build 429 or build 390 for the '71

[ares360]

i would say leave it and get missile launchers to put in the back. it will even out the weight!

[70shortwide]

i say 429... im a little biased

these 385 series motors arent hard to get 500 hp out of... just takes some money. youll do it with more factory parts than a 360 build...


stroke it!!

[papabug71]

I guess im old school. I say do it with a 390. If money is all it takes to get 500 HP out of a 385 series motor then your in luck, because thats all it takes to get it from a 390FE as well.

As far as im concerened, 385 series motors, no matter how much I love them, dont belong in bumps. A dentside is fine but for a bump.

Just my opinion, dont flame me guys......

[70shortwide]

you got me on that one. i should have said it i think it could be done for less than an fe.


i just looked around a little, seems the 385s are about 95 lbs. heavier. i would guess that the difference would be a little greater if figure in an aluminum intake, since the fes have such a massive intake.

also consider how you will run it ( ive never even seen these races on tv so i dont know) ive only had 2 390s and they like to rev. my 514 will rev also but it doesnt like it as much. has a really broad powerband though.

keep in mind my fes were stock, minus intake and exhaust, and a good tune. thats says something.
my 514 of course is very built, pulls hard but i dont like to run past 5500 real often

not changing my vote, like i said im biased . this is based on my experiences, which are fairly limited. i like them both! i say follow what you can get for the money/ whichever will work better for kickin ass out there. good luck with the build!

[Dragon]

FE 625 lbs remove 92 lb intake replace with 32 lb Aluminum one. FE now weighs 565.00 Remove two 52 lb heads replace with Aluminum ones 36 lbs *2 533 lbs Can a 429 get this light for $800?

A 390 with car pistons runs in the 10.2 to 11.0 compression range. Add a Crower Level 5 cam to the above engine and get 6500 rpm at 500 horse with a decent tune up.

HI-DRAULIC HAULER / PERFORMANCE LEVEL 5 - Rough idle. 280 288 degrees .549 .550 lift
Explosive mid-range torque and power.
RPM Power Range: 2500 to 6500 plus.
HI-DRAULIC HAULER / PERFORMANCE LEVEL 5 - Violent mid- range 290 302 degrees .550 .557 lift
acceleration and torque.
RPM Power Range: 2700 to 6700 plus.
HI-DRAULIC HAULER / PERFORMANCE LEVEL 5 - Rough idle. 302 312 degrees .554 .556 lift
Explosive mid-range acceleration and torque.
RPM Power Range: 3000 to 6700 plus.

[1971ford]

thanks guys this is what im looking for. keep the info coming

70shortwide, just to give you an idea of desert racing you can look at this video. of course we wont be going this fast, but we wont be going too slow either. lots of wide open throttle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WdhXlLCFgY

whichever engine goes in will get a aluminum intake, thats an easy weight subtraction.

[1971ford]

FE 625 lbs remove 92 lb intake replace with 32 lb Aluminum one. FE now weighs 565.00 Remove two 52 lb heads replace with Aluminum ones 36 lbs *2 533 lbs Can a 429 get this light for $800?

A 390 with car pistons runs in the 10.2 to 11.0 compression range. Add a Crower Level 5 cam to the above engine and get 6500 rpm at 500 horse with a decent tune up.

so a good possible route would be the 360 converted to 390 with aluminum intake, aluminum heads, decent pistons, Crower cam and that would be somewhere around 500hp?

where can you get aluminum heads and aluminum intake for $800

[aramil]

i vote for the f.e., who else runs an f.e. in offroad motorsports any more? you would be an iconoclast or how ever you spell it. plus nose diving would suck... that metal dash is gonna hurt weither you got a helmet on or not.

wait can we retract votes? i say go with a rocket engine instead of the missile launcher cause then after the first bump you would remain air born... talk about gettin it!

[taylor351]

No replacement for displacement Go big or go home.

[Dragon]

You can go big and I can go fast without stroking so I take the latter.

[Dragon]

where can you get aluminum heads and aluminum intake for $800

Get the intake off ebay and maybe the Edelbrock heads
or http://www.dscmotorsports.com/asp/Produ ... PartID=471

Go to Summit racing www.summitracing.com and look they are a little more.Sorry the heads went way up since I bought a pair.

[70shortwide]

thanks guys this is what im looking for. keep the info coming

70shortwide, just to give you an idea of desert racing you can look at this video. of course we wont be going this fast, but we wont be going too slow either. lots of wide open throttle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WdhXlLCFgY

whichever engine goes in will get a aluminum intake, thats an easy weight subtraction.

man that oughta be fun! quick ? will you be jumping too? like more than say 6 inches or a foot? looks like that one rides super good through the bumps, gotta love it!!

[Dragon]

Ah the old days no Turbos though. 550 Horse 390 68 SWB Desert racer 140 top end.

[Dragon]

Try this look for a Desert racer. please ignore the sloppy editing. I did this to a 67 LWB by removing all but 4 inches of sheet metal and frame between the cab and rear wheel well opening. Your project goal brought this thing back to my mind.

Longoriginal.jpg

Shorty.jpg

imagine a bed length of almost 4 feet with enough room for 4 spares 10 gallons of engine water and a tool box for emergency repairs to damaged fuel and cooling line and holes in radiator and in oil pan. Plus oil and gear lube.