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Ford 390


dgarner08

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 19, 2007
Messages
84
Vehicle Year
1999
Transmission
Manual
i know this subject has came up before(i searched) but no real answers were given. so my question is would a 390 be a good swap choice for a 2wd ranger i know they are heavy but can you make good hp and torque with it...also would a dual sump oil pan be required to make it work...and how would you correct the steering geometry due to the weight ...sorry for all the questions. i'm just trying to educate myself a little:icon_thumby:
 
You will have to also do some work on your frame to handle all the torque it puts out. The stock frame just won't cut it.
 
Quick answer is no, would not make a good swap choice. You could do it with a lot of custom fabrication. I measured my FE block one time and with out the heads on, it was still wider than a 302 with the heads on it. A 390 is a tight fit in an old Mustang or Fairlane, tube headers are a bitch to work around.
Dave
 
The un-modified 390 is a over-weight slug. It was not a popular engine for swaps. Even modified, it's performance was not that great. There are much better engine choices available.:)shady
 
The 391 came in the medium/heavy duty trucks, I forgot about them as well as the rest of the world. When you say 391, think of a bus motor. The FE's are expensive to build but lot's of aftermarket support. World Products and Dart both have ready to drop in 302's stroked out to 372 cubes, dyno run, just add headers and front dress. Lost my spec/price sheet on them but still a lot better swap motor.
Dave
 
wow i haven't ever heard of a 391 but I'm pretty sure it is a 390....the only reason i have ben asking about is the simple fact that it is free to me. im just trying to weigh out my options. i also have a 302 and a 351c but i just cant make a decision the 351c would be a good swap candidate it is complete and still in the car with the transmission (1973 torino)
thanks for all the information...anything else?
 
One of the best books on the FE/FT motors is one by Steve Christ. All the info you would want. With these motors even the casting number is not good enough to tell you motor size, it could be a 352, a 390 or 428.
Dave
 
One of the best books on the FE/FT motors is one by Steve Christ. All the info you would want. With these motors even the casting number is not good enough to tell you motor size, it could be a 352, a 390 or 428.
Dave

In the winter 2008 issue of "Engine Masters" magazine, there was an article on a FE 427 side oiler. There was also a great article on the 400M Cleveland which produced some impressive low end numbers.
 
The 390 is not a torque monster. It's a slug. If you want a heavy motor, get a 460. The 390 is not worth thinking about. If you got it in there you'll be doing a lot of bragging and a lot of excuse making. You get a 460 in there and you'll have no need for either.

The things that made a 391 different were things that made it able to survive in a hard environment. It was less powerful than a 390, but more durable. Full skirt pistons (more friction) tiny valves and ports (more airspeed at truck rpms but less power--these were governed to 3600rpm) forged cranked (you need the flywheel to balance it, and that is probablt 40# or more so it doesn't stall when you let it up in a loaded dumptruck, meaning less acceleration if it;s installed in a light vehicle). There are other differences and I can't remember them because I am confusing them with the Dodge truck engine I recently go rid of. But I think there are some collant passages added so it's possible the intake manifolds are different. And the exhaust manifolds are certainly different.

They are based on the same engine, but there are not a lot of similarities when it comes to exchanging parts. And for what it's worth, there was an FT called the 389 as well, and it was also a 390 based motor.

I used to have an LN700 with a 361FT so I've been down this road and probably still have the serivce manuals and that Steve Christ book if my wife hasn't donated them to the public library.
 
A 390, or any Ford FE-series engine, is big and heavy. Not worth the effort to put one in a Ranger.
 

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