400 with 4bbl heads
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Plant city florida
400 with 4bbl heads
i have a 400 in my 77 highboy, it ran when parked good except for the part where one head is smashed. i have a set of cleveland 4bbl heads(stamped with the "4" in the corners) and the big ports, and my question is what would i need to run these and about what would it cost me? as of now i have headers, an edelbrock intake, and a holley 4bbl carb. i also have a set of mustang cobra(5.0) heads and a 351W 4bbl intake, both factory and cast iron. would it be more worth it for me to build a 400 or go the 460 swap route? im saying this because i dont make jack for weekly pay(im 16) and i have to pay for all my own stuff, and i dont think i could afford to build and keep fixing a 400 when i grenade the bottom end, which i know i will do a few times. would the 460 be a better deal than the 400 when it comes to the price of about 300-400HP and cheaper to rebuild? plus noone in my family knows the innerds of a 351M/400 so i would be learning new here lol. my grandpa know EVERYTHING about FE's from the factory though.
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Plant city florida
Would it be better to just go the 460 route or get an FE? I can get an FE cheap and get plenty of pre-emission era parts for cheap. And I learned on the FE, so it's what I know to work on. If I got a 460 I could reuse my tranny and stuff also. Would I need an all new tranny if I got an FE or could I use a bell housing from a 352 with a 3om the tree with it, I can't remember
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Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Tanilba bay NSW Australia
to be honest, it wouldnt be ideal due to the mismatch between ports, but I would bolt the 4v's on and bolt everything back up- as long as the ports are covered that is. It's a bummer being poor (and young). run that until you can afford better fitting heads. How cheap is the FE gear? I wouldnt bother trying to bolt the windsor stuff on the 400. What trans is it running as the FE bolt pattern doesnt fit the 351m-400's I believe. Fitting a 460 is all well and good but would have to be A-cheap, B-run well, and C-have all the other bits to be a cost effective swap. It would be easier to find a set of used heads for your application even from a wreckers as long as you show due diligence.
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Plant city florida
my dad has a 66 f100 parts truck with a 352 and a 3 on the tree, like i said above, that he is only using body panels for. in reality he bout the truck for the hood and grille lol. umm i guess i didnt say it but i already have the heads and ive already had them fixed up and everything ready to go. what would be a good selling price for them? is 550 to much for them reconditioned? i guess if i can sell it for that and sell the 400 back to my friend who wrecked the truck, i could afford an FE with an intake, headers, a nice carb and a cam. might see about getting a set of heads also, and if i have the money to blow, other stuff. ill just see how it goes i guess.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 831
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From: Tanilba bay NSW Australia
It looks like you would much rather have the FE than the 400, and I get that, but i reckon if you got the 400 running and put only a modest amount of coin into that you would be pretty happy with it.
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Plant city florida
its not that i wouldnt be happy with it, and if i had the wiring fixed it owuld fire right up no problem. i just think for what i what the FE family is a better choice
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Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: wyoming
it can be done but not cheap or simple!
i have many photos and parts to do this very job 4v heads on 400 ford. check out my photo and the headers was a lot of work!!! new flange and lots of fab work for transition into header tube. it can be done but if new to engines i wouldn't begin here. But if serious drop a message and will help. lots to learn from this build. doing a port job on a 400 and bump up compression and the 400 wakes up big time. double your hrpwr definetly! my next direction would be 460 due to parts and potential for serious power. you will then learn that all your factory parts will be destroyed. i have broken everything behind the flywheel once i hit 450lbs torque and higher torque ratings things really got expensive in 460 world.
check out the cobrajet headed 400 ford. catch you later and it was expensive!!
check out the cobrajet headed 400 ford. catch you later and it was expensive!!
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Plant city florida
im weighing my options now really. i know i can get a good bit of power out of a basic 400, but same can be said about the 460 and an FE. probably gonna keep the 400 for a long time in the end though. i dont want to put the 4bbl heads on if im not really going to gain much, which is the impression i have about them right now. and the headers would be totally custom made, im sure it would be a homeboy set lol
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Elder User
Joined: Jun 2012
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From: Plant city florida
Update- got heads back, still owe 5.95, confirmed to be closed chamber heads. They are really good looking heads lol. They needed EVERYTHING done to them except crack repair, what would you guys say is a fair price for all the parts and labor? I payed a lot for these they better be worth it.