since search is down or not working for me in FF or IE, I'll start a new thread more specific.

found a 390 (running condition supposedly) for $250.

question is simply what years was the 390 used, and was there REALLY a 4v 390 for any year? Was that "offered" in the 67 Fairlanes or was it reserved for the merc line vehicles?

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_FE_engine

http://www.woodyg.com/fairlane/finfo/390intro.html

 

No offense Z, wiki I've seen that particular page, but I dont know how true it is because i've heard its actually editable by anyone or something like that?

but It appears the other site confirms the 4v model, i wonder if that was the "S" code GT/GTA fairlane?

 

I had a 64 and a 65 Galaxy with a 390 4 barrels

 

67 Fairlane GTs were 390 4vs as I recall. 4 speed unless it was a GTA(automatic)

 

old timers knowledge is so valuable.

so the "GT/A" was the 4v 390 that I just found out about, man, gotta start over on my local searching (not looking hard the cars nowhere near ready for a motor)

appears wiki was right Z, sorry to doubt!

 

When I was a kid, we had a 1967 Station Wagon with the 4v 390 rated at 335 hp.

I grew up thinking all cars could do giant smokey burnouts, lol.

The 390 4v was also found in many T-birds.

Many station wagons had the 390, but they were usually 2v. My buddy had a '69 or so 390 2v that we would beat the snot out of. He would drive up a steep hill, put it in neutral and roll backwards to about 5 - 10 mph. Then throw it into Low and stomp the loud pedal. It would just sit there and shake while it spun the right rear, making huge clouds of smoke. You just could not break that C6 and 9" rear.

 

Far as I know, 390's were around from 61-76, hell, I got 2 390's and 4v intakes. These bieng from my 64 Galaxie.

 

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.

 

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.

 

4v = 4 venturi = 4 barrels

 

Sure, that makes sense.

 

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.

 

You bring back many memories!

 

I knew that but wasn't sure if Klitch knew that.

I do it all the time with just my arms in my F-100's. Ya gotta stand on the frame in the engine bay with the hood off to do it though. Putting it back and not screwing up the gasket at the back of the manifold is an artform. I've done it many times but it is one heavy dude. While I don't know the exact weight of a stock 4v manifold, I'd guess around 75 lbs. You're very correct about running headers with these engines. I've got Headmans on all of mine with Cherry Bombs. The stock placement of the muffler puts it right at the cab and bed junction and water erodes the mufflers in half. The aluminum Cherry Bombs will last probably as long as the truck. The 390's in the Fairlanes and Mustangs are noted for being extremely front end heavy and finding a car back then that didn't have front end body damage was rare. They plow real bad and were never designed for any kind of fast turns.

Yessir, fond memories. Those days are gone and if you didn't live through them, too bad. It'll never happen again and it was a fun ride! I still wish I had my 34 Ford 5 window coupe but finding a body anymore worth having is next to impossible. I know they make the fiberglas bodys but if yer gonna build one- make it a real one.