Guys, I am shopping around for a 400 Ford engine to put in my 1977 F250 Camper Special. I plan on using the truck to tow a trailer pulling a mid-size farm tractor. I saw this engine on craigslist:

https://lacrosse.craigslist.org/pts/4673806229.html

What is too much compression for pump gas/towing? What sould I ask about when I contact the seller?

 

That is quite a bit of compression. Compression gives torque, but requires premium gas. And with that setup ignition timing is critical - especially for towing - and the advance curve on this is whatever he set. So I would ask him what the curve is and if he will tailor it to your use - inc the vacuum advance.

But, I don't like buying engines from people I don't know. If it were me I would ask Tim Meyer what it would cost to have him build me an engine specifically for my needs. Then you know you have a good one.

 

Ring gap is critical with the Keith Black hypereutectic pistons. I gapped mine wide for "towing" and "turbocharged" applications just in case! It sounds like a really nice build though. It looks like whoever put it together did a lot of research or has some experience. Interesting to throw HP and torque figures out on an engine you haven't run yet. Perhaps it's a duplicate of another build. I think with 10.8:1 compression it's probably got Aussie heads on it.

I'd bet it does run well!

 

For $4k he's not including carb and distributor? Sounds like a race motor not a towing motor.

 

buy a rebuildable core for less that $500 and have it done yourself so you know exactly what you have and you will probably spend less than $4000 and have a stump pulling monster
order a rotating assembly from Tim Meyer