I am looking to put a new cam and lifters in my 79 F-150 4x4 with a 400 and A/C. I have replaced the cam and lifters before and know that they are doable, but this time I want to replace the springs as well. Can this be done without taking the engine out? I do not have a picker to pull the engine and don't want to either. I have never replaced valve springs before. Is it very hard? I am pretty good with mechanics but am still doing this in my garage. Any help or advice you could give would be great. Also, I have thought about putting on roller rockers. Are these just a bolt on? Or do I need a kit like this "Crane rocker stud conversion, Part #35655-16" Thanks again guys!

 

I've seen it done with the cylinder full of compressed air to keep the valve from dropping into the cylinder. Easier (but more work) to just take the heads off. Im using the Crane kit you referenced. Works great.....just follow the instructions. I'm using roller tip rockers and have them adjusted to where I can rotate the push rods with my fingers.

 

I'd like to know this as well since I'm planning to do a top-end rebuild when I get back home from deployment. I think you can just remove the radiator and the grill to pull the cam out the front, but my question is can the cam bearings be changed during this without disassembling the bottom end?

 

compressed air yes. BUTT you need to know your install height of valvespring once in engine. spring has a know spring pressure at installed height and compressed. your cam may need around 110lb installed at ?? installed height. need to have a tool to verify this to even come close so you don't kill a cam or float a valve with to little. might need some shims or pull something out to achieve proper installed height. not a big deal as long as you know the rules on installing your springs properly. good luck.

 

installing cam bearing in engine in truck? I would pull the engine to do this because their are several other things you can do so much easier with the engine out. getting the cam bearings out! will have to drop a oil pan to extract the cam bearings. sounds like a big pain with engine in truck. I would pull for sure. lots of other stuff to be done and done well if on the ground. getting oil hole lined up correctly with OEM application could be a issue?

 

Thanks. Looks like a simple cam swap then.

 

Scorpion makes roller rockers that bolt right to the stock pedestal for $256. No conversion or guideplate kit needed.

Scorpion Performance SCP1024BL - Scorpion Race Series Rocker Arms - Overview - SummitRacing.com

Which cam do you want to put in? The spec card should tell you what springs to use with it. I think 400 installed spring height is 1.820"

 

Good to know on the scorpion rockers, just saved me a hundred bucks! I was think the Comp 268, but after some further investigation, I am not sure I really have a higher compression 400... I need to do a little more research to decide if I want to keep putting money in this engine or build a nice 460...

 

Do the 460.351/400M need alot of cam/head work to make any power that's even close to what a 460 can make.I put alot of time/money into a 400M in my old Bronco (performer intake,comp cams ~520 lift,longtube headers,Holley 670cfm,ported/polished heads) and my 460 powered 88 F250 would walk away from the Bronco.The Bronco had steeper gears than the F250.The 460 will bolt right up to your existing trans and you can get swap motor mounts to drop it in.400M to 460 is one of the easiest swaps to do.Plus you can use your 400 HEI on the 460.I have one on mine.

 

i have done the 460 swaps but the drivetrain reliability went away!!! i have now upgraded everything and things are good. Expensive!!!! Smaller engine can run factory drivetrain and live with some maintenance. Once I hit 450ft lb torque and up OEM parts died$$$$$ Like my stout big blocks but it was the cheaper part of the build compared to destroyed drivetrain/tranny in the long run. have done many big blocks 450 hrspwr to 900+hrspwr and once you hit the 450 to 500ftlb torque OEM taste like scrap iron. doing a 400 build and did this for a reason because OEM trannys don't like big torque. building some protection into my build in my 1970 ford crew 4wd. something to consider when building/upgrading. i have broken EVERY COMPONET behind my 472 ford starting at the bellousing in my 4wd like many other big block guys. my 1977 ford 4wd has no OEM internals in my drivetrain. everything has been upgraded for reliability. this one is a mild 472 around 500 hrspwr at most. Like the big torque but something to consider when doing a build. I have a very nice C-6 because I got tired of breaking a my 4speeds, kinda cool seeing a lower shaft setting on the street from your 4speed because of a missed shift, operator error! Chit happens.