Pulled the heads off of our 79 F159 4x4 toy this weekend. Engine is supposed to be a 400, but with everything else being a "hienze57" I'm really not sure what to tell the machine shop when they get the heads this week.
Fount a valve burned to hell. Maybe even a couple vavle seats. Wanting to get the truck back on all fours before the Sept 29th g2g in Branson.
Still have the front suspension and all 4 brakes that need to be gone through.
I have both heads and (aftermarket) intake manifold reomved. Can get what ever information is on the heads.

Thanks in advance
Bob

 

Yeah, apparently, the 351M and 400 engines are good at burning up valves. I've got one that's completely toast, and one that's close.

What to tell the machine shop? You want it decked and cleaned. I'm going to take mine to a shop that rebuilds heads later this summer. I'll pull em off, but they can do the rebuild for me. ($250 for both...)

 

Hey Terry:
Is there a way to tell what they really are? Is it a 351M/400.......... It looks to me like an old 360/390?
Bob

 

I found this in the 73-79 tips and tricks thread...hope it helps. (Thanks, Eric!)



Engine Identification
<HR style="COLOR: #666666" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message --><TABLE><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%">The 351W and 351C did not come stock in 73-9 trucks. Some of them have been "transplanted" tho.

Eng<! >ine Identification:
=================
351C/M/400 335 series: 8 bolts in rectangular valve covers. Timing chain housing is part of block. Thermostat housing on block. Exhaust bolt holes diagonal.

351M/400 335 series: intake is 12.7" wide the 351C is narrow. The 351M and 400 are identical externally, only internal parts examination can tell them apart.

351W/302/5.0L 6 bolts on trapezoidal valve covers. Thermostat housing on intake. Exhaust bolt holes horizontal.

429/460 385 series: 7 bolts in rectangular valve cover

352/360/390/427/428 FE series: Intake goes under valve covers.

There are other indicators but these may help.
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</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>

 

Well after buying parts here and there and working on it on day's off and weather permitting. We got the 79 running yesterday. Got reman heads from O'riellys for $140 each. Mine were tost, one cracked, other had 3 bad valves, two i could see were so far gone they had work the seats.
Had the Holley alluminum intake bead blasted, new timing chain and gears, water pump. And happy to say running nice, you can actually here an slight lobe in the cam, couldn't before.
Will see if I can figure out how to get some pictures on the web sight. All cleaned and painted. Ford Blue of course.
Bob