1969 Match Race '383 Road Runner vs Fairlane 390 GT'

[69 Cuda 440]

1969 Match Race,

A better 'Match-Up' between mid-sized 'Street Performance Cars'.

The 1969 '383 Road Runner' was now available with added options,
* 3.91 Gears
* Under-Hood Air-Induction Unit
* 'Over-the-Counter' Package Stock Option

The same 383/335 HP was the standard engine.

The car weight was nearly same Shipping Weight, just a few pounds heavier,
and only a few cosmetic changes were added to the 1969 Model.

The 1969 'Fairlane 390 GT', was available with both a Hardtop or
Nascar-style Fastback.

Under the hood, a 390/320 HP.

In 1969, the '383 Road Runner' was classed in NHRA 'F/Stock', while
the slightly heavier and less Horsepower '390 GT' was found in G/Stock.

They were surprisingly close in general specifications, and both were
decent 'Street Runners'.

 

[Abodybomber]

On the "track only", or the real world?

 

[OldmanRick]

All the stock 390's I ran across back in the day, Mustang GT's, Fairlanes, and big cars, were stones as far as drag racing, compared to the other big block cars running around. Now, for top end runs or cruisers, they could hold there own.

There is a lot more available lately, like stroker cranks, Eddy heads, etc, that can make them run decent.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

1969 '383 Road Runner'

383/335 HP

* Coupe...........#3437 lbs. {10.26 Wt/Hp}
* Hardtop.........#3454 lbs. {10.33 Wt/Hp}
* Convertible.....#3574 lbs. {10.67 Wt/Hp}

1969 additions, {Hurst Linkage} and {Bucket Seats}.

With 3.91 Gears and Performance Tune-Up, could run easy 14.40s @ 98 MPH.

On the Street and Stock Trim, the 383 Road Runner was a little too much for the
Fairlane GT 390, especially the Automatic.

Though the Ford could make it interesting if it had a few bells-and-whistles.

 

[Abodybomber]

Ricky,was a stout" F.E " ,fan. In the 80's,nothing changed,lol. If doing,at least a 390 ,You went for the 406 heads.(taller exhaust ports.,This later,became the th eCobra Jet 428 head. What's unknown,the taller exhaust short side,on the early 406 heads.

 

[Abodybomber]

Lot's more,to come.,..

 

[OldmanRick]

I actually like the "FE" fords. A kid down the street from me in the late 70's built several 428's to replace 390's to go into 68/69 Torino's that he loved and restored. He always used the CJ heads, identified by the 4 hole exhaust mounting, on his builds. He asked me to help him tune one with big compression, a 4spd, and 3.90 gears. That was the most awesome feeling street car I ever drove. I could slowly run it up to 4k in first gear and let off the gas and it would drag/squeal the tires. Talk about tight...lol. I never had the chance to really run it wide open or race it as he sold it shortly afterwards. I would have loved to wring that car out with some slicks. No doubt that a 11sec time slip was there just waiting to be had.

Sorry about hijacking the thread. It just brought back a fond memory.

 

[Abodybomber]

Rick,that's personal experience. Can't deny that. Sorry,to the O.P.....

 

[69 Cuda 440]

Old Man Rick,,,,,,,,

All 'posts' are accepted here........No need to explain........

The 1969 Fairlane GT 'Hardtop Coupe' was one my favorite Fords, even
with an 390 'S-Code'.

The 390/320 HP wasn't all that bad, as long as you added a few 'ingredients.

The Hardtop Coupe was not all that heavy #3541 lbs. {Shipping Weight}.

The 1969 - 390/320 HP was not as good as the 1966 - 390/335 HP, but it was
a decent 'grocery getter'.

Hardtop Coupe

 

[Abodybomber]

Yawn.....

 

[OldmanRick]

Yawn.....

.....Come on now, that's a pretty car.

The cool thing about Ford in the 60's was, you could order just about any combo, meaning engine, trans, and such, in anything it would fit in.....Hipo 289/4spd's in 4 doors, 427/428 combo's in wagons and such. Not to mention the "2" 69' 428 CJ plain Mustang Coupes with the drag pack.

