390FE (406ci) for #50, built by Tom Lucas at FE Specialties.

[Happy_Camper]

With tomorrow quickly approaching, I've been finalizing my question list for Tom. I'll be video-recording his responses to these questions! I scanned through the thread and tried to pick up all the suggestions y'all have made up until now, but I feel like I must be missing some. And perhaps y'all can think of more?

I'll start by asking questions that are specific to this engine, then move on to general FE questions.

Questions specific to this engine:

1. What are the biggest differences between this engine design and my previous engine design?
2. How will the truck behave with the new engine design, compared it its behavior with the old design?
3. What's your advice on timing the engine?
4. What's your carburetor tuning advice? Should I simply follow the Edelbrock instructions or if there a method you prefer?
5. How much intake manifold vacuum should I see at idle?
6. How fast can this engine spin (what's its "red line")?
7. How hot can this engine get before its temperature becomes dangerous?
8. What oil quantity would you recommend for this engine?

General FE questions:

1. What are your favorite, and least favorite things about FE engines?
2. What makes your engines unusual? What aspects of building are you especially good at and proud of?
3. What do you think about sealed ball bearings being used (instead of oil-impregnated bronze bushings) for crankshaft/main drive gear pilots (suggested by Alvin)?
4. What are the most common problems you find in FEs that are brought to you? (suggested by Robert)? How about the strangest problems you've seen?
5. What are your thoughts on stock exhaust manifolds versus headers on an FE (suggested by Stephen)?
6. How important is combustion chamber polishing, compared to head porting on FEs?

Thanks for all the fantastic suggestions so far! If y'all can think up any other questions you'd like me to include by early tomorrow morning, I'll add them to the list.

Robroy

Hi Robroy,

That's a great list of questions! Have you thought about forwarding it to him, so he'll have a chance to review before you get there?
He may have some cool parts stuff he can show you to help answer.
BTW: That's a coffee mug that would scare even the CEO of Starbucks! Pretty cool!
Safe travels amigo!

[robroy]

Good evening Scott, thanks for replying!

That's a great list of questions!

Thanks very much Scott!

Have you thought about forwarding it to him, so he'll have a chance to review before you get there?

Indeed! I sent him a copy of the list this afternoon, and already heard back that he'd be happy to answer all of the questions! He's by far the most cooperative automotive specialist I've ever encountered. Most guys in automotive shops seem afraid of having their picture taken, to say nothing of video recordings!

He may have some cool parts stuff he can show you to help answer.

Good point! I wouldn't be surprised if he did. His shop is like an FE museum!

BTW: That's a coffee mug that would scare even the CEO of Starbucks! Pretty cool!

Excellent!!! Do you think I should take it in to Starbucks in the morning and ask 'em to fill it?

Safe travels amigo!

Thanks Scott, and have an excellent evening!
Robroy

[hazelnut]

robroy thats a BIG cup for coffee you got there, what do you use for a cup holder?

[FreakysFords]

Have a GREAT one!

[DuckRyder]

Drink it fast or it will get cold...

The engine cradle is famous, you should frame it or something...maybe have it bronzed...

I like the questions, related to Question F, take a look at this:

http://www.metricmechanic.com/catalog/p ... e-head.php (read through the end of the section)

Travel safe, take pictures!

[70_F100]

BTW: That's a coffee mug that would scare even the CEO of Starbucks! Pretty cool!

Excellent!!! Do you think I should take it in to Starbucks in the morning and ask 'em to fill it?

At their prices, a fill-up of THAT cup will probably cost as much as your engine!!!

[1971ford]

I got back from FE specialities 2 hours ago, heard the engine, met Robroy and Rick.

Just bragging


Did a nice little interview and we both have plenty of pictures to upload

[BiggDogg]

Man I am so happy for you that this day has finally come! Congrats, and looking forward to the rest of this build!

[1971ford]

Teaser shot?
Robroy's probably unloading the engine right now.

[kyle ray]

i cant wait to see more pics. sharing all your trials on fordification has been very educational for the rest of us. i am very happy for you

[Ranchero50]

And there's Robroy going 'Here's about where it didn't fit the first time'.

