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1968 Cougar 390 GT
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Posted by: Huddaan

I recently have talked my father into letting me have this car if I fix it up. It has the S in the VIN so it makes it the 390 GT from what I hear. It is bored 30 over and has a fireball cam in it. Its alsmot restored and I would like a little more "punch" out of it. The motor is all taken apart and I'm getting the heads done in my friends machine shop. Are there any suggestions on what to have done to it to make it reliable and still have plenty of HP. Stock is 320 or 335 from what I have read. With the suggestions, take this in mind, I'm working through college, I live on my own, and I work full time at Wal-Mart... So I don't have a ton of money to throw around. But if it's worth it, I think I can make this into a few month project. But any suggestions would be much appreciated. And yes, the AC still works.

Posted by: Grape Ape

What, no pics?

Anyway, there's little offered for the 390, but it can be stroked. Personally, for the cost of "good" upgrades (like strokers), I'd let it be what it is. Consider a gearswap, but that's about all really, because everythign gets expensive. Good luck.

Posted by: SVOno5oh

There is acutally a lot you can do with a 390. The 390 is an FE Ford engine. If you want to learn all about FEs or get real answers the best place is probably the Usenet newsgroup alt.autos.big-block-ford-mercury. The members really know what they are doing.

Off the top of my head, I'd swap the intake for one of Edelbrock's FE offerings. It'll cost about $130 new and will make a big difference. The old '60s intakes really stunk compared to what Edelbrock offers today. Other than that pay attention to tuning. Tuning a carb, timing, valve adjustment, ignition system condition, and other minor things play a huge role in how well an engine runs. You can actually make substantial gains with old big blocks in very minor ways. Also consider a set of headers. Headers help a bunch on old iron too.

Posted by: Huddaan

Thank you very much!!

Posted by: SVOno5oh

The Usenet group is actually alt.hi-po.big-block-ford-mercury. Introduce yourself, tell 'em about your car, and ask your questions. You'll be welcomed like a long lost son. Tell them AnthonyS sent you, if you dare.

Posted by: 65fairlane

I would probably try to get the edelbrock performer rpm. I was reading that the intake runners on the regular performer are smaller than stock.

Posted by: RacingJason

We just built a 390 for a guy last winter, plenty of parts out there for FE's. Use the Performer RPM intake, a split pattern comp cam (unless you buy heads) throw out the fireball cam/lifters, get a 750 carb, and some headers....YOU NEED headers!!!! If you are using your old heads clean up the ports to lose the casting flash and have someone throw a 3 angle valvejob on it, then get springs to match the cam. If you have an automatic buy a mild stall converter and gears.

Posted by: Grape Ape

I guess I should've thrown out the lack of money issue and mentioned more of the available aftermarket 390 parts list... :roll: Yeah, Edelbrock has a large line of parts, for a price. Not that it's terribly expensive, but on a students budget, $1,000 for heads is quite a bit. Btw, I think you'll need to replace the headers as a rule, for the Edelbrock castings. That just means more money...
Btw, the 390 intake that I'm aware of for the 390, lists for about $240.00 A friend of mine didn't let anyone forget that after buying his, for quite a time.

Posted by: RacingJason

Of course it costs more than a 302 intake...sh*t is 3 feet wide!!

Posted by: SVOno5oh

Yep, FE intakes are wide, since they go all the way under the valve covers. I think GA is right though, it is about $240. I must've been thinking about the Windsor intakes which are about $130.

The FE intake saves you almost 50 lbs though since the stock cast iron unit is huge! You get some performance from weight savings alone.

Posted by: 65fairlane

Small blocks are the only option for a guy on a student budget. I have found that a 302 is too expensive for my particular student budget.

Posted by: Mr. P

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Posted by: BlownElCamino

My $0.02:

The Edelbrock intakes are fine, but there really isn't much brand superiorty when compared to say Offy or Weiand. I'm not particularly on what I use in that area. They all seem pretty much the same.

Otherwise, I have to echo P's sentiments regarding Edelbrock. It alsways seems like you are paying a whole lot for what you are getting. I have used Edelbrock cams twice in my life. I would use Erson first. :ROFL:

However, I wouldn't let my critical attitude scare you away from an Edelbrock intake. They're as good as anybody's and more plentiful, IMO. I just seem to have had better results with other maker's engine & fuel components.

The 390 was pretty stout in some aps... I new a guy who had a Torino with one and found a tri-power for it (His father was an engineer for Chrysler and always knew where to get the stuff CHEAP). That car has a major ass-kicker in the area befor ethe guy got drunk one night and rolled it 5 times. Unfortunately, the car came out worse than he did.

Budget builds ups take time. I would settle in for the long haul and watch for those swap meet gems. Around here, usable intakes can go for $30-$50 at a meet, if you're willing to wait for them to appear.

Posted by: Tang

FE's are great engines if you want to invest the time and money.

As a matter of fact I have a factory 4 barrel intake for a 390. The serial number says its from a '63 T-Bird

Posted by: Mr. P

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Posted by: Tang

How much would that intake be worth ? Its pretty rusty inside, not sure it could be cleaned up or not. It has the oil filler spout on the intake.

Wanna buy it P ?...lol

Posted by: Mr. P

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Posted by: 65fairlane

Tang, I would take that intake to an all ford swap meet. Those guys get way more than stuff is worth selling it to guys doing a bone stock resto. I have seen guys getting 20-30 bucks for nickle and dime stuff I have laying on the floor.

Posted by: Tang

Quote:


	The other two intakes (on the motors) are C9ZE followed by 9425B One has 9F4 and the other has 9C27 (both LOOK identical)

The C9ZE says it is a 1969 part that went to a Mustang. The 9425 at the end just says its an intake

The one I have is C3?E 9425 I forget what the code for Thunderbird was, (I think its S) , because T was for Truck. I do remember when I checked it, it was a T-Bird.

Posted by: Mr. P

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Posted by: 65fairlane

I think I heard somewhere that automotive heads will fit a 391 block if you swap to the car heads too. Do you know if that is true?

Posted by: Tang

It is. The blocks were the same. It was the cranks that were different. The 361 and 391 had longer snouts on the cranks. But the cranks are steel insteads of nodular iron.

Posted by: Mr. P

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Posted by: Tang

my bad, the truck snouts were thicker than the cars, not longer.

Posted by: Tang

I also agree, anything I've ever read or heard about the FE's, you never hear about a crank breaking. The FE had a solid bottom end fromt he factory. Expecially the sideoiler 427's. With Steel cranks, LeMans rods and cross bolted mains.

Posted by: Huddaan

Thank you all for the information. I'm about to start the project, it's gonna be a long project with my funds, but it will be worth it. I will take some pics and keep everyone up to date.

Posted by: Mr. P

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