Motor Swap- 302 up to 390 FE. Possible?? how hard, worth it?

stillnotfastenough4me · August 1st, 2006, 03:50 PM

Hey guys, i just picked up an 88 gt hatchback. i am debating on wether i should stick with the 302 or if i should use the 390 that i have in garage. how hard would it be to put in there? also i have a tranny for the 390, it is a c4 i beleive. again how hard would that be to put in or is there another tranny that would hook up to the 390 that would be better or easier. looking at pulling around 475 horse when all said and done. woulf it make more sense just to use the 302 and stroke it? thanks in advance for any replys.

stang fanatic · August 1st, 2006, 04:17 PM

stroking your 302 would definitely be a lighter build-up than the 390

militarygt · August 2nd, 2006, 05:17 AM

well as the old saying goes. "theres no replacement for displacement"

IcantDo55 · August 2nd, 2006, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by militarygt

well as the old saying goes. "theres no replacement for displacement"

NOT! Forced induction!

Darrell · August 2nd, 2006, 05:36 PM

Why would you want to use an FE motor???????

5literJeff · August 2nd, 2006, 11:01 PM

I agree with Darrell, the FE series of motors came out in 1958 as a replacement for the Y-block series. They were in production until 1976 when the '385' series of engines replaced them (aka 429-460's).

Sure they were great for the time and good performance and I love old ford muscle engines as much as the next ford guy, but they are a bit dated nowadays. Unless you really, really, want to have a one of a kind car, it seems like to me the limitations would outweigh the benefits.

stillnotfastenough4me · August 2nd, 2006, 11:43 PM

only reason i am pondering it is because the 390 has been in the garage for a while now and would like to do something with it. seeing as i would be looking at tearing down the existing 302 completely anyway it seemed like it might be smarter to build up the 390 while still being able to drive the car with the stock 302 in it. would like to have that one of a kind car: rip the 5.0 decals off and put some 6.4 decals on there

. nobody would know what the heck was in there

so how will it fit?? and how hard to put it in. the tranny is a c6 will that fit decent.

Darrell · August 3rd, 2006, 04:44 AM

It will be a real tight fit for sure. I've never seen one in a fox body but FE motors are wide. The C6 will definitely not fit without some convincing. In all honesty you'd be better off building a 347, 351W or 408. I'm sure either one of those engines would be cheaper and make more horsepower.

5literJeff · August 3rd, 2006, 12:13 PM

Also keep in mind that the 390 is considerably heavier then a small block 302.

Nonethless if you are still interested heres two good links for FE engines.

FE V8- 332, 352, 360, 390, 406, 410, 427, 428 Forums

http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=51

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

stillnotfastenough4me · August 4th, 2006, 04:02 PM

you guys talked me out of it. too much weight. my bud has a 347 so i don't wnat to do that. might sound like a stupid question but does anyone put blowers on a stroked motor? lets say 331 stroker? what kind of horsepower would a 351W built up nice with a nice blower average. would it top 500 and still be a reliable ride?

Bossman351 · August 5th, 2006, 01:53 AM

The 390 is a damn good motor for a work truck but is not a good choice for a performance application. It would pull like nobodys business but will redline at about 4000 rpms. There is pretty much NO aftermarket for them and if you find it it will cost you. Ive never even heard of a set of 390 fox headers plus it will require a big block trans. I have a 79 f-250 with a 390 in it and THAT was a tight fit (so tight that the power steering pump almost rubs the steering sector) so I could imagine trying to shoehorn one into a fox. My advice, deffinately go with a small block (302, 351 or any stroker based off of one of these motors) but if you insist on having the cubes, go with a REAL big block. Build you a 478 or a 514.

stang fanatic · August 5th, 2006, 09:59 PM

go with a REAL big block. Build you a 478 or a 514

.

+1 on that...build a good 460 block up...plenty of swap parts to put that in a foxbody

superstang390 · January 23rd, 2007, 01:19 PM

i am also planing on puting a 390 in a fox i am in the process of doing that right now it is not that hard and it is going to be worth it canton racing make a oil pan for the swap and mortor mount out of a 61 ford will so it is a lot cheaper than building a 347 or 408

ReverendDexter · January 23rd, 2007, 01:39 PM

I think the 390 swap would be cool, but you'd need some high gears to make it worth it.

Also, why not grab a 427 crank and make yourself a 410 merc?

