Well, im building a 1979 F150 4x4, right know its just the frame already powder coated, axles, lift, and wheels, before i throw the body in i would like to see what engine to go for, tranmission is a C6 already in the truck but didnt have a motor in, here is my QUESTION, should i remove the 351M with intake and a 4bbl edelbrock carburetor to put in the truck and install a 460 in the bronco 1979 or keep the bronco in the way it is and throw the 460 in the truck, both trucks are going to run 22x14 Fuel wheels, truck 35" tires, bronco 37" tires, i do have a 351m fully stock sitting in my yard, but i dont want to throw that one in the truck, so please help me out to decide, some i would like to put the bigger engine in the heavier truck.

 

Well that depends on what you like. I pulled the 460 from my 79 S.C. and put it in my 79 bronco, I then put the 400 in my S.C. I ran them that way for about 10 or 12 years. Then when I parted out the S.C. and sold the bronco, I put the 400 back in the bronco and kept the 460 for a future project. I really liked the 460 in the bronco, it had a lot more power and never used anymore gas than the 400 did when it was in it. Just my $.02 worth.

 

IMO, I would stick with the 351M. The 460 is a beast of an engine, and it will (obviously) get lower gas mileage. The other reason is although they have decent amounts of power, they seem to be sluggish. By that meaning that it seems slow to take off, and slowly reaches the torque curve. And, with some modifications, you can get the 351M to have more HP and torque than the 460, and still have the same/similar gas mileage (block boring, cams, carb, re-stroking, ect.)

 

^ only to a certain point, the 460 has a vast aftermarket support, where the m & 400, not so much. I've have a 460 and I would rather have a good 390 over a 460, that's just me. A 460 bronco would be a badass rig IMO though.

 

I can get the 460 complete with accesories for about 700, will that be a good budget to invest in the 351m i have fully stock laying around?

 

Ahhhh that's just not true. Please don't consider this a bash, it is meant informationally more than emotionally, but the 400 has an aftermarket just fine. The 460 has a vast aftermarket yes, but at this point, every single part that you could want to build a beastly 400 (or even 434 or something like that) is readily available, and so is all the knowledge to complete 400 projects. The only big difference between the two aftermarkets is that for the 460 you can choose from a 10 page list of vendors for most parts (which is great, don't get me wrong), and several parts for the 400 can be obtained from only a few sources, but you don't need to buy a part from every company, you need enough parts to build your engine, and the 400 market is quite well enough stocked for that.

To your specific example also though zhem, I'd say a 400 (one of your 351m's with a 400 rotating assembly) would be a great engine for a 150. You're going to have the torque to move no matter how stock you keep it, with some money put in you can easily build a sick motor, and you can get all this at just 3/4's of the weight to push around of a 460.
When it's in the truck and moving, weight saved is power gained.

It really all depends on what you're planning on doing with the truck though. Are you off roading, drag racing, daily driving, or is it a hot rod or a work truck?

 

Oh, and if I had 700$ to put into a 351M:

Buy a 400 for rotating parts for 200$
headers 175$
0* timing set 40$
cam 75$
intake 165$
score a used 4 barrel for under 100$ and you're in the 7-800$ range

That engine will impress you, it's what I had all last year. You'll be able to scream tires all day long, and have plenty of power for the highway.

 

I used to own a 1978 F-150 4x4. I swapped in a 1969 429 and had tons of torque and plenty of power. If you live in an area that doesn't require smog certification I would try to find an early 429 with the 72 cc chamber heads.

 

I would choose the 460 over the 351M all day long. If it was a 400, I would consider keeping it (but not if I had access to a 460). Choose the 460, you won't regret it.

 

I would run a 460 in both. And as far as fuel mileage. In the early 80s my dad swapped out a 351m for a junkyard 429 and went up 2mpg so that can go either way depending on set up. And my 460 is definitely not sluggish. It will roast the tires from idle so I would say that depends on set up as well.

 

400 is the best!!

 

I like the idea of a cheap stroker...a 434 you said?

 

TMeyer, Inc. Precision Automotive Machining

Ya, 434 from TMeyer. I just looked for a minute and couldn't find any dyno stuff on it or anything, but there are at least a couple guys on here who own them, and I'm sure Tim has the numbers himself too. I can't even imagine the torque on a 400 with an even LONGER stroke. Basically extremely bada$$.

 

I'd be real suprised if the mpg between a 460 and a 400 was noticable, I have had two 351ms and one 460 over the years and all got 10-12 mpg. I'd go with the 460

 

not to make any body mad. but there is a good amount of aftermarket parts for the M class engines and for fair price. most everything for 351c will fit the M class motors. just saying.