Looking for 400 performance tips
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2014
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From: Cape Coral
Looking for 400 performance tips
Hi,
I just purchased a 78 f350 with a 400. I'm looking for information on what performance upgrades I should do to the motor, I want to wake it up. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks
I just purchased a 78 f350 with a 400. I'm looking for information on what performance upgrades I should do to the motor, I want to wake it up. Any help will be appreciated. Thanks
Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 141
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From: Reno NV
from what I hear the single best thing you can do with the 400 is to get in contact with Tim Meyer (www.tmeyerinc.com) and get some higher compression pistons for it. Then after that your basics such as Cam, intake, headers and 4bbl carburetor.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 801
Likes: 7
From: Toledo, Ohio
. Yes, there are prolly 100 threads here already answering your inquiry...
. As 700Hauler mentions, better pistons with higher compression heights than the commonly available general 'rebuilder' pistons or stock pistons are the hot ticket for a successful build/rebuild... TMI usually has KB/Silvolite pistons for a 351C already modified for a 400 in stock at popular pricing...
. Also, changing the retarded cam timing... or bigger cam, as well...
. If you keep the 2 bbl. carb., yes, your final power may stay down around 320 HP... LOL!
. Did you have a specific question not already answered in another thread? Or is this the start of your 'build thread'?
. I have a '78 F150 with 351M I want to convert to a strong budget 400 build now that winter is finally ending...
. As 700Hauler mentions, better pistons with higher compression heights than the commonly available general 'rebuilder' pistons or stock pistons are the hot ticket for a successful build/rebuild... TMI usually has KB/Silvolite pistons for a 351C already modified for a 400 in stock at popular pricing...
. Also, changing the retarded cam timing... or bigger cam, as well...
. If you keep the 2 bbl. carb., yes, your final power may stay down around 320 HP... LOL!
. Did you have a specific question not already answered in another thread? Or is this the start of your 'build thread'?
. I have a '78 F150 with 351M I want to convert to a strong budget 400 build now that winter is finally ending...
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Senior User
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From: Cape Coral
Well, I plan on going to 4v carb. What specifically will it take to get those numbers? Like what cam, headers, carb, valvetrain, etc. And yes, it might turn into a build thread. lol
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 801
Likes: 7
From: Toledo, Ohio
. The good pistons alone along with advancing the cam will get you near those numbers...
. From there, depends on your budget/how handy you are and performance level plans... can do a build under $1,000 or up to and over $10,000... I plan to hand port my stock heads some with my air die grinder tool... especially if an air injection emissions boss is blocking my exhaust ports... my 351M was emissions exempt, but they're prolly still in there...
. From there, depends on your budget/how handy you are and performance level plans... can do a build under $1,000 or up to and over $10,000... I plan to hand port my stock heads some with my air die grinder tool... especially if an air injection emissions boss is blocking my exhaust ports... my 351M was emissions exempt, but they're prolly still in there...
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Posting Guru
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If your long block is still good, just throw in a comp cam extreme energy xe256h kit(cam, lifter,spring retainers etc ), intake, 650 cfm carb, and headers.. easily 450lbs tq, 350hp:
examples:
1.Cam kit:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/COMP-Cams-K32-241-4-XTREME-ENERGY-Ford-351C-351M-400M-Hyd-1200-5200-Camshaft-Kit-/261436347938?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cded21622&vxp=mtr
2.Intake:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Weiand-8010-Action-Plus-Intake-Manifold-/400549205270?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d4297d516&vxp=mtr
3.Carb:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Edelbrock-650-CFM-Thunder-AVS-Carb-w-elec-choke-Reconditioned-1806-18069-/360811254099?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item540206d153&vxp=mtr
4.Headers:
Flowtech 12520FLT Standard Header Bronco F 150 Pickup F 250 Pickup F 350 Pickup | eBay
all for $1140,
you should give Tim a call and maybe you could get a deal on prices,
good luck
examples:
1.Cam kit:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/COMP-Cams-K32-241-4-XTREME-ENERGY-Ford-351C-351M-400M-Hyd-1200-5200-Camshaft-Kit-/261436347938?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3cded21622&vxp=mtr
2.Intake:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Weiand-8010-Action-Plus-Intake-Manifold-/400549205270?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item5d4297d516&vxp=mtr
3.Carb:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Edelbrock-650-CFM-Thunder-AVS-Carb-w-elec-choke-Reconditioned-1806-18069-/360811254099?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item540206d153&vxp=mtr
4.Headers:
Flowtech 12520FLT Standard Header Bronco F 150 Pickup F 250 Pickup F 350 Pickup | eBay
all for $1140,
you should give Tim a call and maybe you could get a deal on prices,
good luck
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 1
The cam recommendation was for a stock low compression bottom end, If you are going for the pistons, try a slightly bigger cam like the xe262h to compensate for the raise in compression, and go with arp rod bolts so you can spin it past 4500 rpms...