 

[Abodybomber]

Coming, from you Rickster,fair enough. The higher velocity ports(on the early 390/earlier 406 heads),drop ki
cked,the post 66 heads. Sorry ,for dilution of the thread. Seen these head

 

[magnumdart]

Shot this in Dayton. That's a cobra on the trunk. Don' t know.if they actually made one of these. Had a scoop similar to red car pictured, but it was black. If. I were to have a Ford, might be like this one.

 

[bad440]

All the stock 390's I ran across back in the day, Mustang GT's, Fairlanes, and big cars, were stones as far as drag racing, compared to the other big block cars running around. Now, for top end runs or cruisers, they could hold there own.

There is a lot more available lately, like stroker cranks, Eddy heads, etc, that can make them run decent.

your correct rick.the 390 is the redheaded stepchild of the fe world.even in a mustang they were pigs....ok enough ford bashing someone might start cryin...

 

[69 Cuda 440]

In NHRA 1969,

The 'new' Fairlane GT 390 was classed in G/S or G/SA.

Off the showroom floor, with a 4-Speed {Wide-Ratio} and 3.50 Gears,
it was tough to break the 15.50 barrier with the Ford.

* 10.5-1 Compression-Ratio
* Hydraulic Camshaft {.438"/.438" Lift ~ 256*/266* Duration ~ 37* Overlap}
* #C80E-H Cylinder Heads {2.037" Intake ~ 1.56" Exhaust}
* Heavy Cast Iron Intake Manifold {90 lbs.}
* Carburetor Autolite #4300 {600 CFM}

We 'Mopar Guys' used to call them 'A Truck Engine in a Box-Car'

 

[Abodybomber]

That was my mindset as well,lol.^^^^ Love FE's,just not stock hydraulic cammed 390's.

 

[44070dart]

Shot this in Dayton. That's a cobra on the trunk. Don' t know.if they actually made one of these. Had a scoop similar to red car pictured, but it was black. If. I were to have a Ford, might be like this one.

they made them alright ..a friend had a 69' Torino SCJ 428 and that was quick ..but the 390 was not in the same class as a 383.. although the HP rating where the same ..in a Mustang not bad ..but the Fairlanes/Torinos no dice to much weight

 

[69 Cuda 440]

The 390 GT and 428 Cobra-Jet Engines,,,,,,,,,like Night-and-Day.

The 'street sleeper'

1969 Torino Cobra, 428/335 HP 'Q-Code' non-Ram-Air, with the Drag-Pack option.

 

[Abodybomber]

The 428 C.J,an animal. Ford finally got one right.(not talking medium,high riser 427's). Loved the promo Hot Rod ran ,to get that going. Great story.

 

[replicaracer43]

yawn, indeed.... 390 fords are dogs in stock form, period.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

yawn, indeed.... 390 fords are dogs in stock form, period.

Are you saying they are a bored out 352 Truck Engine.........

 

[Abodybomber]

I wouldn't go that far,69. They were so damn conservative on cam timing,and putting together a complete package. They never had "it",quite like Mopar and Gm. JMHO.....

 

[69 Cuda 440]

A-Bomber,

They weren't as bad as everyday made them out to be.

Gears, a Police Interceptor Aluminum Intake Manifold, and a Holley 735 CFM Carburetor helped out immensely.

But that Camshaft,,,,,,,,,,EECH !!..........

 

[Abodybomber]

35 degrees overlap,on a factory "hot rod"? Agreed.,above post.

 

[69 Cuda 440]

1969 Road Runner

* 4-Speed w/3.91 Gears..........14.30 @ 99.77 MPH

* Chrysler Tech Advisor - Jerry Gross

383 Road Runner all over the Fairlane 390 GT

The 69' 383 Road Runner w/3.91 Gears, one of the easiest B-Body
'Street Performance Cars' to drive on the street.