Hey guys Its been awhile but I picked up a 4wd short box 77,it had a 400 in it that was locked up. I am going to move my 351m over to the 4wd, I'm changing oil pan from the 400 along with pick up tube, manifolds look identical, and the flywheel looks the same. Is there anything i may be missing before i drop the 351 in? the power steering bracket looks same but the power steering unit is differant will that effect me? any help would be appreciated. Thanks,
77farmtruck

 

If you have a saginaw power steering pump, use it, they are far superior to the Ford round one.
The 351M is a destroked 400, yep, the ONLY difference is the crank and piston pin arrangement, the rest is the same.

 

Thanks, after I get this jewel together i will post some pics! I'm really getting excited to see it rollin'! Another ques., Which of the transfer cases on these is better the married or divorced one? I have the one that is not married to the tranny, I would assume that is a better deal in case you need to work on it for any reason. Also yes it is the saginaw, Why better? Is it heavier duty?

 

Ford steering pumps are a pain in the ***, bunch of whining junk, saginaw is what GM's use. I wish I had one for mine, but have been told only vans were offered with them.
I have a feeling the 77 has a Garrison type steering setup, if it has a hydralic ram on the axle that is plumed into the steering box or throught an actuator on the drag link, then tied to the pump, it is. If so, you'll find you will never be able to make it steer smooth, you'll be looking to convert it, and that's a long drawn out process, requiring research, and much fabrication, or about $2000 for the kit.
Divorced transfer cases give you one more drive shaft, that's 2 more u-joints to fail, I prefer the ones that are mated, the divorced ones are all New Process 205's, they are heavy cast iron cases with steel gears, no chains, never seen one fail. If you're looking to beat the crap out of it in the woods, leave in the divorced 205, but if you're looking to drive on the street and want mileage, put in a mated one. Before I get contradicted on that statement I'll clarify, the more parts in the driveline, the more energy it takes to move, that short shaft does affect it.

 

The only advantage I can think of in a divorced T-Case is that if you jack the truck up to the moon, you might be able to hang the TC in a lowered bracket to reduce driveshaft angles.

Maples is right. Less parts - less room for murphies principles to appear. A married case is also two less seals to leak.

 

the power steering pump is NOT a saginaw my buddy who is supposed to know fords told me it was, it IS a ford pump, Oh well I guess I'll just serve some cheese with the whine! It sounds like I may have lost on the transfer case deal too! I was wondering if anyone out there has a oil pickup tube for a 4x4 to fit either a 400 or a 351m? the one I pulled off the 400 is too damaged to use and the 2wd oil pickup is differant. Having a hard time finding one.

 

Wish I could help you, I wanted to replace mine, was full of metal, but had to flush it out. A Ford power steering pump is round, mounts an a slide bracket for tightening, has the dip stick at a angle into the top right hand side.

I hate to sell mine, but I need an affordable daily driver to take a load off of us, and it's too hard to get in.