[2 Amigos]

Hey guys, I purchased this motor about a year ago for a project car and slowly building up parts. This is going to be a straight cruiser, but I keep buying performance part after performance part so I need some help. I want to Port and Polish the heads myself (or have the kid next door do it, he does it on the side for other people and his work is nice). On top of that it currently has mechanical lifters and a solid cam (the oil galleys are plugged which lead me to believe that). I have 2 questions

-Should I pay the other guy port and polish these heads for me for 200 bucks? The kits alone are 50 bucks and I know its atleast 16 hours worth of work. What do you think? If i do it alone I know I will definitely be nervous grinding down that one Thermactor bump.

-I found a really good deal on a Hydraulic Cam and Lifters, but I am currently running solid/mechanical. How hard is it to convert to a hydraulic cam? Do I simply remove the oil galley plugs and be done or is the process more difficult. Edelbrock 2601 is the kit I found for a deal

Here is the current list of parts
-68 code 390 bored .010
-Polished Edelbrock intake manifold
-Custom long tube headers from Crites
-Mallory Ignition
-Holley 750 CFM w/ vacuum secondaries
-C6 transmission Automatic
-Stock Rear

[vinniekq2]

most of the porting will be on the exhaust side.The 390 makes decent power when ported,comparable to a 383 sbc, with a better rocker arm ratio. What cam are you getting a deal on?

[2 Amigos]

Edelbrock 2106 cam Duration 272/282, Lift .460/.484. Mild but I do not plan on changing the rocker arms or valve springs so this fits the bill nicely

[vinniekq2]

Then your questions have been answered. Have fun with the extra power.I would gladly pay $200.00 for a mild porting job.Post a video of the car running if you have a video camera.

[2 Amigos]

My main question is if I can even put this cam in. I am currently running solid/mechanical lifters and camshaft. How do I convert to utilize Hydraulic Lifters and Cam?? Do I simply remove the oil galley plugs?

[PatM]

Most (not all) here are Chevy guys. You might want to ask on the FE site to see about the solid vs. hydraulic question. I think you'll get good response and probably good consensus.
PatM

[texastomeh]

Just in case you don't already have it, here's the link to an EXCELLENT Ford FE forum: 332-428 Ford FE Engine Forum

GOOD LUCK!!

Tom

[Mr. P-Body]

If the restrictors are simply plugs in the oil passages coming up to the rocker assembly, the only "conversion" is removing the restrictors. The "adjustable" rockers can be used with hydraulic lifters. "Set" them like you would a Chevy or other "adjustable" hydraulic.

Ubnless you've already bought the cam, I would recommend a more modern grind. We've had escellent results from Comp XE268H iin 390s.

Static compression should be held to about 9.3:1 for using 93 octane gas.

390s can "rev". They seem to be better though, as "torque" engines, making power to about 5,600 or so.

FWIW

Jim

[rsfyj]

A Ford note restrictions to the oil up through the heads can be .090. Fe 390s get way to much oil to the top of the engine. I always ran copper tubes drilled to .090 through the head oil inlets to the rockers. I have had tons of Fe engines never lost one.