Technical 390 upgrade question

I have been saving for some upgrade parts. I have been wanting to stay with my original cam in my 390, or if need be replace with a new flat tappet. My friend is adamant about me not doing that and going with a roller. My objective is to get to as close to 400 hp as possible within a budget. I think without the roller cam replacement if I play my cards right I can still up my hp significantly. Any thoughts on if the roller cam is a requirement ?
Thanks

 

400 hp from a 390 isn’t dependent on roller or flat tappet
You just hear about fewer lifter failures from roller.

 

Are you saying the cam part of this equation isn't all that big of a deal ? My friend says all the new flat tappet cams are junk.

 

A lot of pro builders rarely use flat tappets due to lifter failure. Rollers aren’t immune

Just buy a quality lifter

 

My buddy is in the process on his FE390.
All roller, some machine work on the head for the spring pockets, new springs.
Quite expensive. I think close to 2k.
He worked with Bruce Lykins. <sp> who has a “channel” and knows about FEs very well.
I think Lykins Motors?, maybe.
But with his 8-1 CR and factory heads, supposed to be in the 400-430HP range.

 

roger that ! Thanks

 

BS. Buy junk, you get junk. If us Yblock guys can get good cams and lifters (and we don’t have a choice with the mushroom lifters) so can you. I’m****uming it’s an FE Ford 390, and there’s got to be a hundred of them for every Yblock. Look up the FE guys. 400 hp? No problem. But the budget isn’t for a SBC.

 

Yes, I agree on the expensive part. I have seen that guy and he is a big professional on the fe stuff. I am still trying to figure out where and how to get the hp I want. Lot of questions but I am trying to get it figured out and not break the bank. Thanks for checking in.

 

Best money return is better intake and exhaust

ford don’t help the average FE with the stock stuff

 

Got to tell us what 390 hp you are starting with?

 

A 1964 Ford Galaxie 390 fe Thunderbird Special.

 

This is the cam picked out for him.

 

Thank you, I agree.

 

That's pretty cool right there. Thanks !

 

FEs fun part is the torque

 

True dat

 

If you buy quality lifters and break them in properly you should be okay.

 

If you're on a budget, a roller probably isn't for you. The cam and lifters alone will set you back $1K, if you go whole hog $2500 for the complete valvetrain isn't out of the question.

But Bret Lykins (Products) supplies custom-ground flat tappet cams also ($350), he's definitely worth contacting. He made 430 HP out of a 352 with stock heads, he knows how to make power with an FE. I'd be tempted to go solid lifters... Engines

 

I’d go hydraulic flat tappet personally. What are you doing with the heads? By the time you’ve sorted guides etc you’ll be pretty much up to the price of aftermarket heads, I know I’ve been there. Don’t get too hung up on the actual horsepower figure. Torque is your friend in a big car. Are you running a Cruise-o-matic? Torque converters for those are going to limit where in the rev range your power band is. Also look at ditching the log manifolds. Kugel do some nice looking cast shorties that are on my Christmas list.
@Jeff Norwell has a lovely FE in his 57. Have a look at his build thread.

This is the one in my Merc.

 

Not so on FE heads. Figure $1K+ EACH depending on which flavor you buy. The OEM iron heads aren't bad castings, bigger valves and some home porting will wake them up. Lykins got 560 HP out of the set on his 352 project by the time he was done. They're not nick-named 'effing expensive' for nothing...

For the same price as a pair of the cheapest aluminum heads you can get a 445" stroker kit. 'There's no replacement for displacement'.

Let's hope not. Ford didn't trust those past 300 HP, any HiPo FE or larger than the 390 from 1960 through '65 weren't available with an automatic, manual trans were mandatory. On the few era race cars Ford built with auto trans they used a modified version of the big Lincoln trans. It was no coincidence that the 390GT, 428 and C6 all appeared in '66. He can swap in a mileage-killing C6, but they work best with a manual IMO.

And Ford Powertrain Applications sells a very nice set of tri-y headers for these... for less money than the Kugels...

 

where do you purchase quality flat tappet lifters not made in china or other off shore nations

 

Yes, I appreciate that

 

I sure like the looks of yours. I like my original heads too. I may just get them cleaned up and gone over by a shop and let him see what he can do to help. Thanks so much !

 

I will call them !