Darrell · January 23rd, 2007, 02:31 PM

Originally Posted by superstang390

i am also planing on puting a 390 in a fox i am in the process of doing that right now it is not that hard and it is going to be worth it canton racing make a oil pan for the swap and mortor mount out of a 61 ford will so it is a lot cheaper than building a 347 or 408

Worth it for what? For towing? How is an FE build up going to be cheaper than a 347? That math doesn't jive.

That's cool that you are doing something different but I wouldn't go as far as to say it will be cheaper.

ih8chevy · January 23rd, 2007, 11:30 PM

yo man let me help you, trust me when i say that the 390 is a great motor for towing and performance, but not in a fox, it wouldnt work dont do it, just find another big block, the 390 was a great motor and for those of you who say its not, well let me say this, back in 61 it was pulling a 4400 vehicle w/ a 3 speed manual shifter on the column (three on the tree) for those of you who didnt get it, and it was runnin 13.2's thats impressive i dont care who u are. it was taking down the chevy 409 and the chrysler 413. the prob is after 62 ford went with newer bigger motors and kinda just kept the 390 as a back up big block. so is it worth it in the fox no, u can build other things for cheaper and better power. Find a 460 out of a junk yard and use that.

brynfiv · January 25th, 2007, 08:30 PM

If you want someone to look and say what the hell is that, build a clevor with australian 351 cleveland heads. They arent that hard to get, just takes a few mods and a special intake because cleveland thermostat housing was on block. I garantie it'll run like a mofo on a 347 or 351w block with the right roller cam. special pistons are required because of the canted big ass valves. A 302 boss was basically a tougher built 302 with 4 barrel cleveland heads. Aussie heads are a mix between the pros
of 2v and 4v american cleveland heads put together.

August 1st, 2006, 03:50 PM	#1
stillnotfastenough4me Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 14	Motor Swap- 302 up to 390 FE. Possible?? how hard, worth it? Hey guys, i just picked up an 88 gt hatchback. i am debating on wether i should stick with the 302 or if i should use the 390 that i have in garage. how hard would it be to put in there? also i have a tranny for the 390, it is a c4 i beleive. again how hard would that be to put in or is there another tranny that would hook up to the 390 that would be better or easier. looking at pulling around 475 horse when all said and done. woulf it make more sense just to use the 302 and stroke it? thanks in advance for any replys.

August 1st, 2006, 04:17 PM	#2
stang fanatic Enthusiast Join Date: May 2006 Location: El Paso, Tx Posts: 855	stroking your 302 would definitely be a lighter build-up than the 390 __________________ "The gods too are fond of a joke." "If I had only known, I would have been a locksmith. "

August 2nd, 2006, 05:36 PM	#5
Darrell Feb 08 ROTM 1990 Mustang LX 9.36@143 mph Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Posts: 7,331	Why would you want to use an FE motor??????? __________________ Racing in memory of Dave Bandt 11/19/69 - 3/23/08 "he's traded his wheels for wings" Professor of Natural Aspiration Thanks to: Artie at Trick Flow, Dave at Team Z Motorsports, Brian at Total Engine Airflow and Harold at Furo Racecraft

August 3rd, 2006, 04:44 AM	#8
Darrell Feb 08 ROTM 1990 Mustang LX 9.36@143 mph Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Fond du Lac, Wisconsin Posts: 7,331	It will be a real tight fit for sure. I've never seen one in a fox body but FE motors are wide. The C6 will definitely not fit without some convincing. In all honesty you'd be better off building a 347, 351W or 408. I'm sure either one of those engines would be cheaper and make more horsepower. __________________ Racing in memory of Dave Bandt 11/19/69 - 3/23/08 "he's traded his wheels for wings" Professor of Natural Aspiration Thanks to: Artie at Trick Flow, Dave at Team Z Motorsports, Brian at Total Engine Airflow and Harold at Furo Racecraft

August 5th, 2006, 01:53 AM	#11
Bossman351 Hardcore Enthusiast Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: On the trailer.......broke. Posts: 1,261	The 390 is a damn good motor for a work truck but is not a good choice for a performance application. It would pull like nobodys business but will redline at about 4000 rpms. There is pretty much NO aftermarket for them and if you find it it will cost you. Ive never even heard of a set of 390 fox headers plus it will require a big block trans. I have a 79 f-250 with a 390 in it and THAT was a tight fit (so tight that the power steering pump almost rubs the steering sector) so I could imagine trying to shoehorn one into a fox. My advice, deffinately go with a small block (302, 351 or any stroker based off of one of these motors) but if you insist on having the cubes, go with a REAL big block. Build you a 478 or a 514. __________________ http://www.moddedmustangs.com/forums...ic137.html.jpg

