Why is the Ford-Edsel 390 so weak?

[TehMac]

Push button tranny

It had a four speed option. At least the model I saw did.


Btw, how heavy is that thing? I know it's not a feather, but I think it's lighter than Hemis and can put out more punch.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

The 340 was the best of the small blocks for cars IMO. They were higher revving and had more potential than either the 318 or the 360. In trucks the 318 and 360 are great, but the cars are best with a 340.

 

[TehMac]

The 340 was the best of the small blocks for cars IMO. They were higher revving and had more potential than either the 318 or the 360. In trucks the 318 and 360 are great, but the cars are best with a 340.

I haven't really read reports of the engines producing anymore than 320 hp, which seems kinda low. Thoughts?

 

[exdeath]

It had a four speed option. At least the model I saw did.


Btw, how heavy is that thing? I know it's not a feather, but I think it's lighter than Hemis and can put out more punch.

Pretty heavy. It's a looooong car, pics are deceiving. The trunk lid is longer than most car's hoods.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I haven't really read reports of the engines producing anymore than 320 hp, which seems kinda low. Thoughts?

It's main competition was the 302-327 Chevy and 289-302 Fords.

 

[TehMac]

It's main competition was the 302-327 Chevy and 289-302 Fords.

I'm trying to figure out if the 340 was underrated or not.

But Idk, I was talking to a friend about this whole situation and he said, "they couldn't make hp for shit back in the '60's" which is an interesting statement because he had a 68 stang with a 289 he had tuned. At the same time, it's beginning to sound like he's sort of right.

It doesn't sound like a carburetor issue because there are some carb'd small blocks that can put out 480+ hp and so on, so maybe the issue is just heads?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I'm trying to figure out if the 340 was underrated or not.

But Idk, I was talking to a friend about this whole situation and he said, "they couldn't make hp for shit back in the '60's" which is an interesting statement because he had a 68 stang with a 289 he had tuned. At the same time, it's beginning to sound like he's sort of right.

It doesn't sound like a carburetor issue because there are some carb'd small blocks that can put out 480+ hp and so on, so maybe the issue is just heads?

It's not underrated, but it's not overrated either. But remember that they've had 40 more years to come up with improvements, many of which would've been cost prohibitive back then due to the metallurgy. And even more of which wouldn't have been manufacturable nor streetable, but people put up with them because they have a hot rod. Even though they're still carbed pushrod engines, a lot has changed in the aftermarket.

 

[WT]

Went to Spring Carlisle last weekend and happened upon the occasional Mustang or Fairlane with a 390 in it. Those poor old FE block 390s were probably the worst motor Ford had at a time when the competitors had their best motors available. Comparing it to a 396 or even a 340 was just sad.

Ford fanatics still cringe when you bring up the 390 in a discussion. At least we had the 427 SOHC (AC Cobra, Thunderbolt) to make things interesting.

 

[Pacfanweb]

I'm trying to figure out if the 340 was underrated or not.

But Idk, I was talking to a friend about this whole situation and he said, "they couldn't make hp for shit back in the '60's" which is an interesting statement because he had a 68 stang with a 289 he had tuned. At the same time, it's beginning to sound like he's sort of right.

It doesn't sound like a carburetor issue because there are some carb'd small blocks that can put out 480+ hp and so on, so maybe the issue is just heads?

It was the heads. Holley carburetors, which most hi-po Fords came with, are virtually unchanged since then. (yes, they've been updated, but they still make the originals, too)

It's not the blocks or the pistons or anything else in the bottom end, for the most part.

All the bottom end needs to do is this: Have a great seal between the piston and cylinder wall, and not break. That's it, in a nutshell.

Now, there are better cranks and rods today, enabling higher RPM from older engines, so that helps make HP.....IF you have good enough heads to actually make power at those higher RPM. Back then, they really didn't.

Today, it's a whole new ballgame. You can go buy a set of heads for a Ford or Chevy small block from your local Advance Auto or Auto Zone that are better than any head produced for those engines all the way to the 80's. (Edelbrock Performer) And those aren't even the best heads out these days.

