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The Bullitt mustang

Bent77

Bent77

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Preface by saying, I’m not the ford guy

I read somewhere that when they filmed the 1968 movie, they did some test dates at a track, which was the sounds later dubbed into the film

During this time frame, they were a bit underwhelmed by the factory 390 in the fastback vs the 440 in the Charger

So much so, they made some updates to the 390. I can still find confirmation that they milled the heads, and changed the intake and carb.

But I recall reading (probably in print) they they pulled that 390 and made it to a 427

Anyone remember reading that?
 
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Only thing that I recall reading was that the Mustang purposefully came with a 3.00:1 open gear to get as much wheel speed and smoke as possible for the camera angles.
This might also confirm why such dissatisfaction at the strip.
 
There was mention of a road course, and McQueen wasn’t amused at the lackluster performance
Just wish I could find what I had read about it. With the internet being full of trolls and there being other cars/movies abusing using the same name, it’s just a sea of turds…
 
Either 427 cross bolt or a 428cj/scj would have bolted in place of 390. Any of the those engines, would have been over the counter then the skies the limit.
 
yeah 390 is not a rpm motor, sticking an FE motor in a 68 mustang, would be very hard to make breath, w/o fender well exit headers. The 427 exhaust manifolds would have been the best choice, but those needed 14 exhaust bolt hole heads to use. I had some of those heads before I moved but I let them go. I never did find manifold to match them. The stock FE exhaust manifold makes a small block Chevy log manifold look like a long tube header. 1 of the main reasons Fe engine burn exhaust valves, to much exhaust heat kept near and a lean a/f ratio............ oops I think the Bullitt Mustang would have been better served by 351 Cleveland, but that wasn't available in 68
 
Wes Harden said:
yeah 390 is not a rpm motor, sticking an FE motor in a 68 mustang, would be very hard to make breath, w/o fender well exit headers. The 427 exhaust manifolds would have been the best choice, but those needed 14 exhaust bolt hole heads to use. I had some of those heads before I moved but I let them go. I never did find manifold to match them. The stock FE exhaust manifold makes a small block Chevy log manifold look like a long tube header. 1 of the main reasons Fe engine burn exhaust valves, to much exhaust heat kept near and a lean a/f ratio............ oops I think the Bullitt Mustang would have been better served by 351 Cleveland, but that wasn't available in 68
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Back in high school a buddy of mine had a gorgeous 68 ( notch back style ) Mustang 390 S-code that came with a C6 and an open 3.00:1 gear.

With in two months time we told his stink’n rich Mom that it needed a lot of work , which it did not…, and she opened up the check book.
And off to the Speed Shop we went! Got a full engine rebuild kit with pistons machined for vale reliefs , the biggest solid lifter wiggle-stick that would work, Edlebrock intake , Holley 750 D/P , long tube hedders, ( that were a pain in the ass to install ! ) a 3,200 converter and a used 3.73 Track-Loc chunk.
His Mother was PISSED ! All these parts cost about half of what the car cost ( in the late 80’s ).
She got over it because we kept on telling her that Mustang engine parts were just that expensive and they had to be ordered at a specialty place ( she had no idea that the converter and 9” parts were in the mix of motor only parts…).

Well, in the end that car turned out to be the terror of the west side of town as far as any high school car was concerned - granted the 390 low-riser heads were not optimum as far as great flow numbers but for a few teenagers learning from the local speed shop ( and thanks to his rich-ass Moma who was clueless ) that Mustang was awesome and I’m glad we survived it !

But Wes, even though I am an FE fan , I agree that if the Cleveland would have been available in 68 it would’ve been a great choice for McQueens car.
 
I stuffed a 428scj in a 289 68 coupe with a c6, that my dad had sourced for the family F250 Camper special after he couldn't pass a Winnabago somewhere in Wyoming one vacation. Truck got wrecked I got drive train. Car would go like nobodies business, was way lacking in the brake department. Need an extra quart of oil for grudge night at OCIR or it would starve the pickup on the long hard pulls. Miss that car, that time, was like living the Dazed and Confused Movie
 
Wes Harden said:
I stuffed a 428scj in a 289 68 coupe with a c6, that my dad had sourced for the family F250 Camper special after he couldn't pass a Winnabago somewhere in Wyoming one vacation. Truck got wrecked I got drive train. Car would go like nobodies business, was way lacking in the brake department. Need an extra quart of oil for grudge night at OCIR or it would starve the pickup on the long hard pulls. Miss that car, that time, was like living the Dazed and Confused Movie
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See that’s how this thread started, ford didn’t keep up with a 440….
 
Bent77 said:
the 390 was 325hp
the 440 was 375 (yeah right)

According to this article they used the 383 car for the actual chase scenes...
www.streetmusclemag.com

Rob’s Movie Muscle: The Baddies’ 1968 Dodge Charger R/T from Bullitt

Countless articles have been written about the Mustang from Bullitt. This month, Rob has a look at the bad guys' 1968 Dodge Charger R/T.
www.streetmusclemag.com www.streetmusclemag.com
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Nice article and good read !

I’m not a huge Mother MOPAR fan but I do have an appreciation for the 440’s and their little brother the 383’s.
Imagine how much trouble the Mustang would have had keeping up if the Charger would’ve had a ( so called ) 390 HP Six-Pack 440.
 
tarussell said:
Nice article and good read !

I’m not a huge Mother MOPAR fan but I do have an appreciation for the 440’s and their little brother the 383’s.
Imagine how much trouble the Mustang would have had keeping up if the Charger would’ve had a ( so called ) 390 HP Six-Pack 440.
Click to expand...
You mean one one of the A12 cars? Notoriously underrated at 390hp….
 
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