I'm new to these forums and I don't really own a truck. I have a 77 Ford Thunderbird, but it has the 351M/400 "B" engine in it. Plus i haven't really seen anywhere else to ask this type of question. Anyways, right now it's completely stock. I do however have a elderbrock performer 400(2171) on it's way. My question was if i'm looking to get cams, new carb, and headers without really having to upgrade my transmission and getting a torque converter, what would be a good route to go? Any help would be appreciated or you could point me to where there might be someone more helpful.
You should have a c6 in it anyways right? So i dont know why you'd need to "upgrade " the transmission.
Your question is pretty vague though, if you throw pretty much ANY four barrel intake and carb, with headers you'll notice a pretty big improvement, but you'd have to give a lot more specifics as to what you want to do with it to get a clearer answer.
I'm just looking to get as much out of it as i can with out really going all out and making it for racing. It's going to be a car that gets driven daily, but I still want it to have so go too it. I'm not sure what trans is in it. My guess would be the stock transmission which, if a C6 comes stock, then I guess that's what's in it. I was just looking to do some upgrades, but nothing to extreme or that requires a lot of money(tight budget). I was looking at getting the 4 barrel carb(holly or elderbrock not real sure), i got the intake manifold ordered already, headers are pretty expensive, but I'm looking to get some though soon. Mainly I wanted to do the cams, but not real sure where to start. Not sure if any of that helps.
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"All right baby, see what I´ve got right here in my hands, I´ve got it right in my hands to score you baby, I think im gonna yank on a one town! Look Out!" Uncle Ted
I would start by upgrading the bottom end by turning the 351m into a 400, pistons and crank are the only things needed and are realy cheap ($175pistons + $199crank from tmeyer) what would be expensive is machine work but its the best upgrade even keeping your stock exausht intake and carb, other than that get an edelbrock or holley 650 4bbl carb, and i would get a comp cam xe626h for excelent torque and drivability....
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"All right baby, see what I´ve got right here in my hands, I´ve got it right in my hands to score you baby, I think im gonna yank on a one town! Look Out!" Uncle Ted
Well, what if I wasn't to do the piston and crank shaft. What would be good cams to get? Plus I couldn't find any info on those cams you mentioned in your post.
jeje I missed typed it: try the comp cam xe262h or xe255h, 650 carb, headers, and mille your heads by 0.025" if you arent using the pistons so your dcr wont be that low...
cam info:
xe255h HYDRAULIC-Strong torque thru low end & mid-range, good idle
Hyd. Hyd. 1200 to 5200 32-241-4 XE256H 256 268 212 218 .487 .493 110°
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"All right baby, see what I´ve got right here in my hands, I´ve got it right in my hands to score you baby, I think im gonna yank on a one town! Look Out!" Uncle Ted
What piston and crank would I need? I'm sure I need like a certain size or type right? Also, how much would the machine work cost and what type of place does that?
here : http://www.tmeyerinc.com/400engineparts.htm you can buy the 400 pistons were a set of 8 goes for $175 and the crank that goes for $199.
I just recieved mi pistons and crank today along with some extra goodies I bought great stuff!!!
Aditional to this you need new main bearings($37), rod bearings($37) and gaskets($50)
As concerning machine work, since you might wanna choose pistons with an oversize of 0.030" or whatever you chose, you will have to enlarge your bore by 0.030"or whatever you chose ($150-$160)
Optional :
To really complete a good bottom end I bought some arp bolts($30-$40) for my rods and reconditioned them($80) adn bought a high volume melling oil pump($45)
You should check your cam bearings they may need a change.......
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"All right baby, see what I´ve got right here in my hands, I´ve got it right in my hands to score you baby, I think im gonna yank on a one town! Look Out!" Uncle Ted
Ok, so i'm guessing on this page here http://www.tmeyerinc.com/cart400pistons.htm the $175 piston is the one your talking about. Is that price for all 8 or is it $175 for one piston? Also, how do I know what the size is when i order them? I seen the drop down menu that has like "TMI/KB2347-20". Is that "-20" the size? So, like "-30" would be .030"? All the stuff in the description is like jibberish to me. Same goes for the bearings. It has several options to choose from for bearing under size. Not sure what ones to even choose, nor does the site really give any information on them. Anyways, I appreciate all the help though.
I appreciate the concern, but I know what I'm getting into. Granted I don't know all the technical details, but I'm aware of what I'm getting into. I will have plenty of expiernce with me when I do it though. I will definitely take a look at that book though.
Ok, so i'm guessing on this page here http://www.tmeyerinc.com/cart400pistons.htm the $175 piston is the one your talking about. Is that price for all 8 or is it $175 for one piston? Also, how do I know what the size is when i order them? I seen the drop down menu that has like "TMI/KB2347-20". Is that "-20" the size? So, like "-30" would be .030"? All the stuff in the description is like jibberish to me. Same goes for the bearings. It has several options to choose from for bearing under size. Not sure what ones to even choose, nor does the site really give any information on them. Anyways, I appreciate all the help though.
well firts of all , the pistons-"20" or "30" is the over size and yes the 175 bucks is for all the 8 pistons not for just one. the under size of the bearings depend on the crank and since you are getting the tmeyer one you are getting a 10 under size.... better call or email tim meyer of the site to help you, he´s like the god among 400 people....
dont let peolpe scare you on either building a v8 or a 400 engine....just read alot
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"All right baby, see what I´ve got right here in my hands, I´ve got it right in my hands to score you baby, I think im gonna yank on a one town! Look Out!" Uncle Ted
Taking your block to a machine shop and having it machined is always , in my opinion, the best start. It sure would suck to order some .020 pistons and the machine shop ends up having to go to an .030 overbore to clean the walls up.
Ctubutis , thats a good book, one of about 20 i have sitting on my dresser loll..
Uncle Ted
