Rebuilt 390, Need your help/opinions please……

[Timmy]

PI, what's the full part number on the Crane cam? I could not find it on the web site.
D. Hearne, Thanks for the offer. I don't know how I missed your post about having the short block. I'll keep that in mind. I still need to talk to my guy here and see what he can do. If I can't get something worked out, I'll let you know.

Comp suggested this cam if I'm sticking with the stock stall converter. What do you guys think?

Part Number 33-226-4
Engine 1963-1976 Ford
352ci-428ci
8cyl.
Grind Number FB 270H-10
Description

Intake Exhaust
Valve Adjustment 0 0
Gross Valve Lift 0.519 0.519
Duration At 0.006 Tappet Lift 270 270

Valve Timing At 0.006
Open Close
Intake 29 61
Exhaust 69 21

These Specs Are For The Cam Installed At 106 Intake CL
Intake Exhaust
Duration At 0.05 224 224
Lobe Lift 0.3 0.3
Lobe Separation 110

 

[PoliceInterceptor]

343801 is a cam only
343802 is the cam as a kit with lifters and lube.

Links:

http://www.cranecams.com/index.php?show=browseParts&action=partSpec&partNumber=343801&lvl=2&prt=5

http://www.cranecams.com/index.php?show=browseParts&action=partSpec&partNumber=343802&lvl=2&prt=5

I am so not a fan of single pattern cams, which is what comp recommended to you.

 

[D.Hearne]

Timmy, that cam should do nicely or even a 280H if you run a little more compression.

 

[Timmy]

I was looking at the Federal Mogul web site and noticed the SpeedPro Forged pistons are 9.91:1 compression so the 280H might be right. I need to call Comp again and talk to them about the statement on the 280H “Works best in street machines with aftermarket stall”. They list a stall speed on all the cams that require a higher than stock stall but not on this one.

Thanks for all the help on this guys. Now I need to start spending the money to make this thing happen.
I’m excepting all donations…..

 

[PoliceInterceptor]

You might want to check that 280H out throughly before purchase. The FE Forum had a few people displeased with it recently.

Comp doesn't have a great many fans of their Hydro cams in FE's.

FWIW

 

[PoliceInterceptor]

Here are the piston specs:

* Compression ratio: 10.00:1 (67.1cc heads), 9.91:1 (68cc heads), 9.62:1 (71cc heads), 9.36:1 (74cc heads)

Popular experiance has shown the great majority of factory heads spec'ed in the 68-72cc range are actually 71-72 cc. It is rare to find one that is 68cc.

Keith Craft has posted on a quite a few occasions that the ED heads sold as 72cc are usually more like 74-75cc out of the box. He will however sell you a set that he has "blueprinted and cc'ed for nominally more than an out of the box set.

 

[D.Hearne]

I was looking at the Federal Mogul web site and noticed the SpeedPro Forged pistons are 9.91:1 compression so the 280H might be right. I need to call Comp again and talk to them about the statement on the 280H “Works best in street machines with aftermarket stall”. They list a stall speed on all the cams that require a higher than stock stall but not on this one.

Thanks for all the help on this guys. Now I need to start spending the money to make this thing happen.
I’m excepting all donations…..

I ran a Comp Cams 280H in a built up 400M, with a stock stall C-6 and it did just fine. The specs are the same as the FE version, and the comp ratio in that 400 was 9.8 to 1. I don't see why it wouldn't do as well in a 390. Many people who claim to have troubles with cams, are simply suffering from improper installations. 9 times out of ten, it's not the cam at fault for poor performance, but either improper choice or installation techniques.

 

[PoliceInterceptor]

Do not take my word for it. Take the part number of virtually ANY FE cam and search it on:

http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182

I bet you will find someone who has run it. (With it correctly installed.)

 

[D.Hearne]

I read that thread, and the consensus seems to be a problem with the way the cam was set up in the motor. There were as many satisfied users there as were disatisfied ones. Like I said, I've run one in a 400 and it worked perfectly. The 400 had basically the same specs as his 390, only it was an "M" motor not an FE. Many people install big cams, expecting great bottom end power, only to find out that the cam moves the power up the rpm scale, the bigger they get. If they wanted a great bottom end, that's what they should have picked the cam for.

 

[PoliceInterceptor]

The only thing about a 400 and a 390 that is close spec wise is the valve sizes (possibly).

In fact that is the problem with Comp's High Energy/Magnum line, they are cookie cutter cams.

It might "work", there are much better choices though.

BTW. a stock converter is going to make it feel soft on the bottom end

 

[Timmy]

Are the springs on the Edelbrock heads any good? At what lift do I need to change them out. I see where almost all the cam companies say to run their springs with their cam. I'm told the valve guides are crap. Any truth to that?

 

[PoliceInterceptor]

The heads/springs are spec'ed for .600 max lift.

They are essentually Crane 99893 springs.

I haven't heard that the guides were junk.

People say that they would be better with proper spring seats under the springs.

Keith Craft buys them bare and uses better stuff to assemble them and sells a pair for about 1495.00 (IIRC). CCing and titainium retainers are options.

Also, Blue Thunder may have their head on the market in the forseeable future. They are going to go for a few hundred more than ED heads, but some of the preliminary flow numbers are very good.

I'm reworking a set of C8AE-H for now until I can get the Blue Thunders.