So the 400/C6 combo in my new to me '77 F-150 2wd is awful lackluster. The trans has a mild shift kit and honestly I have no complaints about it other than the lack of overdrive. (4.10 rear end)It has about 84,000 miles.

The 400 was rebuilt by the previous owners about 4,000 miles ago. No idea what was done, the husband died and his wife didn't know much about it. They have a receipt from the machine shop that just says "Rebuild Ford 400" and $1,600 total. It had low compression on one cylinder before it was rebuilt. It has an Edelbrock performer intake, and an Edelbrock 600cfm electric choke carb. Supposedly has an "RV" cam. It just really doesn't have that much power.

I searched the specs on here and the web and came up with 174 HP and 289lb-ft. of torque for the stock ratings, I'd guess it probably makes within 20-30hp of that.

I have a fresh 308 (.040 over 5.0)with less than 500 miles that I built last summer for my '92 F-150. It gave me problems in the '92 and ended up eating the crank thrust because of a trans problem. I ended up just swapping the trans and short-block with used stuff. As far as I know all I need is another crank, disassemble and clean and it will be good to go. It has an HO mustang cam.

I also have a set of GT-40P heads from the 5.0 explorer that donated it's shortblock to my '92. I also have the GT-40 intake, a 70mm EGR delete plate and a 65mm throttle body.

Here's what I'm thinking then :
(Already have)
308 shortblock (has mustang flat-top pistons)
GT40P heads, valve job, some upgraded springs and new seals
Should be between 9 and 9.5 :1 compression
Mustang HO cam and roller lifters advanced 4 degrees
Comp roller chain
Explorer intake, maybe get the lower ported

(need to buy)

1.72 ratio Cobra roller rockers
Ford racing shorty headers
2.5" dual exhaust, h-pipe, flowmasters

Fox mustang A9L computer, harness, dist., etc.

I have all the brackets, pulleys and front drive accessories from the explorer.

I also have the fuel injectors and fuel rails

Now I know the Big Block C6 won't work, but a buddy is converting his '92 F-150 to 4wd and I could get hands on his M5OD 2wd 5-speed.

I'm not a dummy, I've built cars from scratch before, as well as fabbed quite a few parts. I have an idea what I'm getting myself into, but would like some input from guys who have been there / done that.

I'd also like some input as to how much my current 400/c6 combo is worth. I could throw it up on craigslist before I even pull it, then a guy could hear it run, ride in the truck, etc. before they buy it.

Will the radiator work?
Will the shifter end up in the right location?
What have guys done for slave cylinder and linkage? I do have an '89 parts truck I could rob some parts from.
351m/400 perches are the same for a small block, right?

I know the M5OD's get a bad rap, I've had two with not a single problem, I'm not a noob by any means.

I know that even with as many parts as I have, it will still be expensive

I think it should put out roughly 300hp/300tq

I'm out to make a really nice cruiser.

I'll add more as it comes to me...

 

Oh yeah

Fuel System :

I could either use a tank, pump and lines from a '92-'96 EFI truck, or weld a sump on my stock tank and run an external pump like a weldon, aeromotive or the like.

 

No input? I'm thinking the sending unit from the EFI pump won't work right with my gauge. May be easier just to pull the stock tank, clean it and weld a sump in.

 

Dropping the 5.0 crank off tomorrow to make sure it's bad before I go hunting another one. Borrowing my dad's cherry picker, and I have the 400/C6 combo on craigslist for $900 bucks.

Doing some "interneting" I've found a mustang T-5 can have a different tailhousing swapped on to put the shifter in the right place for a truck, so that may be a cheaper option. I have a Chevy S-10 T-5 on my shop floor for my brother's truck and that looks like the tailshaft housing they use. I'll investigate further and update.

 

I'm sure that you would need the engine mounts for a 302 for the generation of F Series.

 

I'm working on something similar right now. I'm putting a '98 explorer 5.0 with the GT40P heads in a '79 F100 SWB 2wd. Although mine had a 302 to begin with. So far it's been real simple. I just bought a new tank and welded in a return. I'm wiring in a low pressure pump back at the tank and installing the high pressure pump in the engine bay.

 

The 400, with upgraded intake/carb and cam, should be +50 HP from stock... let's say 225 net with torque that comes from 400 ci if it is healthy. In a heavy truck, that 308 may not "shine". Suggest you take individual cyinder compression readings on your 400 to determine if its "healthy". If so, it may make you happier than the 308.

 

This "400" is underpowered even compared to my '78 400 when it was stock. I have my suspicions that it is actually a 351M

308 is already in the works bud. I've built 400s before, I know how, just not interested this time around, and nobody was buying my exploder parts, so what the hell, I'll use them. Like I said, around 300 HP and 300 TQ with EFI and a five speed should keep me plenty happy.

Captain, have you figured out what headers to use? The ford racing shorty headers are made to clear the GT40P plug angle, either the mustang or truck ones, but I don't know if they fit the chassis.

I was going to try some Hooker competition ones for a '77 with a 302 and see if they clear the plugs. I kind of worry about the shorties running into the steering gear box.

 

You gonna love it...I did a 165k mile stock 351 Windsor and it had pretty good power. Enough to pull a load

 

Well, the 302 crank is ready at the machine shop with new bearings. I may have to end up just selling the new shortblock though. Just found out the insurance is not even covering half of my wife's dentist bill for a root canal, crown and fillings.

While I wait to see how much we still owe I'm doing some poking around on the "rebuilt" 400. It only has about 15" of idle vacuum, and the idle screw on the 600 edelbrock is really cranked open to even get it to idle at what I'm guessing is 600-650rpms. I'm thinking there is either some vacuum leaks, carb is too small, cam sucks, or maybe the cam has eaten some lobes.

Did a compression test last night and all cylinders had 140-150psi so that looks good. Probably going to pull a valve cover and degree the cam with a dial indicator and degree wheel, see if I can figure out what it is. The lady I bought it from just said they put an "RV" cam in it.

Wondering if maybe a cam swap and carb swap to a decent holley 4bbl would wake up this turd. I had a comp high-energy 268H IIRC in my other 400 and loved it.