Engine Planning

This is the more the sticky wicket part of the refurbishment. A few years back before the LTD wormed its way into the fold I started on refurbishing the '66 galaxie 500. Now that project was discontinued in favour of the LTD and now the galaxie 500 XL. Now the plain Jane galaxie 500 had a 352 and it was well on its way to being built. When the '66 LTD came to roost here I ended up taking the similar parts from the 352 to complete the 390 in that car.

But the machining to the block and crank were finished as well as a custom set of pistons were made to suit gapless rings.

We want to use the 390 the galaxie 500 XL came with so we are not going to use this 352. I seriously doubt anyone would want any interest in a 352 that was being built for high performance. I would hate for it to become an expensive tacky coffee table.

Here's the 352. It was lined honed, bored 30 over, decked, oil ports threaded, brass core plugs and new cam bearings installed.

The pistons were custom made to yield a 10.5: static compression with stock style heads. They are forged, moly coated skirts with gapless moly coated 1.5/1.5/3.0 mm ring packs.

The 352 crank was cut, polished and balanced against those pistons and Eagle 390 connecting rods.

All new crank and rod bearings too.

Like I said seems like such a waste to end up a coffee table

But I started buying the basics for the 390 build.

I procured another set of Edelbrock CJ style heads. This time I will go through them thoroughly first. Also procured are head studs, rocker assembly studs and new connecting Eagle connecting rods.

Also is a new set of FPA headers.

The plan for this 390 build is the following:

1. Check over the Edelbrock heads first.

2. Check the combustion volume of the heads

3. Buy and check the volume of the head gaskets

4. Take the 390 block to the machinist and have it checked to see if it's good to use

5. Have the preliminary machining done and measurements taken.

6. With this block data along with head and gasket data then have another set of custom pistons made.

7. When those are delivered I can take them to the machinist and he can finish the honing for the rings and final bore size. Then he can cut, polish and balance the pistons against the new pistons and rods.

8. Once the block and crank are done I can buy the parts for the roller valve train.

9. Then hopefully assemble the engine.

Original Engine Block, Crank and Transmission

Now that the chassis is more less ready for exhaust and fuel lines, it's time to send out the original 390 block and crank to the machine shop.

The plan since it's still not quite warm enough to start on the sheet metal work as I need the doors open for welding and grinding, I will start on the exhaust system and fuel lines.

But first here's the original dilapidated engine.

I know the machinist will probably think, great you brought me another swamp find.

The block and crank are now crated up and ready to be shipped to the machinist. In the meantime I brought out my bare 390 block from my '68 XL and will use that as a place holder and simply bolt the transmission to it and install a set of engine mounts and then lightly attach the new cylinder heads and headers and start on the exhaust, fuel lines and also finish the propshaft. Then when the original engine is done I can replace my old bare '68 block for the finished engine.

The Flame-O-Matic C6 is yearning to go back to its home.

More to come.

Cheers