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August 2nd, 2006, 05:17 AM	#3
militarygt Regular Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Honolulu,Hi Posts: 103	well as the old saying goes. "theres no replacement for displacement"

August 2nd, 2006, 11:01 PM	#6
5literJeff Regular Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Blue Ridge, South Carolina Posts: 260	I agree with Darrell, the FE series of motors came out in 1958 as a replacement for the Y-block series. They were in production until 1976 when the '385' series of engines replaced them (aka 429-460's). Sure they were great for the time and good performance and I love old ford muscle engines as much as the next ford guy, but they are a bit dated nowadays. Unless you really, really, want to have a one of a kind car, it seems like to me the limitations would outweigh the benefits.

August 2nd, 2006, 11:43 PM	#7
stillnotfastenough4me Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 14	only reason i am pondering it is because the 390 has been in the garage for a while now and would like to do something with it. seeing as i would be looking at tearing down the existing 302 completely anyway it seemed like it might be smarter to build up the 390 while still being able to drive the car with the stock 302 in it. would like to have that one of a kind car: rip the 5.0 decals off and put some 6.4 decals on there . nobody would know what the heck was in there so how will it fit?? and how hard to put it in. the tranny is a c6 will that fit decent.

August 3rd, 2006, 12:13 PM	#9
5literJeff Regular Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Blue Ridge, South Carolina Posts: 260	Also keep in mind that the 390 is considerably heavier then a small block 302. Nonethless if you are still interested heres two good links for FE engines. FE V8- 332, 352, 360, 390, 406, 410, 427, 428 Forums http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=51 Ford FE.com http://www.network54.com/Forum/74182/

August 4th, 2006, 04:02 PM	#10
stillnotfastenough4me Newbie Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 14	you guys talked me out of it. too much weight. my bud has a 347 so i don't wnat to do that. might sound like a stupid question but does anyone put blowers on a stroked motor? lets say 331 stroker? what kind of horsepower would a 351W built up nice with a nice blower average. would it top 500 and still be a reliable ride?

January 23rd, 2007, 01:19 PM	#13
superstang390 Look Ma! My First Post! Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 1	390 in a fox i am also planing on puting a 390 in a fox i am in the process of doing that right now it is not that hard and it is going to be worth it canton racing make a oil pan for the swap and mortor mount out of a 61 ford will so it is a lot cheaper than building a 347 or 408

January 23rd, 2007, 01:39 PM	#14
ReverendDexter Hardcore Enthusiast 1998 SVT Cobra Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Santa Rosa, CA Posts: 1,629	I think the 390 swap would be cool, but you'd need some high gears to make it worth it. Also, why not grab a 427 crank and make yourself a 410 merc? __________________ The Sacred Chao says "MU" Real racers turn corners... both ways... on the same track. MM Corner Carvers Crew, member #2

January 23rd, 2007, 11:30 PM	#16
ih8chevy Regular Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 151	yo man let me help you, trust me when i say that the 390 is a great motor for towing and performance, but not in a fox, it wouldnt work dont do it, just find another big block, the 390 was a great motor and for those of you who say its not, well let me say this, back in 61 it was pulling a 4400 vehicle w/ a 3 speed manual shifter on the column (three on the tree) for those of you who didnt get it, and it was runnin 13.2's thats impressive i dont care who u are. it was taking down the chevy 409 and the chrysler 413. the prob is after 62 ford went with newer bigger motors and kinda just kept the 390 as a back up big block. so is it worth it in the fox no, u can build other things for cheaper and better power. Find a 460 out of a junk yard and use that.

January 25th, 2007, 08:30 PM	#17
brynfiv Newbie Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 9	If you want someone to look and say what the hell is that, build a clevor with australian 351 cleveland heads. They arent that hard to get, just takes a few mods and a special intake because cleveland thermostat housing was on block. I garantie it'll run like a mofo on a 347 or 351w block with the right roller cam. special pistons are required because of the canted big ass valves. A 302 boss was basically a tougher built 302 with 4 barrel cleveland heads. Aussie heads are a mix between the pros of 2v and 4v american cleveland heads put together.

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Motor Swap- 302 up to 390 FE. Possible?? how hard, worth it?

Motor Swap- 302 up to 390 FE. Possible?? how hard, worth it?

390 in a fox

Re: 390 in a fox