Skip Navigation Links
Setup
New Post
Search
Forum Home
Home
Decoder

Original Message
RE:390 not meant for high RPMs?
By McQ - 06/15/2004 10:47:23 AM; IP 209.19.180.126
Balancing an engine is always a good idea but it really has little to do with what its rpm limit is.

You're correct that a '69 390IP is limited to around 4,800 rpm and it's due to the camshaft being the "standard" 390 cam that was used in most FE's throughout the 60's. The '69 unibody 390-4V was essentially the "standard" 390-4V which had always been extremely limited in rpm max. But I can tell you from personally owning three 390GTs that the 390GT revs to 5,500 effortlessly. I could shift at 5,800 but it didn't help and I found that 5,500 was the optimum shift point with 390GT or 428CJ(Stock).

The 390 High Performance was not given any special balancing from the factory. There were special clearances provided along with the solid lifter cam(that when installed in a standard 390 along with the matching valve springs would allow any 390 to rev to 6,000 rpms) and larger rod bolts.

So I'll agree with you Dusty that a "standard" 390 4V/2V has a rev limit approximately around 4,800 but just add a little more cam with valve springs and you've got a decent power band. That's all FoMoCo really did to create the GT.
This thread, so far...
Skip Navigation Links.
Collapse <a href=../ForumFE/reply.aspx?ID=21672&Reply=21672><img src=../images/reply.png width=30 height=10></a>&nbsp;<a href="#" id="anchor21672" onclick="return false;">390 build up ?</a>&nbsp;-- <font color=#0000ff>K-SKI, <i>05/30/2004</i></font><script type="text/javascript"> new HelpBalloon({ dataURL: 'replyb.aspx?ID=21672', contentMargin: 60, icon: $('anchor21672') }); </script>  390 build up ? -- K-SKI, 05/30/2004
Collapse <a href=../ForumFE/reply.aspx?ID=21689&Reply=21672><img src=../images/reply.png width=30 height=10></a>&nbsp;<a href="#" id="anchor21689" onclick="return false;">RE: 390 build up ?</a>&nbsp;-- <font color=#0000ff>giacamo, <i>06/01/2004</i></font><script type="text/javascript"> new HelpBalloon({ dataURL: 'replyb.aspx?ID=21689', contentMargin: 60, icon: $('anchor21689') }); </script>  RE: 390 build up ? -- giacamo, 06/01/2004
Collapse <a href=../ForumFE/reply.aspx?ID=21695&Reply=21672><img src=../images/reply.png width=30 height=10></a>&nbsp;<a href="#" id="anchor21695" onclick="return false;">RE: 390 build up ?</a>&nbsp;-- <font color=#0000ff>K-SKI, <i>06/02/2004</i></font><script type="text/javascript"> new HelpBalloon({ dataURL: 'replyb.aspx?ID=21695', contentMargin: 60, icon: $('anchor21695') }); </script>  RE: 390 build up ? -- K-SKI, 06/02/2004
Collapse <a href=../ForumFE/reply.aspx?ID=21707&Reply=21672><img src=../images/reply.png width=30 height=10></a>&nbsp;<a href="#" id="anchor21707" onclick="return false;">RE: 10.5:1 C-ratio?</a>&nbsp;-- <font color=#0000ff>McQ, <i>06/03/2004</i></font><script type="text/javascript"> new HelpBalloon({ dataURL: 'replyb.aspx?ID=21707', contentMargin: 60, icon: $('anchor21707') }); </script>  RE: 10.5:1 C-ratio? -- McQ, 06/03/2004
 RE: 805 degrees! -- McQ, 06/03/2004
Collapse <a href=../ForumFE/reply.aspx?ID=21714&Reply=21672><img src=../images/reply.png width=30 height=10></a>&nbsp;<a href="#" id="anchor21714" onclick="return false;">RE: 390 build up ?</a>&nbsp;-- <font color=#0000ff>giacamo, <i>06/04/2004</i></font><script type="text/javascript"> new HelpBalloon({ dataURL: 'replyb.aspx?ID=21714', contentMargin: 60, icon: $('anchor21714') }); </script>  RE: 390 build up ? -- giacamo, 06/04/2004
Collapse <a href=../ForumFE/reply.aspx?ID=21792&Reply=21672><img src=../images/reply.png width=30 height=10></a>&nbsp;<a href="#" id="anchor21792" onclick="return false;">RE: 390 build up ?</a>&nbsp;-- <font color=#0000ff>Tim P., <i>06/10/2004</i></font><script type="text/javascript"> new HelpBalloon({ dataURL: 'replyb.aspx?ID=21792', contentMargin: 60, icon: $('anchor21792') }); </script>  RE: 390 build up ? -- Tim P., 06/10/2004
