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1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks Discuss the Dentsides Ford Truck
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a project... for cheap!

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Old Jan 22, 2015 | 12:23 PM
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Talking a project... for cheap!

im looking at picking up a 1977 f250 ranger 4x4 with a 400 and a c6. it isnt running but the owner said the motor ran last spring, im not sure how well. as far as i know its a stock 400, i was thinking of changing the intake to a Weiand 8010 Action Plus Intake Manifold and throwing the Edelbrock 1411 Performer 750 CFM on top to start when i get it so i can get the motor running. Any ideas or different thoughts on intakes and carbs? what cam would work well in this motor? i need to have the transmission rebuilt because only one gear works but i want to make sure its a good reliable truck when i'm done! this isnt a bad find for $100!!! . it wont be used for hauling more than a small boat anything bigger ill use my DD, i just want good power, sound and reliability. any help and advice would be great!!
 
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Old Jan 22, 2015 | 12:37 PM
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$100 is great.

A 750 cfm carb is a hair big for a 400 but use what ya got. For these rigs 600 to 650 is all it takes.

I always recommend headers and dual exhaust before or at the same time as making improvements to the intake side (manifold, carb, cam) of the engine to maximize unrealized potential.

Rebuilding an old geezer is a long and winding road. Have a well-thought out and budgeted plan before tearing deep into the ol' girl.
 
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Old Jan 22, 2015 | 12:47 PM
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Originally Posted by HIO Silver
$100 is great.

A 750 cfm carb is a hair big for a 400 but use what ya got. For these rigs 600 to 650 is all it takes.

I always recommend headers and dual exhaust before or at the same time as making improvements to the intake side (manifold, carb, cam) of the engine to maximize unrealized potential.

Rebuilding an old geezer is a long and winding road. Have a well-thought out and budgeted plan before tearing deep into the ol' girl.
well for exhaust it dumps right out after the headers, not very smart or that great but i was planning on doing a straight pipe or something that sounds good. is 750 to much for a engine that has a cam, intake and exhaust with a less retarded cam? what cam would work the best? i hope i can get the engine running to see if it really needs anything else before i dive into buying parts or ripping it apart!
 
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Old Jan 22, 2015 | 02:58 PM
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Originally Posted by reebadoo
well for exhaust it dumps right out after the headers, not very smart or that great but i was planning on doing a straight pipe or something that sounds good. is 750 to much for a engine that has a cam, intake and exhaust with a less retarded cam? what cam would work the best? i hope i can get the engine running to see if it really needs anything else before i dive into buying parts or ripping it apart!
Go here with your 400 questions,Tim Meyer will be the most help with the engine. I myself wouldnt put an edlebrock carb on anything, post some pic's.
335 Series- 5.8/351M, 6.6/400, 351 Cleveland - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
 
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Old Jan 22, 2015 | 03:21 PM
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Originally Posted by Bud Mud
Go here with your 400 questions,Tim Meyer will be the most help with the engine. I myself wouldnt put an edlebrock carb on anything, post some pic's.
335 Series- 5.8/351M, 6.6/400, 351 Cleveland - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
ill post pictures when i get the truck down where i am, i saw it over my winter break when i went to visit my parents in North Dakota, but once my spring break comes up i'll drive up and tow it back down! and i will post or pm Tim and ask him for some help! ill have 2 big trucks at my disposal!
 
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Old Jan 22, 2015 | 05:29 PM
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Originally Posted by reebadoo
well for exhaust it dumps right out after the headers, not very smart or that great but i was planning on doing a straight pipe or something that sounds good. is 750 to much for a engine that has a cam, intake and exhaust with a less retarded cam? what cam would work the best? i hope i can get the engine running to see if it really needs anything else before i dive into buying parts or ripping it apart!
At 85% VE, it's big.

Try this calculator and you'll see whattamean: http://www.summitracing.com/expertad...cfm-calculator
 
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Old Jan 22, 2015 | 06:57 PM
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looking forward to pics. seems like alot of new dent owners from nd, sd, and mn lately. i have a 400 with a 650 cfm edelbrock intake and carb. i put headers and dual exhaust with 12 inch cherry bombs on it for exhaust. when you crack it down it barks but at cruising speed it is nice and quiet and isn't obnoxiously loud. i also put msd ignitor and plug wires on it. i am pretty happy with the power but am looking at doing the following when time and money allow. msd ignition box, msd distributor, different cam and valve train and when i dig in that deep i am going to polish the ports up. as for now the motor runs smooth and looking at getting some other things fixed so this is on the back burner. and why can't i find a dent for 100 bones?
 
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Old Jan 22, 2015 | 07:23 PM
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Originally Posted by weez440
looking forward to pics. seems like alot of new dent owners from nd, sd, and mn lately. i have a 400 with a 650 cfm edelbrock intake and carb. i put headers and dual exhaust with 12 inch cherry bombs on it for exhaust. when you crack it down it barks but at cruising speed it is nice and quiet and isn't obnoxiously loud. i also put msd ignitor and plug wires on it. i am pretty happy with the power but am looking at doing the following when time and money allow. msd ignition box, msd distributor, different cam and valve train and when i dig in that deep i am going to polish the ports up. as for now the motor runs smooth and looking at getting some other things fixed so this is on the back burner. and why can't i find a dent for 100 bones?
you have to know the right people to get a clean title truck for 100!! ill have time and ill be saving to get better parts but for now how will stock everything but intake and carb as well as the nonexistant exhaust run?
 
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Old Jan 27, 2015 | 06:44 PM
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when i threw the 400 in mine (stock 351m was locked up) i ran it with just straight headers around the section to dial things in a couple times and it was loud as hell and i would suggest getting some kind of exhaust on it so you can hear what is going on. before i would spend much money on the motor i would make sure it is safe by checking out the brakes and the steering and give it a good look over.
 
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Old Jan 27, 2015 | 09:28 PM
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Originally Posted by weez440
when i threw the 400 in mine (stock 351m was locked up) i ran it with just straight headers around the section to dial things in a couple times and it was loud as hell and i would suggest getting some kind of exhaust on it so you can hear what is going on. before i would spend much money on the motor i would make sure it is safe by checking out the brakes and the steering and give it a good look over.
the first thing im going to do is just get the motor running, then breaks and breaklines, i can't drive it, every gear is out accept reverse i wonder what they did to the transmission to break all of the gears
 
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Old Jan 28, 2015 | 06:27 AM
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It's a $100 parts truck till the motor runs....+ what ever it costs to tow back.

When the motor is running, then its a great deal for a $100

Is the trans grinding in fwd gears or just not moving when you put it in gear?

Could be a vacuum/vacuum modulator, clogged filter, way low on fluid.
 
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Old Jan 28, 2015 | 01:35 PM
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Originally Posted by 77&79F250
It's a $100 parts truck till the motor runs....+ what ever it costs to tow back.

When the motor is running, then its a great deal for a $100

Is the trans grinding in fwd gears or just not moving when you put it in gear?

Could be a vacuum/vacuum modulator, clogged filter, way low on fluid.
if it were a bad vacuum it wouldn't run in reverse. it ran last spring so it shouldn't be to hard to get running again! all of those things i will be checking either way tho.
 
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