5: 390 FE Engine Rebuild
FE 390 Rebuild, hoping to make 400HP with this build.
Resources:
Parts list:
- 390 block pressure tested, cleaned, and bored .040 over, rods resized, crank checked and ground (.010/.010)
- FE Oiling modifications : chamfered main journals to align with bearing holes, enlarged oil pump shaft to 7/16ths., oil restrictors in heads (Holley #90 jets) : see here for a description of the modifications. These are designed to get more oil into the bottom end, less in the top, which was a problem with these blocks.
- C8AE-H heads (from 360) tanked and polished. Cut out for 2.09 intake / 1.65 valves. Hardened seats, new springs, retainers, and guides.
- Adjustable rockers with new ball and cup pushrods. “Power by Ford” valve covers from 360.
- KB 150 Hypereutectic pistons, moly rings resized to appropriate gap as per kb piston specs (here.)
- Crane 343941 cam + matching lifters
- Edelbrock Performer Intake – already matches heads almost exactly so no porting necessary
- Double-roller timing chain, Melling high volume oil pump w/ ARP shaft, bearings, gaskets, etc.
- Chrome ARP engine bolt set
- Holley 650cfm carburetor, manual choke, vacuum secondaries.
- Hedmann ceramic coated headers.
- Ford DUI (unified ignition)
- New Centech wiring kit.
Step 1 : Teardown and machining
| Before… | Disassembled, on the way to the machine shop |
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| Block with new freeze plugs | Silvolite pistons and rods, assembled. |
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Step 2: Bottom end assembly
| Oiling mods | Crank & pistons, bottom view | |
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| Pistons, top view | ||
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| Front view, timing cover. | Deep sump oil pickup | |
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Step 3: Top end
| Polished bowls, oversized valves (2.09/1.65) |
New springs, valves, guides, etc. | |
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| Heads installed | ||
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| Edelbrock Performer 390 installed | Ready to install the motor… | |
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Step 4 : Installation
| Resurfaced flyweel | Installed, front view | Installed, side view |
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