 RE: 390 build up ? -- giacamo, 06/12/2004
Collapse <a href=../ForumFE/reply.aspx?ID=21805&Reply=21672><img src=../images/reply.png width=30 height=10></a>&nbsp;<a href="#" id="anchor21805" onclick="return false;">my 390</a>&nbsp;-- <font color=#0000ff>Dusty, <i>06/12/2004</i></font><script type="text/javascript"> new HelpBalloon({ dataURL: 'replyb.aspx?ID=21805', contentMargin: 60, icon: $('anchor21805') }); </script>  my 390 -- Dusty, 06/12/2004
Collapse <a href=../ForumFE/reply.aspx?ID=21820&Reply=21672><img src=../images/reply.png width=30 height=10></a>&nbsp;<a href="#" id="anchor21820" onclick="return false;">RE:390 not meant for high RPMs?</a>&nbsp;-- <font color=#0000ff>McQ, <i>06/14/2004</i></font><script type="text/javascript"> new HelpBalloon({ dataURL: 'replyb.aspx?ID=21820', contentMargin: 60, icon: $('anchor21820') }); </script>  RE:390 not meant for high RPMs? -- McQ, 06/14/2004
Collapse <a href=../ForumFE/reply.aspx?ID=21824&Reply=21672><img src=../images/reply.png width=30 height=10></a>&nbsp;<a href="#" id="anchor21824" onclick="return false;">RE:390 not meant for high RPMs?</a>&nbsp;-- <font color=#0000ff>Dusty, <i>06/14/2004</i></font><script type="text/javascript"> new HelpBalloon({ dataURL: 'replyb.aspx?ID=21824', contentMargin: 60, icon: $('anchor21824') }); </script>  RE:390 not meant for high RPMs? -- Dusty, 06/14/2004
Collapse <b>RE:390 not meant for high RPMs?</b>&nbsp;-- <font color=#0000ff>McQ, <i>06/15/2004</i></font>RE:390 not meant for high RPMs? -- McQ, 06/15/2004
Collapse <a href=../ForumFE/reply.aspx?ID=21831&Reply=21672><img src=../images/reply.png width=30 height=10></a>&nbsp;<a href="#" id="anchor21831" onclick="return false;">RE:390 not meant for high RPMs?</a>&nbsp;-- <font color=#0000ff>Dusty, <i>06/15/2004</i></font><script type="text/javascript"> new HelpBalloon({ dataURL: 'replyb.aspx?ID=21831', contentMargin: 60, icon: $('anchor21831') }); </script>  RE:390 not meant for high RPMs? -- Dusty, 06/15/2004
Collapse <a href=../ForumFE/reply.aspx?ID=21832&Reply=21672><img src=../images/reply.png width=30 height=10></a>&nbsp;<a href="#" id="anchor21832" onclick="return false;">RE:390 not meant for high RPMs?</a>&nbsp;-- <font color=#0000ff>McQ, <i>06/15/2004</i></font><script type="text/javascript"> new HelpBalloon({ dataURL: 'replyb.aspx?ID=21832', contentMargin: 60, icon: $('anchor21832') }); </script>  RE:390 not meant for high RPMs? -- McQ, 06/15/2004
Collapse <a href=../ForumFE/reply.aspx?ID=21834&Reply=21672><img src=../images/reply.png width=30 height=10></a>&nbsp;<a href="#" id="anchor21834" onclick="return false;">RE:390 not meant for high RPMs?</a>&nbsp;-- <font color=#0000ff>giacamo, <i>06/15/2004</i></font><script type="text/javascript"> new HelpBalloon({ dataURL: 'replyb.aspx?ID=21834', contentMargin: 60, icon: $('anchor21834') }); </script>  RE:390 not meant for high RPMs? -- giacamo, 06/15/2004
Collapse <a href=../ForumFE/reply.aspx?ID=21837&Reply=21672><img src=../images/reply.png width=30 height=10></a>&nbsp;<a href="#" id="anchor21837" onclick="return false;">RE:390 not meant for high RPMs?</a>&nbsp;-- <font color=#0000ff>Dusty, <i>06/15/2004</i></font><script type="text/javascript"> new HelpBalloon({ dataURL: 'replyb.aspx?ID=21837', contentMargin: 60, icon: $('anchor21837') }); </script>  RE:390 not meant for high RPMs? -- Dusty, 06/15/2004
 RE:390 rod bolts -- McQ, 06/16/2004
 RE:390 not meant for high RPMs? -- giacamo, 06/17/2004
Post A Response
Name:
Email Address:
Subject:
Post:
Upload Image:
Human Check:   Enter the code 2025165645 in the box