notice extra beef around freez plugs.




Notice extra beef at rear of block




again built up iron around freeze plugs




the material remove on later blocks




valley marked R






later MCC block






a lot of material disappeared on this later block.




a look down the side




the other side




notice lack of extra boss beside motor mount and lack of beef at the back of the block




outside edge of block even with freeze plugs.




the other side.










a look down the side of a later block




late block




early block




early block other side.

 

Hey Bud do you have more pictures of your block? It falls between these two in yrs and I notice you lifter valley is also a lot beefier than the later block . Would be nice to compare, I love how ford kept it interesting.

 

just these 2 for now, its 4:30am and -20 below outside but i'll take more today when i go out to my shop, im finding this interesting myself.

 

its so cold here my camera started to freeze up. LOL Mine looks to be the same as yours. If you look at the #1 main you can see where we did the oil plug and drilled out the oiling hole that TMI suggest.

 

That's a nice looking block Bud. When I pull the 78 block out the Bronco I will get some pics of it up. Wonder what differences we will find?

 

old ertyl flats. Rough deck height measurements for dynosim file of old build.




other side.




new pistons,rod bolts and cam bearings. Once the pistons and rods are together, I will get final deck height measurements for zero deck.


Out with the old, in with the new!

 

Bud - when do you plan to have the 400 running?

 

Wyoming checking in! So what is the best 400 block?

 

That's a OUTSTANDING question. I don't really know. Maybe we should scrounge up all the pictures of blocks we have and start a thread. Blocks, part numbers, and sonic check results (if any) Etc and lets see if we can answer that question.

 

when ever i find a pair of heads that arent cracked or spring,which ever comes first.lol

 

Erson 1.73 rocker arms




screw in studs and guide plates. Too bad they are the crappy heads with the water around the ex. These will go nicely on my other heads.






head parts.




somebody was fond of the gasket sealer. I remember the days of my youth, I've done a lot worse.






At this point I still couldn't get her to turn with a 36" breaker bar.




Pulling the engine out of big blue. Some nice surprises laid inside.

 

screw in studs and guid plates






eeeeek!!! restrictive ex port.

 

1282P




Tims piston






old flattop piston

 

My machinist commented on how "light" those Pistons are, at least compared to the stockers. Watch the ring gaps as they need a much wider gap than a forged piston. It seems like most of the time when someone breaks one it's caused by the ring gaps closing up and seizing in the bore and then you tear the top ring land off.

I noticed in all the block pictures MOST have the large ridge right next to the distributor, but the one above does not - more like a 351 Cleveland. I don't have any idea what it means, but it must mean something. Anybody know?

 

ARP rod bolts B&M Flexplate.




Fluidampner




ARP bolts for standard pulley, have longer ones coming for the gilmer pulley. (12-Point Head, Chromoly Steel, Black Oxide, 3/8 in.-16 RH Thread, 2.500 in)




ARP flexplate bolts




Gilmer pulley set. Runs water pump and alternator & V belt for power steering.




That's a beautiful sight.

Parts collecting. Have some rod and crank prep work to do yet, but the lower end is coming together.