Original Message
RE: 390 Rebuild questions
By McQ - 12/23/2004 10:17:49 PM; IP 65.176.113.219
This sounds like a very common sense rebuild that should work well for your intended use. Both giacomo and big dave have made some good recs., i.e., quality workmanship, 600 CFM carb, E'brock Performer instead of the RPM intake.

Just a few more opinions from me:

Have all three blocks "checked-out" thoroughly. Select the best. There's really nothing too special or different between the three. I've also heard that the mirror 105 blocks may have thicker cylinder walls but that's all....hearsay. Have them sonic tested for thickness and let us know what you find out.

You don't provide the actual specs on the cam that has been recommended. But whatever it is make sure it's a nice mild grind designed for torque/low RPM power in a 4,000 lb. vehicle. You will appreciate a cam that idles well at 600 RPM and makes good power/torque to 4,000-4,500. I'd even consider the Edelbrock Performer shaft(NOT the RPM).

Which leads to my rec of the Performer intake over the RPM intake. The Performer was designed for your described needs and intentions. It works very well from idle to 5,000 RPM. And the E'brock 600 CFM carb is as easy as a carb can be to bolt on right out of the box and if tuning is necessary....easily done with their booklet and their kit with all jets, step-up springs, metering rods available. Makes you feel like a real "tuner" to be able to dial in a carb that doesn't leak, stumble or bog.

C7, C8, or D2 heads? They're all basically the same. Use the best, easiest to rebuild. And, yes, you should have hardened exhaust seats installed with the rebuild.

Stock exhaust manifolds? Sure if they're not cracked. Have them surfaced along with the surface of the head and you shouldn't even need manifold gaskets which tend to blow out anyway. I've had no troubles runnng the ex. manifolds without gaskets as long as both surfaces are true.

I'm running a somewhat similar 390 in my '68 F100. I even have a cast iron 4V intake, a mild(C6OZ-B "GT-CJ" cam. I do run the Hedman headers. My pistons are stock cast 4V flat tops. I've got 3.50's with a mild shifting C6. It hauls trash very well.

Good luck with your '66 SSC. You're laying the plans for a great old Ford pick-up.
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Collapse <a href=../ForumFE/reply.aspx?ID=23523&Reply=23523><img src=../images/reply.png width=30 height=10></a>&nbsp;<a href="#" id="anchor23523" onclick="return false;">390 Rebuild questions</a>&nbsp;-- <font color=#0000ff>John M. Sutton, <i>12/12/2004</i></font><script type="text/javascript">
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 390 Rebuild questions -- John M. Sutton, 12/12/2004
 RE: 390 Rebuild questions -- giacamo, 12/14/2004
 RE: 390 Rebuild questions -- big dave, 12/22/2004
RE: 390 Rebuild questions -- McQ, 12/23/2004
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