i had a argument with a person today about the 400M. she said that it was a big block. now i have a 400m in one of my trucks and know from experiance that it is a small block. did ford make a 400m bigblock or is she just bull ##### and dosen't know what she is talking about.

 

A rule of thumb that I heard onces was:

i) anything under 400 cu.in. is a small block
ii) anything over 400 cu. in. is a big block

there are a few acceptions to this though (i.e. the 332 was a big block). The 400 ford is in a family of engines that are considered small blocks but the 351M/400 uses big block transmission bolt pattern.

My conclusion: it's a hybrid!!

Fordy

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 08-Apr-02 AT 01:10 PM (EST)]Okay,I finally found it.

Show that person this photo.
This is a Ford Performance reference book that they published hundreds of thousands of.

BTW< It's a 400 not a 400M

The only M motor was the 351M

https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=3595&.jpg


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I believe the true difference between big-block and small-block has to do with bore spacing 4.00" and under bore size is a small block while anything larger is considered a big-block. examples are 396 chevy is a big block and the 400 chevy is a small block. The ford FE block is considered a big block and it ranges the size from 360 to 428. The 400 is usually just considered a inbetween size due to the fact is shares significant simillarities with both and is usually just refered to as a cleveland block engine but I think it is actually a small block.
400m

 

For did refer to the 400 as part of the small block family. To be the difference is in the heads. Look at the heads on a 460 or 454 chev. They are huge.

Bear

 

Small block and big block are irrrelevant terms for Fords.
Chevy basically has the 2 engine amilies, ford has more than that and the differences are more than just block size.
So I prefer to use neither term for Ford engines.

1970 Mustang Grabber Sposrtsroof. Rather non-stock...
1965 f100

 

thanks for all ya'lls help i finilly shut her up

 

I read this somewhere (On this board)...

If a family has an engine that is > 400, it is considered a big block. If there wasn't one > 400, then it is considered a smallblock.. Of course, this only pertains to ford..

I may be dead wrong here, but it does make sense... To me anyways...


Later
Riley

 

ford calls the 335 series and the windsor series small blocks.