I need some input on a 390 FE I found

[RICK LAKE]

PJ4myboo Pete I started with the thought of a street car driver until I found out what a pain in the BUTT the NJ CAR Division is to get through. I added FI system to the car and needed more safety things added for street driving. My fuel lines are Aluminum and this is not allowed.
Anyway My motor is a 428 iron that turned into being a 410. The guy lied to me. 390 motor with a 428 crank. This motor runs good for all stock. The cam shaft was changed to a 501-533 small crane hydro lifters. It made 280rwhp and 354 ft of tork. smooth idle and run low 13.0's at the track. I did abuse this motor some. Limit the rpms to 6,000. Everything was stock but carb, intake, dual plane Edelbrock, and cam shaft. At the end of the season I was having oil pressure problems, 10 psi at idle hot and 40-45 psi at 2,500 rpms. Bottom end bearings where going. Motor is in shed
Got a new Shelby block when they came out CSX 58# I used a cast 428 crank, eagle rods and diamond pistons. 7 1/2 quart oil pan. I talked to some of the old machinist from the 60's and ALL said that with FE rods you need to run a high oil pressure from the rods being heavy and bearing width being smaller than other Big Block motors. This explains why we are running BBC rods in stroker motors and having less to no failures. The rods have a wider bearing for load and better oiling to the rod bearings and mains. I ran my 452 motor for 8 years of track only racing and had 2 failures of rockershafts. I do run a HVHP oil pump with 100* spring. You don't need this for a street motor but IMO an 80* spring should be used with FE rods. ARP bolts are needed for the rods, mains and head bolts. You have to remember that. There is more but have to go to work, finish later. Rick L. One note a motor will die fast from not enough oil, too much oil pressure is another question. In my case same block of racing for 8 years and no bottom failures. I am now running a 482 stroker kit going on 3 years. no problem with bearings or bottom end. The reading you see at the gauge is NOT the reading the last main and rod bearings are getting,#4 & #8. They also get oil last unless you have a sideoiler motor. 10-30 psi drop from front to back of motor. I do have a accusump as a pre oiler before startting my motor. It gives 35 psi before firing up. No dry starts.