Which way to go ?

I ahve pulled the motor down (390), and now am at the decision stage of is it worth going through the rebuild process or just get a crate motor and save myself the run around.
being in Australia, FE stuff isn't off the shelf, especialy performance equipment, and it seems easier to order from the states and be done with it as there is a better selection of parts.
I haven't added up the cost of parts and labour versus crate motor, but i dont think there will be a diference.
Just wondered waht experiences others have had and did they go the right way.
Thanks,
David.

I just finished building a 390. When I'm ready to do it again, I'll think hard about a crate motor. My hang up is 'who to trust?'. There are alot of little tricks that old-school builders know that some wouldn't worry about.

.

I'm rebuilding mine myself, for my selfconfidence. Would love to have the fundings to build a mean stroker, but no, don't want a crate engine.

Or you talking about a "crate" 390 replacement? Or are you talking about going to something like a "crate" 385 series engine?

Not many people in the business of doing complete "crate" 390 engines. Most full "crate" FE engines will be a 427 or larger stroker based on a Genesis block and if you have the money these are some wonderful engines. Roush racing sells a really killer one.

However it has been my experience that you can build a really powerful 385 stroker for a lot less money that a comparable FE. There is more aftermarket support and more "crate" type engines available for that series engine.

There are two small down sides to the 385 that I have had to deal with. They are heaver than an FE even if both are using aluminum parts. But the biggest problem is stuffing one under the hood of an early 60's Galaxie. You really have to sacrifice power in the intake and carb area to get it to fit into an early Galaxie with a hole in the hood. (FE has the same problem but as there are not many aftermarket manifolds for them it tends to take care of itself)

I just completed a rebuild on one of my 428 engines. Used the stock crank and rods but replaced everything else including using edelbrock heads and intake. After I got it completed I started pricing the parts to build a 514 stroke out of one of the 460's I have and discovered that I could have built the 514 for about $900 less that what I spent on the 428!

All that just to keep from cutting a hole in my hood? The next one will get a hole!!

Scott...

The crate motor would be a stroker with alumimium heads etc, they seem to be around $10,000, then i am up for about another $1000 to ship it overseas.
So seeing as i am not going for high HP i think i will rebuild the 390.
David.

A nice street motor would be cheap.

- A set of headers and free flowing dual exhaust.

- A basically stock rebuild with close attention to detail and cut the deck / pick pistons to get to close to zero deck. Shoot for 9.5:1

- Pay any head porter to do a nice bowl cleanup and good valve job to the stock heads, doesnt need to be an FE guy, they are so bad in the valve guide area any porter can get you 80% there.

- 750 Holley and an Edelbrock RPM intake.

- Comp 280H cam or something close, look for something with nice early cam timing

- Recurve the distributor and run a torque converter to match the cam if its an AT

It'll knock your socks off and be right around 400 hp. If you go cheap on the intake or do not have the heads ported, power will be significantly lower.

Hi what year is your 390 ?? we are just finishing a build, early 390 to 432 stroker, The reason i ask is i have found out the hardway that the 1961 to early 1963 390 has some cam and main bearing issues that you might want to know about. ?? bob

True statement, early FEs used a smaller thrust bearing and they are getting harder to find.

Very early FEs also had a different motor mount pad on the block, requiring some creativity when putting it in a later car

Originally Posted by 432bullet

Hi what year is your 390 ?? we are just finishing a build, early 390 to 432 stroker, The reason i ask is i have found out the hardway that the 1961 to early 1963 390 has some cam and main bearing issues that you might want to know about. ?? bob

Thanks for that info.
Its a 67 so i should be ok, on that problem anyway.

This is what i am planning on.
Bored and honed 0.40" over, with flat top pistons to give 10.5 -1 compression, with original heads
Comp cam Magnum 280 camshaft with .530" lift (hydraulic).Buy this as a kit as it comes with correct valve springs and lifters etc.
Comp cams pushrods.
Clean up ports on heads, standard size valves,decent inlet manifold and a Holley 650-750 Vac secondaries.
2000 rpm stall (C6 trans)
Set of headers. dual 2 1/2" exhaust system.
This should sound the part, give good street cred and be low maintenance.
The coulple of options i am thinking about.
Is it worth chucking a set of GT heads on, am i really going to get any benefit concidering i am bumping up the comp with pistons.
And should i beef up the rods, with H or I beam.
Any thoughts?
David.