Unknown motor
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Leb. jct. Ky.
Unknown motor
Hello All! This is my first post to this forum. Looks like a nice place. Can anyone tell me where I would find ID numbers on a Ford 400 block? Or how to tell the difference in a 351 and a 400. It's in a 78 Ford f150 4X4 that's had a junkyard motor installed. I've been told by the former owner that it's a "400 same as what the truck came out with" but the VIN calls for a 351 2V, I need to rebuild the thing and it sure would be nice to know for sure what it is. Thanks! Ken, 
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Joined: Jan 2008
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Unknown motor
Welcome to the site!
The exterior look of the 315M/400 is identical.
The only way to tell for sure, is to measure the stroke of the crank with a piece of dowel or small hose.
The 400 has a 4" stroke.
I assume the 4th character in the VIN # is H
The exterior look of the 315M/400 is identical.
The only way to tell for sure, is to measure the stroke of the crank with a piece of dowel or small hose.
The 400 has a 4" stroke.
I assume the 4th character in the VIN # is H
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Leb. jct. Ky.
Unknown motor
Yes sir Dennis the Vin starts F14H, The guy I got the truck from has always said it was a 400 but I think that H says different. He's not much of a car guy so I guess it just comes down to what ever his junkyard buddies put in for him 351 or 400. When you say measure stroke you mean how far the piston travels in the cylinder right? And are you saying there are no kind of casting numbers on either of the blocks? I'm not much on big block Fords I'm more of a small block ford man. For all I Know by looking at a big block it could have even been a 390. Thanks for the welcome and the info! I greatly appreciate it. Ken,
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From: SD
Unknown motor
Yes Dennis is correct, the blocks are identical, you could take a 351 block make it into a 400 by boreing and wapping parts. The only way is to measure the stroke - distance the piston travels up and down.
Marty
Marty
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Unknown motor
Ken,
The 351M/400 is classified as a small block.
Fords uses the engine series to ident their engine.
Thus the 335 series which includes the 351C.
FE Engine's have sparkplugs that go like this / / \ \
The 315M/400 they go like this / / / /
The 351M/400 is classified as a small block.
Fords uses the engine series to ident their engine.
Thus the 335 series which includes the 351C.
FE Engine's have sparkplugs that go like this / / \ \
The 315M/400 they go like this / / / /
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Junior User
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Leb. jct. Ky.
Unknown motor
Thanks guys! all the plugs do point in the same direction. And now that you mention it I do remember hearing something about a 351C being a small block years ago. If it's not against the rules I've got some pics of the motor and truck posted in a album on my webshots page. there is a pop up add that comes up when you go to that site so I don't know if it's 0k or not. but you could see if you think it's a 351/400 or maybe something else. Let me know and if it's ok I'll post the link. Thanks! ken,
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Unknown motor
Is the red/white sticker still on the valve cover?
What's your user name?
I have webshots myself.
What's your user name?
I have webshots myself.
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From: Leb. jct. Ky.
Unknown motor
No Dennis part of it is there but it's painted over and unreadable. the user name is Kaps45 take a look and see what you think. Ken,
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From: Leb. jct. Ky.
Unknown motor
yeah I'll need to get a switch seems like anytime I need help doing something there's no one around. I have to use this truck at least every other day. So now I just need to get the down time for the truck to do the work. It starts good runs ok don't smoke. But will only go 15 or 20 miles then starts loosening oil pressure and getting warm. That's when you drive that far then stop at a light or something. But when you get going again the pressure comes back and it cools down. I was going to try putting new mains in and see if that would help. Then if not go ahead and do the rebuild. I think you guys got me strait on measuring the stroke. piston travel distance. I'll let you know what I find out when I get that far. Ken,
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Unknown motor
My 400 engine in my 78 F250 does the same thing. New bearings would help. A HV oil pump helped some on my engine but was not a total cure. I did not replace the bearings since it was just plain to bloody cold outside to do that repair at the time. I am rebuilding my engine soon.
I will be checking the size and configuration of all the oil galleries in my engine. I have a feeling that some of these engines may have been built with oil passages that did not intersect properly. I have seen crankshafts without complete oil passages, so why not a block?
I will be checking the size and configuration of all the oil galleries in my engine. I have a feeling that some of these engines may have been built with oil passages that did not intersect properly. I have seen crankshafts without complete oil passages, so why not a block?
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From: Leb. jct. Ky.
Unknown motor
turns out the motor is a 400 stroke measured 4" exactly. The front main was shot they got better towards the back. Since I couldn't just put main inserts in it's getting rebuilt. I got the crank back today. It turned 10 but from looking at it I had my doubts on 20. Thanks for the help! Ken,
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Unknown motor
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