ cast iron exhaust manifolds for any head, but you might as well get headers and do it right. FPA is probably the better way to go, as they consume less engine bay space than Hookers and they breathe far better than CJ iron exhaust manifolds.

Note that the top front and top rear exhaust bolt holes in the head will need to be tweaked (repositioned) either at the head or the header flange, as 390 Fairlane/Mustangs got this hole lowered about 5/16" from the normal FE position to match up with the poor-breathing stock exhaust manifolds.

At this point you'll be able to squeal some tires.

Next step is to get an Edelbrock "Performer RPM" intake (cheap, new, well engineered), or else a "C8OE" 428CJ iron intake - if you can find one cheap.

This will make your car feel a lot like a 428CJ.

From here you can make some smaller changes, but they're not yet worth discussing, as you are presently "manifold-limited".

Make sure your timing chain is in good order, as the extra revving you'll be doing will stress the nylon toothed aluminum cam sprocket if it's more than five years old. Disregard if you have an iron cam gear.

The stock torque convertor will work better than any other convertor until you move into the wild-cam arena.

JMO,
Shoe.
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Collapse <a href=../ForumFE/reply.aspx?ID=13570&Reply=13570><img src=../images/reply.png width=30 height=10></a>&nbsp;<a href="#" id="anchor13570" onclick="return false;">390 gt</a>&nbsp;-- <font color=#0000ff>john gessler, <i>07/08/2002</i></font><script type="text/javascript">
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 390 gt -- john gessler, 07/08/2002
Collapse <b>The torque convertor is fine.</b>&nbsp;-- <font color=#0000ff>Dave Shoe, <i>07/08/2002</i></font>The torque convertor is fine. -- Dave Shoe, 07/08/2002
Collapse <a href=../ForumFE/reply.aspx?ID=13592&Reply=13570><img src=../images/reply.png width=30 height=10></a>&nbsp;<a href="#" id="anchor13592" onclick="return false;">RE: The torque convertor is fine.</a>&nbsp;-- <font color=#0000ff>john gessler, <i>07/09/2002</i></font><script type="text/javascript">
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 RE: The torque convertor is fine. -- john gessler, 07/09/2002
 I tried 390 Fairlane manifolds on my Cyclone CJ -- Dave Shoe, 07/10/2002
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