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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

rebuilding a 390?

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billy bob famer

03-24-2007 20:14:51




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I am trying too rebuild my first motor, a 390FE for a 76' F-150
first off, are these motors even worth rebuilding? I have heard that they are a POS and are good for scrap only.. true or false?
and also, the cilenders(sp?) got some rust in them.. could I just hone it down untill smooth? or would I HAVE too bore it out? I need/want too do this as CHEAP as possible.. so I don't really want too have too bore it out and buy new pistons.. and when rebuilding a motor, how inportant is it too have the crank ground? I have heard all sorts of aswers too this.. I should aslo note that the motor was rebuild not more then 10 thousand miles ago.. but it sat outside for about 4 months, where it got some rust. I plan on repacing the cam, and putting on a 4 barrel intake/carb.. so that is where I would spend most of my money.. I REALLY want too do this all for under 1,200$ think it's posible?
again, I have heard both side of the fence on this one too.. thanks for ANY info you can give me on this!

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Don LC

03-26-2007 08:25:34




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 Re: rebuilding a 390? in reply to billy bob famer, 03-24-2007 20:14:51  
If it was rebuilt 10K miles ago. It dont need a rebuild.....just soak the rust in auto tranny fluid..... ..get the cyl. freed up so you can turn it .....put new oil in and start it up let it run at fast idel ....1000 - 1500 RPM.for 15 - 20 min. do this 5 - 6 times..... change oil and filter and again at 500 miles then 3000 miles after that..... .drive it easy and slow first 1000 miles.....good luck...what do you have to lose....labor and some oil.....

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Leland

03-25-2007 19:26:59




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 Re: rebuilding a 390? in reply to billy bob famer, 03-24-2007 20:14:51  
I quit rebuilding them since you can go to a ford dealer and get a fomoco rebuild about as cheap as rebuilding yourself and the best part is a warranty



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steve n carol

03-25-2007 13:01:05




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 Re: rebuilding a 390? in reply to billy bob famer, 03-24-2007 20:14:51  
390, Junk? I think not. This is one of my favorites! Plenty of poop and mpg wasn't too bad either. My '68 single axle dump had one with a 2bbl carb and 4 sp trans....17-18 mpg!
'72 camper special p/u...same!
easy to work on too.

The 360??/?////??? some have high mileage. Some are truly junk. In Calif. the 360's and alot of other engines had to have EPA equipment installed from the factory. One of the most popular item was to replace the cam timing gear. this would retard the cam shaft and valve timing. These motors would run terrible and get poor mpg and was claimed to produce fewer emmissions....sl

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steve n carol

03-25-2007 13:00:38




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 Re: rebuilding a 390? in reply to billy bob famer, 03-24-2007 20:14:51  
390, Junk? I think not. This is one of my favorites! Plenty of poop and mpg wasn't too bad either. My '68 single axle dump had one with a 2bbl carb and 4 sp trans....17-18 mpg!
'72 camper special p/u...same!
easy to work on too.

The 360??/?////??? some have high mileage. Some are truly junk. In Calif. the 360's and alot of other engines had to have EPA equipment installed from the factory. One of the most popular item was to replace the cam timing gear. this would retard the cam shaft and valve timing. These motors would run terrible and get poor mpg and was claimed to produce fewer emmissions....sl

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kyhayman

03-25-2007 09:04:52




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 Re: rebuilding a 390? in reply to billy bob famer, 03-24-2007 20:14:51  
1200 seems low on a 390. I like them, grew up on them in pickups and cars. Still use one on a 75 flat bed when I need it. Biggest problem I've had are heads. They are getting scarce and they like leaded gas. Unleaded 87 octane and I cant keep heads anymore. I bought the last 3 sets I could find last year, cost almost 500 per set to get them ready to drop in.



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molinebob

03-25-2007 08:09:52




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 Re: rebuilding a 390? in reply to billy bob famer, 03-24-2007 20:14:51  
390 was the better big block ford engine, it is the same block as the 352 and 360 but the 360 is a worthless gutless pile of garbage, where as the 352 is pretty tough, but the 390 is the better of the three. should be able to hone the rust out of the cylindr as long as it is not pitted too bad. If it is, just bore it out. If you go to www.northernautoparts.com you can buy complete rebuild kits for very little and they come with every thing including the cam, lifters, pistons, rings, bearings, gaskets,all of the freeze plugs, vavle guides, and so forth, and best of all you can get it all oversized (pistons & rings) for no extra charge. I have bought several kits from these guys and they are extremely good, I have never had a problem with any of them. My local parts store has no idea as to how they can sell there kits for so cheap, he said he cant even get them for that price.

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the tractor vet

03-25-2007 07:54:33




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 Re: rebuilding a 390? in reply to billy bob famer, 03-24-2007 20:14:51  
The 390 FE is sorta my PET engine as it was my first HOT ROD and loved it built may of the 390's over the years from mild to wild , they are hard to beat if ya know what your doing with one just ask my buddy about the three that i built him . His first one went into a 68 Ford F100 Ranger that many tryed to beat the next went into a 73 F250 4X4 that brought out all the weak points in the drive line then the next went into a 75 F250 4X4 that had all the power ya could ever ask for in a pick up plus gas milage like around 15-17 MPG. So yea i guess some could say they are junk , but not me.

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jhill52

03-25-2007 03:34:33




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 Re: rebuilding a 390? in reply to billy bob famer, 03-24-2007 20:14:51  
I agree with what Jon below said. Get a cam listed as an RV cam for good street cam, good low end grunt.



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Jon Hagen

03-24-2007 23:12:12




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 Re: rebuilding a 390? in reply to billy bob famer, 03-24-2007 20:14:51  
The FE or FT series engines were good units that will run a long time if treated right.
Rust in the cylinders, if not badly pitted, they should clean up with a hone IF the cylinders are not worn out. Was the "rebuild" more than a ring job on worn cylinders or was it rebored or re ringed with good stock bores?

Grind the crank ? Check it out, if it measures within normal specs,it aint broke and don't need fixing. If it's worn beyond normal specs, then it needs to be reground to the next undersize or exchanged for a reground crank with matching bearings.
Do it for $1200 ? You can do a lot with little money if you choose well from used/swap meet/Ebay parts. The cam,lifters and valve springs need to be a NEW matched set from one company, and broken in as recommended by the cam builder. Stay conservative and realistic with the cam specs,something that pulls good in the 1500-5000 rpm range, thats where you will be running a relativly stock 390.

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