390 buildup

Hi Thom! Welcome to Texas! Which part? There are great VTCI Tbird clubs in North Texas, Austin, San Antonio and Houston. If you are near or in one of this areas, let me know and I can give you the contact information for them. Hopefully, one of the guys will be along shortly to answer your questions. Oh.. Please update your User id information, since you are no longer in California!

What will you use the car for? The 3.55:1 gear will help bring your torque curve down but it is still considered a stock ratio. Use your stock cam and stock converter. - Dave

390

Fellas,

I plan on using the car for cruising around town, and hopefully down to Houston, San Antionio, and Lubbock. When I put the AC back in, a road trip out to Southern Cali.

I wanted to get a lil more ummph off the line, but not a max speed of 55. I have the new 390 dropped off at the machine shop and we have selected a ild cam to work with the trans and the possible future swap of the rear end ratio.

I am dropping off the trans today to have it resealed and gone through. Might as well since I have it out. I also bought a "shift kit" from TRANSGO. It says it will help with shifting in these old trans's. Here is the link, what do you guys think? Snake oil?



I have moved to Killeen Texas, and was also wondering if anyone knew of any chromers in the area to get my bumpers and a few other items redipped. I'm new to this area, and don't know many folks.

Thanks!!!!!!

390 buildup

Thom, the company that does my chrome work (Southwest Chrome Plating) has an office here in San Antonio, but their plant is up in the Dallas area. They have done all my chrome work for me. You might call Robert Pulido at 972-286-2322 in the Dallas area. I just spoke with Robert there and they can do your chrome.

If others, like Leonard ~yellowbird or anyone else knows of a good chromer in the Killen/DFW area, please let Thom know.

355 gear

I have 390 with 355 works great

Do you know the affects of a shift kit? Do you really want rock-hard shifts, all the time?

You mentioned a 'mild' cam, but what is the duration?

Certainly, these old heavy cars can be 'improved' in the performance dept., but they are not race cars. 427 Mustangs with four to six automatic trans gears are because they are light. Now, I'm comparing street cruisers to street race cars.

My point is, appreciate your Squarebird for what it was intended to be; a four-seat personal luxury car, perfect for all occasions from parades to picnics, weddings, funerals or just plain cruising around town.

If you want to update your 390 engine for modern fuels and lubricants, install aluminum heads and a roller cam. Edelbrock Performer exhaust seats are hard, the guides are bronze, valves are stainless, the aluminum transfers heat many times faster and they are much lighter than cast iron. A roller cam will allow the use of any good modern oil without additives (ZDDP).

Ask the question, 'what do modern engines use to give 250k miles between rebuilds?' Going in this direction will give you the most bang for your buck instead of building a flash in the pan. - Dave