The reason nobody used to do much with Ford small blocks back in the 60's-early 90's was, their heads sucked. And nobody made good aftermarket heads for them.

The 5.0 Mustang craze changed that. The aftermarket started casting heads with some of the best attributes Chevy heads had into the Fords.....and now you can buy pretty much whatever you want.

Cylinder heads is where your power is made, any professional performance engine builder will tell you that. That is the biggest difference in the engines of today and back then. Well, that and forced induction.

 

[TehMac]

That makes sense Pac, carcraft agrees with you too.

I am a history major, but these cars and the engines are very fascinating to me.

 

[AMCRambler]

The 400 engine (technically there's no 400M, just a 351M and a 400) was designed for use in trucks and large sedans originally, which means they prioritized low-RPM torque above almost everything else. They really never intended the 400 to be a screamer; it was always supposed to be a stump-puller.

ZV

Lol @ stump pulling with a station wagon, hehehehe

 

[compman25]

Went to Spring Carlisle last weekend and happened upon the occasional Mustang or Fairlane with a 390 in it. Those poor old FE block 390s were probably the worst motor Ford had at a time when the competitors had their best motors available. Comparing it to a 396 or even a 340 was just sad.

Ford fanatics still cringe when you bring up the 390 in a discussion. At least we had the 427 SOHC (AC Cobra, Thunderbolt) to make things interesting.

Neither of those cars used the 427 SOHC.

 

[TehMac]

Neither of those cars used the 427 SOHC.

r u shure?

I'm pretty sure both those cars used that engine. I know the Shelby Cobra might have used a side oiler occasionally, but I'm fairly certain both those cars housed that engine.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

I still wish NASCAR hadn't banned the cammer. It would've been interesting to see where it would have led.

 

[Demon-Xanth]

r u shure?

I'm pretty sure both those cars used that engine. I know the Shelby Cobra might have used a side oiler occasionally, but I'm fairly certain both those cars housed that engine.

I don't think ANY street cars came with the cammer. The non-cammer 427 did find it's way into many though.

 

[Throckmorton]

I still wish NASCAR hadn't banned the cammer. It would've been interesting to see where it would have led.

NASCAR isn't in the business of promoting innovation

 

[Pacfanweb]

I don't think ANY street cars came with the cammer. The non-cammer 427 did find it's way into many though.

You're correct, the Cammer was never available anywhere but over the counter. Never in a production vehicle.

Interesting factoid: Did you know the Ford 427 SOHC had a SIX FOOT long timing chain?

 

[TehMac]

I don't think ANY street cars came with the cammer. The non-cammer 427 did find it's way into many though.

Wait a minute...

The 427 SOHC was actually installed in cars, right? It's just the side oiler that wasn't officially, correct?

 

[Demon-Xanth]

Wait a minute...

The 427 SOHC was actually installed in cars, right? It's just the side oiler that wasn't officially, correct?

Other way around.

 

[thedarkwolf]

One thing the FE engine had going for them was the sound. Haven't owned anything that sounded better than my old 67 galaxie with a 390.

 

[compman25]

r u shure?

I'm pretty sure both those cars used that engine. I know the Shelby Cobra might have used a side oiler occasionally, but I'm fairly certain both those cars housed that engine.

Positive. Thunderbolts had high rise 427's, the 427 Cobra's had both the 427 side oiler and 428's installed in them.

 

[TehMac]

Positive. Thunderbolts had high rise 427's, the 427 Cobra's had both the 427 side oiler and 428's installed in them.

Oh, touche.

 

[compman25]

Here's an interesting Ford ad

 

[exdeath]

Wow that was expensive as hell for back then. Cars didn't even cost that much.

 

[TehMac]

I like how dealers back in the day sold performance parts/experimented with them like Tasca at Rhode Island, Yenko, and Norm and so forth.

No one really does that now because of "teh warranty," and it's kind of a shame.