Settle something for me...390 vs 400.

[rusty ol ranger]

My 3.0 is fine. Old but fine. EGR and EVAP gone. Converter doesn't convert any longer. Have to use a 160 thermostat to keep the computer from going into closed loop, runs open loop full time. Bottle under the hood full of E85, feeding through a vacuum hose straight into the intake manifold. I use a C clamp to pinch the hose to control the amount going in. No muffler, two pipes poking out in front of the left rear tire. Big Huge stainless steel mesh cone filter, with two scoops on the hood directly above it. JET tuning chip on the computer. Got 245/60 TA Radials on the back. Spin them all the time inadvertently. I think the E85, in addition to what the computer feeds it from the tank in full time open loop, does the trick.

I bet my 2.9 would still run it down

 

[racsan]

Never drove a 390, drove a 360 once, 76 F150 4x4, C6,3.73’s, leaned out for mpg’s. wasnt impressed. We had a 77 F250 with a 400 though, C6, 4.10’s, full time 4wd. The previous farm truck was a 74 2wd F250. 300,np435, 3.73 The 77/400 was awesome, liked its fuel for sure but would pull anything, quite the snowplowing beast too. Sure couldn’t afford to drive it everyday, especially now with $4/gas. I checked it once- got 9mpg. Never had the chance to drive a 460.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I never drove a 390 or 400. Swapped in a 460 for a 400 in a 78 f150 4x4 for a friend. He liked the 460 better. But the 460 had a dual exhaust and aluminum intake and new carb.
I put a 429 into a Torino. That was a quick car for the day. Had a 460 in a 77f250 2wd. It did the work but thirsty and not a lot of get up.

 

[Li'l Work Truck]

Is that on your weedeater?

 

[19Walt93]

First gen Mustangs where the truck floor is literally the fuel tank probably wouldn't really fare very well either and they are worshiped by all.

The gas tank in Jeeps used to be under the driver's seat, in pickups they were behind the front seat, in VW's they sat in the driver's lap. I did a 2.8/T5/8" swap into a 64 Sunbeam Alpine that had 2 gas tanks- one in each rear fender connected by a 2" tube that ran just behind the bumper- and they were "protected" by the tail lights.
In 45 years working in garages and 10 year driving a wrecker I saw one car burn after and independent shop "fixed" a running problem.
People used to look through the windshield (most of the time) when they were driving, not at their phone or the car's touchscreen so they weren't a lot of rear enders.

 

[19Walt93]

Never drove a 390, drove a 360 once, 76 F150 4x4, C6,3.73’s, leaned out for mpg’s. wasnt impressed. We had a 77 F250 with a 400 though, C6, 4.10’s, full time 4wd. The previous farm truck was a 74 2wd F250. 300,np435, 3.73 The 77/400 was awesome, liked its fuel for sure but would pull anything, quite the snowplowing beast too. Sure couldn’t afford to drive it everyday, especially now with $4/gas. I checked it once- got 9mpg. Never had the chance to drive a 460.

Most everything ran like crap in the mid/late 70's, with retarded advance curves, lean mixtures, and low compression they didn't have a chance. 9mpg might be bragging for a full time 4x4 truck, we towed in a 76 F250 4x4 and it took 4 of us to push it across the shop with all the fluids thickened up at -20. That's what I think of when I hear "they don't build them like they used to".

 

[cbxer55]

I bet my 2.9 would still run it down

Hmm. My truck also has 4.10 gears. Maybe you'll get me on top end.

 

[sgtsandman]

I kind of miss the old bumper filler neck cars. You never had to remember which side the filler neck was on or had to wait until a pump opened on the correct side so you could fill up.