I've got a 78 f-250 4x4 with C6 and 3:54 gears I am going to refurbish and turn into my weekend driver. It's not together and running at this point. I'm curious on how the stock 400 works power wise in everyday driving, etc. I've had a 77 F-100 with 302 and 3 speed (no clue on gears, I was 16) and it seemed just OK to me. Had a 76 f-250 with 360, C6 and 4:10 gears. After I put a 4 barrel on, it was acceptable, but no powerhouse. Currently own a 92 F-250 with 351W, E4OD and 4:10 gears. It does pretty well for what I use it for, but needs a little more oomph when pulling a trailer. For work I drive a 2014 F-150 with the 5.0. Not impressed with it at all. Have to wind it up good to get anywhere, but I suspect the 6 speed transmission doesn't help, it never seems to be in the right gear, probably for fuel mileage but it only gets 14 MPG anyway.

I have an old mechanic friend who owned his own shop in the 70s and 80s who is a die hard chevy guy and he said the 400 was one of fords best. Torque monster. That's the only good thing I've heard him say about Ford in 40 years. I've looked up the HP/Torque figures on all the previous trucks I've owned and have come to the conclusion that low RPM torque is what I like, and I'm lucky I've got a 400. I don't drive like a mad man, just putt around hauling firewood and tractors and a camper and running to the hardware store. I very very rarely see over 3000 RPM with my 92 f-250. I'd just like to hear comments on my thoughts and some real world experience from those that drive a 400 compared to other trucks I've owned.

Also, during the rebuild of the truck, I want to do the Tim Meyer pistons, his cam recommendation, still up in the air on 4 barrel and I really don't want headers. I'd like to hear from those running that kind of motor too. Thanks.

 

I drove a 80 F350 4x4 with the 400 in it. 4 speed & 4:10 gears & it had no trouble pulling a loaded gooseneck trailer at highway speeds (keep in mind this was back when speed limits were 55-65). Seemed to have just as much low end as the 89 460 we replaced it with, & that was in stock form. It has since been rebuilt with TMeyer pistons & rv cam and is in my 60 F250 with a C6 behind it. I haven't done much with it - need to swap out the 4:56 gears for something a little higher to be able to cruise down the highway. It feels really powerful, but with my gearing, I'm shifting into 3rd at the end of an intersection.

 

I only have info compiled by someone else, and they show a '78 400 was good for 300 f/lbs at 1400 rpm, and 149 hp at 3200.

Your buddy that thought it was one of the best--what, he slept through the late '50s and 60s?

Anyway, if you are going to put TMI pistons in it, cam it etc, it will have no resemblance to the '78 motor. You should be able to see close to 400 torque and 300+ hp with a mild version of those upgrades.

 

 

 

I had a 78 F-150 4x4 400 C6 with 3.50 gears and 31" tires, I rebuilt the engine in 87 using stock pistons (no TMeyer pistons available back then), basic head work, Cam Dynamics 272 cam, double roller chain for corrected timing, Weiand intake and 600 Holley.
The truck had good low end torque, cruised 55-65 mph effortlessly and averaged mid teens fuel milage, towing power was decent, regrettably sold it in 03 still going strong.
It wasn't the tongue monster my previous 73 F-100 428CJ truck was but it ran pretty good for a 8.5 compression engine, higher compression really wakes these engines up.
Around 05 we built a 80's F-250 mud racer using a 400 with milled 351C pistons, 4v heads, custom cam, Weiand intake and modified 600 Holley, it beat a lot of 460 powered trucks thru the pit. We later installed spacer plates and a Edelbrock 351 4v intake for a better port match, it did pick up a little more hp but torque didn't change much.