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What heads on the 390? That is the issue and you know, as Lingenfelter said, power is in the heads. 428CJ only shined because the top end was the much better flowing PI stuff.
The HP ratings from the 1960s are worthless as they used different standards and measurements types. Truth is the trap speed on a 390 Fairlane GT suggests only modest power.
The 396 benefited from having the optional big port heads in the 375hp version. That was an excellent head and far superior to the FE one.
Anybody who has actually worked on both of these engines knows the 396 is miles all over the 390 as a performance engine. The 390 has its place. It was a truck engine that worked well in the LTDs of the day and light trucks like the F-100. They made tons of torque and that was the highlight of the 390. Regardless of your loyalty to the engine, it had several major flaws. The oil system was okay for a stock engine but with performance parts, failed. The issue is with the port from the oil pump to the oil filter. Stock size on the 390 was 3/8". On the 428, it was 7/16". The 390 just couldn't pump enough volume regardless of pressure at higher RPMs. Then you have the connecting rods. In a stock engine with a 3 degree twist at the crank- no problems. Start turning RPMs and the heavy forged pistons would rip the rods apart. Even Ford had issues with their high performance engines ripping rods apart. They went to a short skirt piston and even went so far on some of the higher HP engines to use Federal Clevite rods instead of their own. Then there was the ever lousy head designs. They just wouldn't flow in stock form and most had valves that should have been in lawn equipment by comparison to the much larger valves of the competition. For Fords intended purpose, the 390 was a good engine. But it was far from a performance engine in stock form. With the oil mod, aluminum rods, aluminum pistons, GT heads, single plane intake, you could get some serious HP and speed from one. But if you start including mods on the 390 to get it right, then you also have to mod the 396 and then the 396 really drives away. I own 3 FEs. Two are 390 blocks that are lightly modded. One is a 410 and is highly modded for towing in a 1974 F-350 dually. I'm using a 5 speed manual connected to a 12" rear end. There's not much it won't walk off with on a 5th wheel trailer.
Heads are crap but can be cleaned up. Better to use 428 or 427 heads no doubt. The 390 made over 400hp in early 60's and can easily make over 550hp and wind to over 6.000 rpm. Those are facts and is undisputed. Simple fact is I'm doing it and have been for years. I'm not reading stuff off a web page and putting it on here. I have a 1969 Cloned Cobra with 1961 390 making over 500hp without the nos with 4spd and 4:11 posi. Truth is you can't beat me in any 396 you have nor anybody you know can either and that's also a fact!!!
The 390 came in cars like Galaxie,Fairlane,Cougar,Cyclone ,Meteor,S-55,Mustang,Thunderbird,LTD,Torino,Ranchero,Tallede ga and Thunderbolt does that sound like a list of full size family cars and pickups? Don't speak if you don't know what your talking about. Got it?
Last edited by slincoln3; 10-25-2014 at 05:21 PM..
Simple fact is 390 is not a truck engine put into cars. But a car engine later used in trucks. Get your facts straight was used in cars way before trucks...
The cars which used the FE engines to us nowadays would be seen as trucks due to the heavy weight, low road speed needed and limited multiple gearing options available. The engines had to focus on lower rpm torque at the expense of upper rpm capability. All of the early gen big blocks were like this.
Everything you said is not true!!! Their is nothing wrong with the intakes,cams or manifolds in 390. In fact 390 came with aluminum intakes,heafer style exhaust manifolds high lift cam and made over 400hp in early 60's. The 390 can easily make over 500hp and wind out to 6,000 rpm.
I have a 1969 Ford with a 390 in it making over 500hp backed up with a 4spd and 4:11 posi. If you know a 396 that can beat me bring your money and come on down and get some.
I've had both. 69 Chevelle with the lame 375hp 396 and the 390 Ford put in the 67 Mustang. The chevelle would run away from the Mustang every time. But neither could keep up with my 400 69 Firebird. The 396 was never a long lasting engine. Like all bbc's, fuel hog and short living engines. With the rec. port heads they would run great power wise. Personally I like the 390 Ford as I have built a few of them, including 3 stroker FE combo's that ended up at 454", 449", and 461" . No, I've not built them with the stock sub 200 cfm heads either. I've used the Dove heads and the Edelbrock performer RPM alum. heads on the stokers. Now I do realize the 67 Mustang heads were not desirable heads for real performance, but it's what Ford put in it. Yes, I do wish they had their heads out of their behinds and put the better CJ heads on (although the valve to bore issues would have required notching the block deck) instead of the C6AE-U heads that were a pain in the rear to make the headers fit to.
Now had Ford been smart and put the 427 Med, or 427 High riser in, then we'd be talking a different who made more power deal. But what they stuck in any passenger car on avg., the 396 was almost 30 more hp. Only the very rare and expensive FE's from early 60's made more than the 396's. Now to get that 449" in the 53 2 door this winter.
Maybe the 'stock' 390 FE is somewhat of a 'dog' BUT ..... I currently have a 65 Galaxie with a FE 390 in it. It has a Edelbrock Performer rpm aluminum manifold, a Holley 770 street avenger 4v, a 'mild' cam upgrade and long tube headers ... it is FAR from a 'dog' (more of a 'wolf' in sheeps clothing ....lol ) .... It only takes a few (mostly bolt on) performance 'tweaks' to really open up a 390 and let it breath .... do that and it will hold it's own with any Chevy on the street !
I remember the old GT and GTAs with the 390s. Everybody had such great expectation of one only to fail miserably. Now a days it's rare to find one that the car hasn't been near totaled. It seems that boat anchor engine made great power but the car lacked one thing- it wouldn't turn at speed. Most found out a right hand turn meant body work was in the near future. I had several friends with one. None had them over a year before they moved on to a better car.
Eh, I could take you to 1967 Acapulco Blue Fastback GT with a warmed over 390 wearing 428 parts including ported and polished 428 Super Cobra Jet heads, 4 speed with Hurst Comp Plus 4 shifter, 9" with Nodular iron 3rd member case, forged axles, 4:10 with Detroit Locker............lots of goodies that still wins 1st prize at most shows right now. It was a former drag car for awhile as well. Still one of the nicest and fastest cars I ever rode in or have seen. Much nicer than the boss's 1968 Chevy II/Nova 396SS 375HP with a 4 speed.
Don't forget all those mid 60's Thunderbirds wearing 390s as well. NICE!!!
Well thanks for confirming to us that the 390 heads were junk and as they are fairly important when judging an engine when can state the 390 was junk as well.
Neither Chevrolet 396 nor Pontiac 400 nor Oldsmobile 400 owners had to swap their heads for power.
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