AusCaRnAgEr

Gday, Well im in Perth Australia and i own a 65 Galaxie. Naturally it come from factory with a 390 but the previous owner replaced that with a 302w - no idea why...

Anyways, i am thinking long term and planning on bringing back a 390 into the beast. Do you guys reckon this is a good idea? Would there be a better option...Lets no forget though im not rich haha and where i live good ford motors are rather scarse unfortunately.
Also if the 390 is a good option, can i get some info on it...Im guessing itll bolt straight into the car being a 390 factory car...but also the 302w currently has a C4 bolted to it, will this also bolt to the 390?
The 302 is either majorly out of tune or majorly lacking power (although have a big carb, manifold and cam) to push the 1800kg Galaxie, and i was looking for an alternative, hoping the 390 i recently have come across would be a worthy answer - Although clevelands are of an abundance here, they wouldnt suit the galaxie's 'persona' i dont think.

Any help would be appreciated.

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1966 Blue Ford Galaxie - 4Dr Sedan, Pwr Steering, 302 Windsor, Edelbrock Performer Intake Manifold, 650 Holley Race Custom , Crow Cam 15666, Rollmaster Camgear, Heads Ported, MSD 6AL Ignition, MSD Billet Dizzy, Crane Energizer Roller Rockers, C4 - Stage 2 Shift Kit, HiStall 2500rpm, B&M Z-Gate Shifter, XY GT Radiator, 2.92 9" Diff, Dual Thermofans, 2.25" Dual Exhaust, RCI 16gal Fuel Cell.

ford4v429

Cheapest way to get more power might be just a new rearend gearset- unless you do much highway driving. Without a bigblock a 2.9 gear is gonna 'feel' kinda weak.
3.5-3.73 gear change would give you a pretty good bang for the buck, yet still be ok on the highway. 4.11-4.56 wont take any lengthy highway trips, but would be a jekyll-hyde transformation compared to around town right now.
By any chance are auxillary overdrives common in australia? with your fuel prices, thought maybe these are more common than in the states(here aftermarket/$3k or so from what ive seen)...with a good overdrive and a 411 your 302 would probably do pretty darn well.

Another option- build a 'clevor': aussie cleveland heads on a 302W makes a 'near boss 302' screamer : http://www.darkhorseracing.net/clevor_headmod.htm

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Confidence: that feeling you have just before you realize the mess you've gotten yourself into...

AusCaRnAgEr

Yeah wouldnt have a clue what a auxilliary overdrive is....
And fuel prices here are around $1.05-$1.10AU per Litre
That site is about 351c heads on a 351w...
Also i was thinking maybe putting a 351c in but in a galaxie, being a relatively rare car with a hugely common motor in Australia, would seem somewhat out of place. Clevelands are just toooo common in Aust, dont wanna be a sheep...
Wouldnt mind a 351windsor, but i dont feel like paying 1000-1500AU for one that is in desperate need of a rebuild. And most motors larger then 400ci are very rare.

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1966 Blue Ford Galaxie - 4Dr Sedan, Pwr Steering, 302 Windsor, Edelbrock Performer Intake Manifold, 650 Holley Race Custom , Crow Cam 15666, Rollmaster Camgear, Heads Ported, MSD 6AL Ignition, MSD Billet Dizzy, Crane Energizer Roller Rockers, C4 - Stage 2 Shift Kit, HiStall 2500rpm, B&M Z-Gate Shifter, XY GT Radiator, 2.92 9" Diff, Dual Thermofans, 2.25" Dual Exhaust, RCI 16gal Fuel Cell.

EBXR

Since the 390 is the baby big block, why stay with the 390? Why not go bigger??

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'67 Mustang V8 4sp... what fun to drive!

AusCaRnAgEr

If you can find me a big block, for about $500 for one in need of rebuild - then i will take it!

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1966 Blue Ford Galaxie - 4Dr Sedan, Pwr Steering, 302 Windsor, Edelbrock Performer Intake Manifold, 650 Holley Race Custom , Crow Cam 15666, Rollmaster Camgear, Heads Ported, MSD 6AL Ignition, MSD Billet Dizzy, Crane Energizer Roller Rockers, C4 - Stage 2 Shift Kit, HiStall 2500rpm, B&M Z-Gate Shifter, XY GT Radiator, 2.92 9" Diff, Dual Thermofans, 2.25" Dual Exhaust, RCI 16gal Fuel Cell.

ford4v429

Oops- posted wrong link- heres the one to the pages for the 302:

http://www.jason.fletcher.net/tech/c...leveland2v.htm

Bigblocks are hard to beat- im still partial to the high revving 429...if money is an issue though, it sounded to me like you could get heads cheap locally, all you'd need would be the special intake...smallblocks need bigger gears though.

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Confidence: that feeling you have just before you realize the mess you've gotten yourself into...

AusCaRnAgEr

Well it looks rather bleek in regard to finding a better motor then the 302w.
So i think i might just rebuild that.

What would be an ideal setup?

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1966 Blue Ford Galaxie - 4Dr Sedan, Pwr Steering, 302 Windsor, Edelbrock Performer Intake Manifold, 650 Holley Race Custom , Crow Cam 15666, Rollmaster Camgear, Heads Ported, MSD 6AL Ignition, MSD Billet Dizzy, Crane Energizer Roller Rockers, C4 - Stage 2 Shift Kit, HiStall 2500rpm, B&M Z-Gate Shifter, XY GT Radiator, 2.92 9" Diff, Dual Thermofans, 2.25" Dual Exhaust, RCI 16gal Fuel Cell.

ford_fe

Go for the 390 there are still plenty in Aus most good parts shops have rebuild parts readily available, the factory and aftermarket have made a multitude of hi-po & exotic parts for these engines over the years (and continue to do so) and they are relatively cheap to build and perform very well. Try to locate a trashed 390 Galaxie so you get all the necessary parts for the conversion. you will also need the transmission as C4's do not bolt straight up without spending $$$'s on newly available kits. A C6 would be the go if you can find one (69 - 70 cars generally had them over here).
If you need any direction for finding parts drop me an email.

AusCaRnAgEr

Well i think the 302 i have now is nearing rebuild time. With things leading towards a suspect head gasket blown and rings gone. As performance is getting worse, and there was a bit of oil on a few sparkplugs.
Anyways, i only have a few hundred $$$ at this point in time, working too, could save for something slowly. But basically i think all i want is a 302 or 351 windsor at this stage. Im not to interested in playing swaps with gearboxs and the such. So yeah if you could help out itd be appreciated.

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1966 Blue Ford Galaxie - 4Dr Sedan, Pwr Steering, 302 Windsor, Edelbrock Performer Intake Manifold, 650 Holley Race Custom , Crow Cam 15666, Rollmaster Camgear, Heads Ported, MSD 6AL Ignition, MSD Billet Dizzy, Crane Energizer Roller Rockers, C4 - Stage 2 Shift Kit, HiStall 2500rpm, B&M Z-Gate Shifter, XY GT Radiator, 2.92 9" Diff, Dual Thermofans, 2.25" Dual Exhaust, RCI 16gal Fuel Cell.