1963 motor rebuild suggestions

[misty]

Having my '63 bird engine renewed. Let me ask you guys what you think I should do. Mildy modified? stock? Maybe you guys have tried and true method. either way its a 390w/ air with the old soft seated heads. never been apart. I am kinda thinking Modify it but keep it close to stock looking. I love to drive my cars. Thats it kinda wordy huh?

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[knuckle47]

Wordy? No way. The only context anyone can take away from written word is how it’s presented ..and that’s wrong on many occasions. I think I would keep it pretty much stock. I did many custom motorcycle engines and transmissions years back. When the power is there, we get a tendency to push it more and some of the vintage parts held up for many decades. Overdoing them, typically helped bring them down.

I had a 1934VL Harley that had a total loss oil system, I was surprised how badly it was treated internally. I am planning on rebuilding a 1956 312 with a friend who wants to go 40 over and I’m already questioning balance. Which was a big deal on a v-twin. No clue on how the v-8 will handle it yet. The stock motor did very well for the last 59 years…. Modernize it with newer hi-tech materials, but keep it stock. My 2 cents…and that’s all it’s worth. Good luck with this project

 

[74 Harley]

For the sake of trouble free driving update the heads with hardend valve seats.any good machine shop can do this. You do not have to worry about balance with oversized pistons. They are cast to the stock weight.
Modify? That really depends on you and your driving plans and style. A little cam never hurt nobody. Keep in mind your '63 has the engine mounted level, after market manifolds are extremely few and far between. However factory tri powers do turn up once in a while.

 

[Ward 57]

Do you want hot rod or street drivability? More power is often a mantra and understandable. But more stress on all the components that they are not designed for should be taken in consideration. T-Birds were designed as luxury cars even the '55s. If you want performance get a '60's muscle car.

 

[Frankie the Fink]

Wordy? No way. The only context anyone can take away from written word is how it’s presented ..and that’s wrong on many occasions. I think I would keep it pretty much stock. I did many custom motorcycle engines and transmissions years back. When the power is there, we get a tendency to push it more and some of the vintage parts held up for many decades. Overdoing them, typically helped bring them down.

I had a 1934VL Harley that had a total loss oil system, I was surprised how badly it was treated internally. I am planning on rebuilding a 1956 312 with a friend who wants to go 40 over and I’m already questioning balance. Which was a big deal on a v-twin. No clue on how the v-8 will handle it yet. The stock motor did very well for the last 59 years…. Modernize it with newer hi-tech materials, but keep it stock. My 2 cents…and that’s all it’s worth. Good luck with this project

As long as there is no "core shift" issues a "40 over" bore shouldn't be a problem but you should check
with a competent machine shop. Not sure why my other post got deleted but I agree, the OP should stay
as original as possible, replacing known weak, original components with modern equivalents.

 

[Critterpainer]

Is there an obvious reason that it needs a rebuild? Bad oil pressure or low compression? Most older engines don't need an upgrade to hardened valve seats until you have a valve seat issue. Odds are that you will not have a valve seat issue.

 

[jussifs]

Having my '63 bird engine renewed. Let me ask you guys what you think I should do. Mildy modified? stock? Maybe you guys have tried and true method. either way its a 390w/ air with the old soft seated heads. never been apart. I am kinda thinking Modify it but keep it close to stock looking. I love to drive my cars. Thats it kinda wordy huh?

Hei!
I renewed, totally, my 1963 T-bird FE390 engine some years ago. The engine runs greatly, all horses are back, and maybe some additional horses too.

All machining work I bought from specialist, cylinder oversize boring, main and camshaft line boring, revision of cylinder heads et cetera. Also total balancing of rotating assembly containing crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons, vibration damper and flywheel was done.
Valve seats, material is for leaded gasoline, were in so good condition that they were only grinded, saving money 500€. I use lead additive in gasoline and drive only some thousand kilometres in year.

I modified the engine mildly and relatively inexpensive way. I used Comp Cams Xtreme Energy XE256H tuning kit. This camshaft needs idling of 1000 rpm. For ignition I used MSD 8595 distributor, Blaster 2 coil and Street Fire Spark Plug wires. New carburetor is Holley 670 cfm Street Avenger. Primary and secondary jets had to be replaced with four number larger ones, to get good idling and the A/F value close 14. I also installed new exhaust system containing two pipes and one free flow muffler in each pipe.

Some of my comments:

• FE390 engine is simple design, reliable and easy to modify as much you want, and with so much money as you wat to spend.
• If you drive much with your car I recommend to change valve seats to suitable for unleaded gasoline.
• If you have automatic transmission and stock turbine with stall speed 1600 rpm in your T-bird, the idling shall not exceed about 1000 rpm. Otherwise driving comes very difficult. I changed a new turbine with stall speed of 2400 rpm. It works very well.
• One good book is for example: Charles Morris, How to rebuild big-block Ford engines, ISBN 978-1-932494-92-1
• I hope nice days for you in working with your FE390 engine.

Best Regards, from Finland

 

[misty]

Hei!
I renewed, totally, my 1963 T-bird FE390 engine some years ago. The engine runs greatly, all horses are back, and maybe some additional horses too.

All machining work I bought from specialist, cylinder oversize boring, main and camshaft line boring, revision of cylinder heads et cetera. Also total balancing of rotating assembly containing crankshaft, connecting rods, pistons, vibration damper and flywheel was done.
Valve seats, material is for leaded gasoline, were in so good condition that they were only grinded, saving money 500€. I use lead additive in gasoline and drive only some thousand kilometres in year.

I modified the engine mildly and relatively inexpensive way. I used Comp Cams Xtreme Energy XE256H tuning kit. This camshaft needs idling of 1000 rpm. For ignition I used MSD 8595 distributor, Blaster 2 coil and Street Fire Spark Plug wires. New carburetor is Holley 670 cfm Street Avenger. Primary and secondary jets had to be replaced with four number larger ones, to get good idling and the A/F value close 14. I also installed new exhaust system containing two pipes and one free flow muffler in each pipe.

Some of my comments:

• FE390 engine is simple design, reliable and easy to modify as much you want, and with so much money as you wat to spend.
• If you drive much with your car I recommend to change valve seats to suitable for unleaded gasoline.
• If you have automatic transmission and stock turbine with stall speed 1600 rpm in your T-bird, the idling shall not exceed about 1000 rpm. Otherwise driving comes very difficult. I changed a new turbine with stall speed of 2400 rpm. It works very well.
• One good book is for example: Charles Morris, How to rebuild big-block Ford engines, ISBN 978-1-932494-92-1
• I hope nice days for you in working with your FE390 engine.

Best Regards, from Finland

Thanks man, sounds almost the way I want To Go.

 

[Joey.S]

Hi,
I have 65 t bird had the motor rebuilt not to long ago I chose to stroke it to 445 CI 10.1 compression Edel intake Crower mild cam balanced the rotating assembly with a ATI damper forged pistons .040 over got rid of the carb and installed a Holley Terminator EFI also the converter stall was bumped up a little and the drive train all beefed up to take the extra power. My only regret is I didn't do this sooner because the old T bird runs and drives like a new car especially with the EFI. Open the hood and the only thing some people notice is the fuel lines for the efi everything else is pretty stock looking. I really enjoy the car this way but everyone is different so do what you feel is wright for you.

Joey.S