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 119
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From: Cape Coral
Yeah, I definitely want to raise the compression. Like you mentioned earlier, I'll give Tim a call when I'm ready, and he should be able to tell me exactly what I need for my build. I still have body work to do, but I wanted start gathering as much info on this as possible.
Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Reno NV
If your long block is still good, just throw in a comp cam extreme energy xe256h kit(cam, lifter,spring retainers etc ), intake, 650 cfm carb, and headers.. easily 450lbs tq, 350hp:
examples:
1.Cam kit:
Comp Cams K32 241 4 Xtreme Energy Ford 351C 351M 400M Hyd 1200 5200 Camshaft Kit | eBay
2.Intake:
Weiand 8010 Action Plus Intake Manifold | eBay
3.Carb:
Edelbrock 650 CFM Thunder AVS Carb w Elec Choke Reconditioned 1806 18069 | eBay
4.Headers:
Flowtech 12520FLT Standard Header Bronco F 150 Pickup F 250 Pickup F 350 Pickup | eBay
all for $1140,
you should give Tim a call and maybe you could get a deal on prices,
good luck
examples:
1.Cam kit:
Comp Cams K32 241 4 Xtreme Energy Ford 351C 351M 400M Hyd 1200 5200 Camshaft Kit | eBay
2.Intake:
Weiand 8010 Action Plus Intake Manifold | eBay
3.Carb:
Edelbrock 650 CFM Thunder AVS Carb w Elec Choke Reconditioned 1806 18069 | eBay
4.Headers:
Flowtech 12520FLT Standard Header Bronco F 150 Pickup F 250 Pickup F 350 Pickup | eBay
all for $1140,
you should give Tim a call and maybe you could get a deal on prices,
good luck
thanks for the info!
Laughing Gas
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 801
Likes: 7
From: Toledo, Ohio
. Actually, even the Comp XE256 212/218 cam is a bit much for the stock 400's compression ratio in 1978 which was prolly actually down in the 7's:1, although prolly listed as a nominal 8.0 or 8.5... it will make the engine peaky: soggy up to 3,000 RPMs, make modest power increase above that... even worse MPG... it would be a great match for 9's:1 with TMI/KB pistons, though... the XE262 should have a compression ratio in the 10's to work well...
. Check the exhaust ports in the heads and see if there is an emissions boss blocking them...
. I found a nice Holley 650 CFM carb. for $50 at a swap that I will be using...
. Check the exhaust ports in the heads and see if there is an emissions boss blocking them...
. I found a nice Holley 650 CFM carb. for $50 at a swap that I will be using...
Posting Guru
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 1,355
Likes: 1
yes, 300+ hp 400+tq is possible with only those parts.
Actually with the xe256 assuming a 8.5:1 static cr you will have a dynamic cr of 7.37:1 which is not bad at all with iron heads and a bit high for 87 octane due to its open chamber and down the hole pistons.... Also way better than the 6.5 dynamic cr these engines came to have with the retarded long duration short lift stock cams.... this plus the efficiency of the headers, and the smaller primaries in the 650 carb i dont see were the loss in mpg would be, i would even claim a 25% increase in mpg those parts would give you...
Actually with the xe256 assuming a 8.5:1 static cr you will have a dynamic cr of 7.37:1 which is not bad at all with iron heads and a bit high for 87 octane due to its open chamber and down the hole pistons.... Also way better than the 6.5 dynamic cr these engines came to have with the retarded long duration short lift stock cams.... this plus the efficiency of the headers, and the smaller primaries in the 650 carb i dont see were the loss in mpg would be, i would even claim a 25% increase in mpg those parts would give you...