390 ?????

GACobra · #1 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 04:21 PM

Hey guys. Great site by the way. Looking into buying a Cobra. Been looking for awhile and now I'm ready to purchase. The main one I'm looking at is a Shell Valley with a 390. I haven't seen where many people are running the 390 in their Cobras. Any helpful info or reasons I should or should not be looking at one with a 390. It has 406 heads and dual Holley 4bbls and top loader 4spd. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Brett

1985 CCX · #2 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 05:55 PM

I know of a few with 390's, great torque and 427 look. Personally, I don't think a modern machined 390 has any drawbacks at all. If you like the car and it suits your need buy it. 390 is a great plant and great bang for the buck.

rustyBob · #3 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 07:41 PM

GA.......go for it,a 390 is one of the best engines out there,they produce a lot of torque and good horse power and there are tons of them around so part replacement is no problem.The 390 thats in my Cobra came from a 65 Galaxie i drove (in stock form)for twenty years,rebuilt it for the Cobra and it is still running strong.

twobjshelbys · #4 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GACobra

Hey guys. Great site by the way. Looking into buying a Cobra. Been looking for awhile and now I'm ready to purchase. The main one I'm looking at is a Shell Valley with a 390. I haven't seen where many people are running the 390 in their Cobras. Any helpful info or reasons I should or should not be looking at one with a 390. It has 406 heads and dual Holley 4bbls and top loader 4spd. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Brett

The dual quads are hard to keep adjusted but at your altitude it should be OK.

PANAVIA · #5 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 08:31 PM

Remember - if you get bored with your 390, you can use most if not all the stuff to bolt onto a 427-428.

Another option: -- if have a talented machine shop near by, you could put a 428 crank in your 390 (possibly new pistons due to height of piston pins) and have a 410 for not a whole lot of cash outlay.

390s can run well and in a light car (even a heavy cobra is tonnes lighter than a galaxie was) you can jam down the road quite well.

FEs are a special beast and can be a pain to sort out correctly , so I would read up on 390s and make some new FE friends to help you out--and you should be fine.

Gears: There is a Short shaft 10 spline Tremec TKO 500 that should bolt to the top loader housing and with a small drive shaft mod. -- then you can have a 5 speed

--Steve

GACobra · #6 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 08:50 PM

Thanks for the input guys. This is a great site full of info. I'm going to test drive it tomorrow. If all checks out, I will have a snake in the garage tomorrow. No doubt I will spend most of tomorrow night in the garage like a kid on Christmas morning.

Also this car comes with an additional freshly rebuilt 390. Guess I'll have a spare

rustyBob · #7 (**permalink**) 08-02-2009, 05:58 AM

what a pleasant surprise,an extra 390,how about some pictures of this fine Cobra so we can see what your getting yourself into.............

PANAVIA · #8 (**permalink**) 08-03-2009, 07:05 PM

that would be coool . an extra engine too !!



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