Guestamate of my HP

[MetaJacko]

Hi,

I'm just getting my 390FE back from the machine shop after fixing a few things and adding a few more things.
It would be nice to have an idea of what HP to expect so the build is

re-bored 390FE with +60 Hypereutectic pistons
Ford 390 heads 71cc size
comp cam 282s grind (571 lift)
dove roller tipped rockers
re ground and balanced crank
skimmed and lightened fly wheel
some porting and polishing on the heads
Holly 750dp
Driving through a CR Toploader

I'm not much of a mechanic so I've done my best with this info.
I guess it's how it drives that matters but a basic idea would be nice.

Thanks

Paul

[MOTORHEAD]

425 WAG

[Clois Harlan]

Assuming stock rods and stroke, hydraulic lifters, medium riser intake cast iron, 350 HP at the wheels maybe 410 at the flywheel?

Clois

[MetaJacko]

Thanks folks,

I was guessing about 400 but I wasn't too sure if I was being a bit optimistic.

Clois, They are solid lifters but you are right about rods, stroke etc. The intake is alu Ford (at least it has 'Ford' logo on it but I cant find any Id nos)

Thanks

Paul

[SCOBRAC]

Hotrod magazine built a similar build but went 9.68:1 and got 450 hp. The theoretical maximum HP of the 390 is 486 and that would be close to 12:1.

Here's what hotrod did. http://www.hotrod.com/webonly_january/

[MetaJacko]

Hi Michael,

That makes interesting reading.
I'm guessing I've got about 9.5:1 comp with 71cc heads. They are also using more lift than me but all the info gives me a ball park figure of 400 to 450 which should be fine since I don't intend to race. Just do the odd track day and P*ss off Ricers!

Paul

[Goober]

Yep, I think around 420-440 HP. Should have some good torque.

Mark

[Timmy]

I’m told over in the fordFE.com forum the 450hp HRM build up was actually 390 hp @ 5,600 and 403 #-ft @ 3,900, and the numbers were corrected to standard dyno conditions, 60V F, 29.92" at sea level.

Tim

[MetaJacko]

Hi Tim,

All Dynos have to be corrected from the raw value. That of course can lead to some interesting HP claims!
I did come across some info on the web describing how this adjustment is made and why, and of course, how to tell if its been 'adjusted' too much!
Can't remember where the info was now though.

Paul

[bud4660]

Originally posted by MetaJacko


Thanks folks,

I was guessing about 400 but I wasn't too sure if I was being a bit optimistic.

Clois, They are solid lifters but you are right about rods, stroke etc. The intake is alu Ford (at least it has 'Ford' logo on it but I cant find any Id nos)

Thanks

Paul

Here are some Ford intake pictures. See if it looks like any of these.

http://personal.atl.bellsouth.net/b/...exFactory.html

[MetaJacko]

Thanks Bud,

It looks closest to 66PI-C6AE-H It's definately got two long inlets so that narrows it down to this or the sidewinder.

I guess that is a Police Interceptor? That sort of make sence since I have solid lifters and I think it has always been solid lifters. As far as I know, most 390 solid lifters wer PIs.

Obviously, the block, heads and inlet could all be from different engines but I know the heads are C6AE-R so if the Inlet is C6AE-H
and the block is solid lifter, would it be a good assumption that this is a 66 390PI?

Paul

[FFR428]

Is the block a C5AE-B? These were factory solid lifter 390 PI blocks. The C6-H intake is indeed a PI. G.

[MetaJacko]

Originally posted by FFR428


Is the block a C5AE-B? These were factory solid lifter 390 PI blocks. The C6-H intake is indeed a PI. G.

Hi,

Unfortunately, I cant find any decent markings other than the good old '352 66' on the front and similar under the fly wheel.

Where I would expect the markings half way down the side of the block it is blank. So I havn't found any xxxx-x markings on the block itself

The only thing I know about the block is that it is now a 390 at +60 with a 3.78 crank and uses solid lifters. (It was sold to me as a 428 but that's covered in another thread )

Oh well

Paul

[FFR428]

Paul, if the block has vertical ribs on the outside good chance it's a 70's era service block. Check the date code. The first number will have two dots underneath it for a 70's block also.

[MetaJacko]

Originally posted by FFR428


Paul, if the block has vertical ribs on the outside good chance it's a 70's era service block. Check the date code. The first number will have two dots underneath it for a 70's block also.

Hi

I've found the date code of what looks like 9L26 with two dots under the 9 so is this supposed to be cast
26th November 1979 ?

Did they even make FEs then?
It is and has always been solid lifter since the oil holes are not drilled.

According to that I have a 390 solid lifter cast in 1979 does that make sense

Paul

[FFR428]

Are there ribs on the side of the block???

[FFR428]

oops forgot something....Is there a DIF or MCC logo anywhere on the block?

[FFR428]

Doh! one more thing....Are the two dots only under the first digit? I'm not talking about the two screw shaped dots on either side of the date code just under the first number. Sorry for all the questions....G.

[MetaJacko]

Hi,

Yes DIF is on the block
No there are no ribs
Yes the two dots are under the 9

9L26
"
W

(sort of)

Its nice to know that Ford used nice simple ways to identify blocks

Thanks for all the help. I guess it doesn't matter what it is since its what I've got now but I would be happier knowing what I'm driving.
I always feel like such a fool when people ask what it is beyond being an FE and I have to make guesses.

Paul

[casaleenie]

7