It has come down to engine rebuild time. My Builder has been gently trying to talk me into a 390. He posed a couple of good questions...one being "what is your intention with the car". To be honest i had to answer just to drive around and hang out with the local car guys at burger joints and in the near future, a Route 66 tour. He has built many 430's. He quoted me $5600 for parts and labor. Both of which are higher than the Fe engines due to parts being less and an easier engine to bore and machine. If i wanted era correct pistons, I can add $800 to that making it $6400. He said for $4600 he can build a nice medium performance 390 adapted to my cruisamatic and installed on modified mounts in the car. He stated nothing changes from the trans back to the wheels. To my understanding just a different bell housing, flywheel and torque-converter.
He said for him it would be a small job to re-vamp the engine mount, that he has done it before. Does anyone have any input?
It is making more sense to me to do this as I am not into a totally era-correct car. I would much rather have the options of the FE performance parts such as aluminum manifolds, Aluminum finned valve covers, chromed oil pans and so on. Now I know if I'm ever on the side of the road, you will pull over and kick dirt in my face but I want to build other projects and not sink piles of money into this...please forgive me!
He said for him it would be a small job to re-vamp the engine mount, that he has done it before. Does anyone have any input?
It is making more sense to me to do this as I am not into a totally era-correct car. I would much rather have the options of the FE performance parts such as aluminum manifolds, Aluminum finned valve covers, chromed oil pans and so on. Now I know if I'm ever on the side of the road, you will pull over and kick dirt in my face but I want to build other projects and not sink piles of money into this...please forgive me!
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