We need some captions for the above pic, time to have some fun and drink an internet beer, or three.

Jamie

[BobbyFord]

Gee whiz, this is almost like a serial drama where you gotta wait for the next exciting episode..............What are we going to do when everything works out this time????

[robroy]

Good evening!!! Thank you all for the wonderful replies!

The trip was a complete success and The Yellow Jacket is safely resting nearby #50! I'll respond properly to each of you later on tonight!

Robroy

[FreakysFords]

Congrats Robroy, congrats!

[robroy]

Good evening Hazelnut, FreakysFords, Robert, 70_F100, Ryan, BiggDogg, Kyle, Jamie, and BobbyFord, thanks for replying!

robroy thats a BIG cup for coffee you got there, what do you use for a cup holder?

Great question! I actually don't have a holder for it yet, but I thought about what I could use on my drive today. I came up with a hollow elephant foot, a moon crater, a badger den, a battle ship's canon barrel, a depleted uranium rod casing, and a footprint left by Paul Bunyan riding a massive pogo stick in a bathtub of plastigage. My personal favorite is the badger den!

Have a GREAT one!

Thanks FreakysFords! It was an absolutely fantastic day!!!

Drink it fast or it will get cold...

Thanks for this great tip! Years ago I learned to breathe through my nose while drinking, and how to swallow without closing my mouth, much to Kasie's amazement. On second thought, maybe these are skills males are generally born with?

The engine cradle is famous, you should frame it or something...maybe have it bronzed...

I sure like the bronze idea! And with a small amount of additional woodworking, it could be made in to a deluxe cup holder for my coffee mug!

I like the questions, related to Question F, take a look at this:

http://www.metricmechanic.com/catalog/p ... e-head.php (read through the end of the section)

I'll read this in detail! Thanks very much for suggesting it.

Travel safe, take pictures!

Thanks! The drive went well (practice makes perfect), and both Ryan and I took a good number of pictures!

Do you think I should take it in to Starbucks in the morning and ask 'em to fill it?

At their prices, a fill-up of THAT cup will probably cost as much as your engine!!!

You're probably right!

I got back from FE specialities 2 hours ago, heard the engine, met Robroy and Rick.

Ryan, it was the best--thanks so much for showing up!

Man I am so happy for you that this day has finally come! Congrats, and looking forward to the rest of this build!

Thanks! Yes it has been a long and educational process to get where I am now!

Teaser shot?
Robroy's probably unloading the engine right now.

http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk29 ... 180271.jpg

Excellent photo Ryan! Indeed, I got the engine unloaded with Kasie's help. It's a good thing too, since rain's forecasted!

i cant wait to see more pics. sharing all your trials on fordification has been very educational for the rest of us. i am very happy for you

Thanks very much for saying so Kyle! The guidance I've received here since joining has been truly phenomenal, and it's fun to hear that my threads have been educational to somebody besides myself.

And there's Robroy going 'Here's about where it didn't fit the first time'.

That's a very good guess Jamie! I was a little mesmerized after seeing The Yellow Jacket, so I'm not sure if I was thinking anything at all in the photo. I think I was operating on instinct like a lemur!

We need some captions for the above pic, time to have some fun and drink an internet beer, or three.

Excellent idea!

Gee whiz, this is almost like a serial drama where you gotta wait for the next exciting episode..............

Fantastic; thanks for being interested BobbyFord!!!

What are we going to do when everything works out this time????

#50's not in show-room condition quite yet, so there will be many more threads to come, although perhaps none as provocative!

Congrats Robroy, congrats!

Thanks very much FreakysFords!

I'm beginning to process the photos now and will post some of them within an hour or two. And thanks very much to Ryan (1971Ford) for taking some outstanding photos and e-mailing them to me already!

Hazelnut, FreakysFords, Robert, 70_F100, Ryan, BiggDogg, Kyle, Jamie, and BobbyFord, thank you all for your superb replies!

Robroy