hey guys. I have a question. I have always been kinda wierd in that i like taking motors not normally used in certain applications and try'n to use them. A buddy of mine has approached me about helping him start a IMCA/Wissota race team and the class that i am looking at has max CID of 410 and my thought is, use a motor close to the max CID, hence the questions below.

1. can the 400 handle the abuse of being use in circle track environment?
2. What is the max rpm that the 400 can withstand?

My thought is, use a 400 ford V-8 with stock 4bbl heads or the aussie 2v heads if allowed and if the rules allow, intake spacer and a 351C intake. tell me what you guys think. is it feasible.

 

Try the 351c. More rpm with 4v head. Just my opinion.

 

probably be better off with a 408w with 4v heads if they need to be stock and using an intake made for that combo...cheaper for the windsor bottom end and would take the RPM abuse better.

if you can use any aftermarket heads id get CHI cleveland heads and intake. you can get iron or aluminum heads through them depending on your rules.

 

It takes more air to get a 410 cubic inch motor to 6000 RPM than a similar 351 cubic inch motor. So a 400 (+0.040) with 4V heads and a 351C intake will not rev as high as a 351C with the same equipment.
However since the class allows 410, the competition will have the same problem, and 4V heads will outrev anything else there is.

I would choose the 410 M block with 4V heads over anything, but a 408 Windsor with 4V heads with a 351C 4V intake. That's because the Windsor stroker crank will be steel vs a cast 400 crank. You could use the 4" Winsor stroker crank in the 400.

Do some serious porting work on the heads. I wouldn't bother with Aussie heads unless the rules prevent the use of spacer plates.

 

hmmmm...... thanks for the imput. i dont think i can go with a stroker. I believe i have to keep the motor stock.

 

run the cleveland, it's lighter, the rotating assembly is lighter (better for high rpm endurance applications) has smaller mains is a more compact engine, will give you more choices for parts (some classes don't allow aftermarket intakes so in a 400 you would be limited to 2v carb and heads). Yes I know some guys just want to go out and prove that th4e 400 is all that, but really it's not the right one for this type of application.

 

make a costum single plane intake for the 4v heads run 11:1 scr with tims flat top forged pistons 40 over , use a high lift doble profile cam and machine the block for 4 bolts main, it should do the trick and take the 6k abuse.....if more money could be spent costum make some forged rods and the steal windsor crank in the 400m sounds good....
I dyno sym one with a 750 cfm carb and a comp cam xe284h where i got :

torque : 392@2000
max torque : 485@4500
Hp : 496@6000


just my opinion....

 

I forgot, also check out this 400m built, i think it sucks the importance of a 408w and rulles out the 351cout of this thread due to cid clase)

http://www.hotrod.com/techarticles/engine/hrdp_0702_ford_400m_engine_build/index.html