Originally Posted by Bluejay

He was asking about 4 barrels. For some reason, that was the abreviation for the carb back then. A 390 4v or 351C 4v heads meant 4 barrel carb. Seems weird now, but didn't then.

Originally Posted by AZ Mr. Bill

If my memory serves me correctly, the 390 was around from 1961 to about 1970 in passenger cars, and continued from 1971 to 1976 in pickups. If I also remember correctly, the reason it was phased out of passenger cars was due to the 400M, along with the 385 series engines (429/460). A good reference for all of the 390 engines available throughout those years is "Standard Catalog of American Cars: 1946 - 1975" that should be available at your local library.

As for a 4 barrel engine, these were common throughout the '60s in Thunderbirds and other cars like Galaxies. The early '60s 4 barrel engines usually came with about 10.5:1 compression, the 2 barrels came with about 9.5:1 compression

As for your "67 Fairlane, if it originally came with the 390 GT package, your vin would have an "S" for the fifth character. This would signify a 390, 335 hp, 4v engine.

If you want to build a 390 to replace the original, they are relatively simple to build. Two things I would recommend would be to NOT use the factory exhaust manifolds for the 390, as they are notoriously restrictive. If you are going to use a factory type exhaust manifold, there was one for the 427s of that era that looks similar to cast iron shorty headers, but are about as rare as hens teeth to find anymore (at least they were in the early '80s). Your best bet is to use good headers. The best stock intakes were the 390 GT 4 barrel, and the '69 - '70 428CJ (Cobra Jet), with the 390 GT 600 cfm 4 barrel carb. Also, the oil thing most people do is to enlarge the pump pickup hole in the block itself with a die grinder to match the pickup gasket, and use a Melling oil pump. You will find reference to this, along with other tips on the 390, in Pat Ganahl's book "Ford Performance". The 390 is covered in the "FE" section.

One last tip: DO NOT try to take off a cast iron 390 intake manifold with just your arms. Those things are HEAVY and should be removed with an engine hoist. Also, you will have to remove pushrods, valve covers, and rocker arms to do an intake swap.

Originally Posted by Labnerd

Klitch, just to make it clear, there were tons of 4 barrel FEs made but I've never heard of a 4 valve....if that's what yer asking. Considering the room it would take for an additional set of lifters and rods, I highly doubt it's possible to have 4 valve FEs. The FEs were a brute engine and found it's way into large trucks carrying over 70,000 lbs total. Fuel mileage was around 3-4 but they could do the work all day long. While they were the engine that Ford had during the day, it was not a great racing engine nor was it great at heavy mods as compared to other makes. But they were the torque monster of the era. If you have an old truck or car to put the 390 in, it takes to light mods like a decent cam and about a 600-750 cfm carb with headers. They have a sound of their own like the old GM 327's. If it's running and isn't burning oil bad, it's worth the $250.00. You also need to research the oil mod for the FEs. There is too much restriction at the oil filter plate and the mod has you drill it out. You'll need a high volume pump to go with the mod too. Hope you get the opportunity to put something together with it. There's nothing to compare to an old FE.

Originally Posted by Klitch

the story I've always heard is the 390 loved to chew pushrods. but that was two people in idaho, never have asked the ford parts guy in town that use to drag race these cars.

Originally Posted by Tumba

That's why the red line is so low. But they make up for it in torque.

Originally Posted by BROTHERDAVE

a nice modern 390 fe would be a 390 with a survival motorsport bore and stroke to make it 445 , add some ported edlebrock alum heads and performer rpm intake, add the appropriate cam for vehicle weight and it should go.

intake and heads alon eshould drop over 100 pounds out of the fron tof the vehicle.