Hey guys, having 2nd thoughts on my project thats in the garage.
Currently on stand one, 400 TMI 0 deck dished pistons windage trayed, oiling #1 lifter feed plugged, grooved cam bearings, roller cam, roller rockers, adapter plates for 351w intake to 351M/400, 351w lower truck port matched to 5.0 upper, twin 61mm throttle body, will end up cutting up windsor short tube 351w headers and putting cleveland flanges on. Heads will be if they ever release them(been waiting since June, up to end of Oct. for release now) Trick Flow Powerport 195s(new not 190s) 72cc out of box deck down to 68cc to get it to 10.25:1. Have some money sitting on the stand in a stand still since june.
Now the windsor, I already bought a set of ford racing GT-40X heads, having the truck lower welded up tomarrow to seal top of ports since X intake ports are so much higher. I did read up on it seen the debates and all but Ford 351W Small Block with EFI - Hot Rod Magazine that article is pretty impressive. I would send TMI Tim my crank have the rods done, pistons balance it and have my block work done, order a custom cam for it, already have 1.72r roller rockers, have headers for it bearings. Do another 351w lower intake port matched to 5.0 upper intake.
Both engines getting fired from same 5.8 EEC-V computer, the W's E4OD is already set up just going to get a punisher valve body for it, 400 has 460 E4OD in garage that needs built.
I will be driving it daily, so economy is kind of in the back of my mind. The 351w that is in it I stay out of the throttle and take it easy I can see 17-19, but I don't baby it to the speed limit usually. I know the 400 being it has 1/2 of stroke will drink more by nature but when I need to tow one of the toys, will it make a joke of the W? The dwell time with the W from what I have read with fox body guys has helped in economy but they also make good tq numbers.
What do you guys think?
400?
long rod 351w?

Thank you
Curtis

 

Given the massive volume of aftermarket parts available for the Windsor platform(second only to the SBC I think) it's hard to justify building anything else... unless you just want something different.

 

being you have a 400 just about ready to go i say do 400. But if wanting fuel mileage go with smaller engine. But depends on how much you tow is my question, how much. keep it simple go windsor but it can go either way on which is better. if you know your engines purpose the parts available aren't a big deal. the trick to a 400 ford is you don't have to do much for a torque'r. little compression and little head work and your done with a modern camshaft, scary simple. 4" stroke what else do you need to know for towing. but to get a windsor to do the same its custom and aftermarket to do the same. since your using same tranny this cost is not a big deal. fuel injection how much do you want to spend. about the same either way. now if turning rpms the windsor winds with the con rods availability and upgrades. the 400 you have to order custom and expensive or just do a 434" tmi. for simplicity throw some heads on the 400 and call it good and move on, you have a nice engine. i have a 400 with similar setup, but went with edelbrock air gap 351 cleveland. good luck!

 

Well trick flow released the heads finally. Sent back windsor stuff, staying with the 400 will have to relearn how to drive the truck with some big tq numbers. Ever wonder what a 400 looks like with oe 5.0/5.8 style intake? check out my album.
Towing will be a late 70s half ton with d60 and 10.25 on 38s with a ranger body, and either another 400 set up or a long rod 351w or go crazy and build a 427W. But thats a off road toy for later on, I need to get the DD done first then the toy. Eventually I will just buy a diesel, well maybe if I do it will be a 6.0 with all of the fixes so I don't have to deal with all of the 6.0 woes. Sad watching a 178k old 351w pull 7.3s 6.0s and a 6.4 home with a strap makes me wonder if I really want one.

Curtis

 

cool photos and really like the serp setup. catch you later. I don't need anymore ideas and your not helping my situation, ha! ha!