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  • HighwayThunder
    Experienced
    • Nov 19 2013
    • 140

    Not much power

    My 66 T-bird doesn't seem to have a lot of power. Acceleration is sluggish.

    The engine is a 390, over-bored .030", balanced crankshaft, Edelbrock aluminum heads and intake manifold, Street Demon 650 carb, Capacitive Discharge Ignition, Competition Cams hydraulic roller lifter system, C6 transmission with torque converter to match the CompCam's power range, 3.7:1 rear end.

    You'd think that the engine mods would make my T-bird a muscle car... but no.

    Could it be that the curb weight of the car at 4200 lb. is just too much? Is there a factor that I'm ignorant of?

    Richard, '66 Thunderbird Hardtop, 390FE, Edelbrock Al heads, Comp cam, Street Demon 650 carb. Visit my restoration blog at hwythunder.com.
  • simplyconnected
    Administrator
    • May 26 2009
    • 8883

    #2
    Richard, you have tried different cams and have gone with EFI and a "RV" roller cam. HP isn't simply a product of volume and gear ratios. It also requires tuning and a complement of parts that work together.
    What is your compression? Compression ratio? What is your vacuum? Did you advance/retard your cam timing? So far, this is a guessing game because we need to know a lot more.

    Your 390's displacement is really 4.05 + .030 = 4.08/2 squared X pi X 3.784 X 8 = 395.8 cubic inches. That engine should roar like a Chevy 396, if properly tuned. - Dave
    Member, Sons of the American Revolution

    CLICK HERE to see my custom hydraulic roller 390 FE build.

    "We've got to pause and ask ourselves: How much clean air do we need?"
    --Lee Iacocca

    From: Royal Oak, Michigan

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