Thanks 69Candy, now that i've had a proper look i have found a bit of info.
Barnett468 - Not on a strict budget, but do want to keeps costs at a reasonable level as i have a few other things that are hitting the wallet at the moment. I'm happy with some bang for buck, whether that be a stroker kit or going some alloy heads. Not after huge power, around 400hp would be great as it is just a weekender and i won't be taking it down the strip or racing it. Happy with bottom end power that revs up to 5000rpm. I've seen some builds where they've gone the stroker option for decent power and others with the alloy heads/manifold/carby option and also got decent power. Just trying to get some local expert's opinions.
Could get a clear view of the part number on the heads but assuming they are just the stock 390 ones (C8AE-H?)
Cheers
yes survival has some god fe stuff and barry the owner knows these engines, HOWEVER, his site SUCKS . it is disjointed and disorganized so good luck finding much on it, lol.
i actually know these engines pretty well and have owned and built many fe's and i can assure you that 400 hp in a 390 will not be a torque engine and it will rev higher than you want to get there . if you want big bottom end power you absolutely must stroke it and the bigger the better but then you run into very costly heads . you might as well add on 50% to the cost over building a 408 windsor stroker and there is zero budget parts for a good high perf fe.
the heads you have will never make big power.
the cheapest head that is even worth considering is an edelbrock and it isn't a great head in stock form . survival does some work on the stock eddys and calls them eddy x heads . the x will meet your needs but at $2800.00 usd, they will cost you around $500.00 usd more than the blue thunder heads.
the stock eddys will meet your 400 hp goal also but i wouldn't put them on a 455 ci engine . they will be better matched to around a 410 but that won't make monster torque and will be nothing more than a choked 410 windsor engine that weighs more.
if you want the eddy x heads you might save some money by buying stock eddys then having the bowl work done in oz.
if you buy the eddys bare you can install 2.1 intake valves if you use them on a 445 stroker.
with the fe engines, it is sort of all or nothing when it comes to making good power.
http://www.jegs.com/i/Edelbrock/350/60069/10002/-1?ref=paid&brand=&channel=Shopping&gclid=CjwKEAiAoOvEBRDD25uyu9Lg9ycSJAD0cnBy9-OI-XN-rvSasEn-Fer4Bp9XiUu2YS5N3lkopX2u-xoCIPzw_wcBthese are good heads out of the box but are really a bit more than you need.
http://www.survivalmotorsports.com/Bluethunderfe.htmlsurvival also has their own heads which will work on a 390 - 445 in stock form but there is no price
http://www.survivalmotorsports.com/New_FE_Cylinder_Head.html survival cylinder head flow comparison
http://www.survivalmotorsports.com/FE-Heads.htmlstock eddys AND the survival felony heads will benefit significantly from having the bowls blended and a little work done on the short turn radius.
this intake if you use the blue thunder heads
http://www.survivalmotorsports.com/images/Blue_Thunder_Dominator_FE_Intake.jpgedebrock also makes a decent intake for your app.
http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive/mc/manifolds/ford/performer-rpm-bb.shtmli would use a 445 stroker kit.
around an 850 cfm carb . i would use a quick fuel or aed.
roller cam . barry makes some custom ones or an off the shelf lunati like the one below but use high ratio rocker arms with it.
http://www.lunatipower.com/Product.aspx?id=3192&gid=289static compression with the above cam should be set to around 9.0
this will easily make over 400 hp and 400 tq with the x heads.
rocker arms . well decent ones are around $900.00 usd . they are only $260.00 for a small block.
. you could also get away with adjustable stockers
if you change your goal to 400 hp at 6000 rpm then you can save a boat load by keeping it a 390 and using the stock eddy heads and eddy rpm intake and a flat tapped cam and 10.5 compression and 3.50 gears.
