Glad I Finally Joined!

SKI1462 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 03:00 PM

I just wanted to take a moment to say hello to everyone here. I've "lurked" and enjoyed but never joined until today. Now here is my "problem." I don't have a Cobra so hopefully you folks don't banish me from your site. I do however have a 1967 Cougar 390GT automatic. My question is in regards to building a streetable 600 HP engine. I've read a great many posts about engines and they all seem to be living in the mighty little Cobra. I have pretty extensive knowledge of engines and Fords in particular but very limited FE knowledge. I used to work at a local Ford dealer as a parts guy in my early 20's. Now at 34 I want to build my Cougar. I understand that the differance in the weight of the Cougar VS the Cobra will affect my engine build as far as selecting parts. Could anybody hopefully show me a formula for a stroker that will take me to around 427 cid without going more than .30 over on the block. I have two original 390GT motors that are untouched low mile motors. My dad had the car since 1970 and it only has 57,000 on that motor and the second motor come from a 1967 Fairlane 390GTA with about 80,000 mile on it. I'm getting ready to try and fire her up since it's been an easy 20 years since it ran so any advice in that matter is appreciated as well. I'm sure I'll have more questions as time goes on but I just wanted to get my feet wet today.

Thanks!
SKI
P.S. - I don't have unlimited funds so the Genisis block is out for right now.

xlr8or · #2 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 03:06 PM

You could get a 428 crankshaft or equivelant and that will get you to 406 I believe.

Best bet is to contact one of the engine builders on the site here for suggestions based on what you want to do with it.

There is Keith Craft, Gessford, FE Specialties etc.

ZOERA-SC7XX · #3 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 04:15 PM

If I'm not mistaken, the 390 block with a 428 crankshaft will give you a 410, which was installed in several Mercury full size cars. I made a 428 by boring my 390 block to 4.130 (.080) with a 428 crankshaft and KB pistons, which should be okay as long as you retain proper wall thickness. SCAT makes custom stroker crankshaft kits for 390's getting up to 431 cu in w/.030 overbore. Make sure you use a 428 flywheel (external balance) with the 428 crank.

SKI1462 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 05:39 PM

I was leaning more towards the Scat stroker kit. I plan on using the car for some for some serious street/strip stuff, I mean I will not be using it for going to work or anything like that. I want some serious 1/4 mile times and with a Gearvendors overdrive kit still be able to drive a 100 miles to my brother's place in Bloomington, IL. I live in Joliet, IL (Route 66 Raceway.) Correct me if I am wrong but aren't the 390's known for overheating when you open them up past.30? I was also looking at the cost of having my factory bottom end machined VS buying a Scat complete rotating assembly. For what I will pay for proper machine shop work on the stock stuff, I figured for a few dollars more I can gain the displacement I'm looking for AND have pretty much most of the machine shop work done. I just am not sure about how big to overbore the block. I don't want somebody trying to sell me a mega displacement stroker kit that requires an overbore that is just gonna cause the motor to overheat all of the time anyways. SO, lets just say I go with the SCAT kit that gives me 431cid with a .30 overbore. What heads should I look at next? I wanted to go with a hydraulic roller and a carb, no EFI. Ya know I probably should have asked first if there are any good books on the topic that cover the 390 FE high performance build-up. Geez, I have so many questions on a whole bunch of stuff it's unreal. Another question would be how do you decide on a torque converter if you're using the Gearvendor unit? I really appreciate you guys having some patience with the FNG here and thanks in advance for all your help!

ZOERA-SC7XX · #5 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 07:34 PM

Two books I bought: Big-Block Ford Engines, by Steve Christ and High Performance Ford Engine Parts Interchange, by George Reid. They got me in the ballpark...explained lots of nuances and has excellent parts info.
My engine builder has lots of FE experience and specializes in truck and deisel engines. He says most of the cooling takes place in the head and intake, that he's not too worried about the bore. I also will not be drag racing my Cobra and will probably be under 5500 RPM most if not all of the time.
As for heads, a good set of Ford Hi Perf High Riser or Medium Riser units are best if stock, but those Edelbrock heads with a good porting job can be just as good. So many factors involved, mostly cost. It's the whole package that makes it work. There are many knowledgable folks here that have tons of FE experience. See what you can extract from them. Good luck.

SantaFe66 · #6 (**permalink**) 06-05-2007, 10:35 PM

Go to www.Webrodder.com and enter "FE" into the search. It will take you to a series of articles on several builds by the "Weasel" of 390's using the Scat crank and other options. A wealth of experience and knowledge in that series. I paid to get the entire set printed and mailed to me and it was worth it.

Read both the Ford FE Hot Rod articles and the Cobra Venom articles.

Good Luck.

Paul



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