79 Ford 400
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Cross-Country
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79 Ford 400
Looking to get some more stuff out of a 400. Pretty much all stock. I've read a good cam will help and I'm pretty interested in doing a cam. I don't really want to touch the heads or the pistons yet. Planning on headers and exhaust. I am wondering if a decent 4bbl around 600cfm would match up nicely too? I'm more of a diesel guy, although the same basic engine philosophy still exists. Any recommendations would be nice.
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
Aftermarket intake and carb, along with a cam and straight up time it. All that would help way more than headers. IMO headers come after head work.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-not-400m.html
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https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...am-timing.html
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...-not-400m.html
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https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/8...am-timing.html
Grumpy goat
Joined: May 2017
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I did all the things to my stock 400 that 77&79F250 said, except my cylinder heads are stock. I did it a step at a time. First I installed an intake manifold / carburetor, and distributor. That was a big improvement over stock. Later I installed a RV camshaft. That gave me even better throttle response and really good low-mid rpm torque. But it hurt my fuel mileage. Then I installed long tube headers. That improved mileage a bit and improved performance. And a side benefit to the headers is my firewall, transmission tunnel, and overall cab temperature is much cooler now. I think step one gave the biggest improvement.
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Cross-Country
Joined: Feb 2019
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I did all the things to my stock 400 that 77&79F250 said, except my cylinder heads are stock. I did it a step at a time. First I installed an intake manifold / carburetor, and distributor. That was a big improvement over stock. Later I installed a RV camshaft. That gave me even better throttle response and really good low-mid rpm torque. But it hurt my fuel mileage. Then I installed long tube headers. That improved mileage a bit and improved performance. And a side benefit to the headers is my firewall, transmission tunnel, and overall cab temperature is much cooler now. I think step one gave the biggest improvement.
Thank you, that's what I was planning on doing. I was thinking something along the lines of a little bigger cam than the RV, a little chop would be nice, but I was planning on the stock auto that's in it.
Grumpy goat
Joined: May 2017
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Just keep vacuum in mind. Bigger lobes and more duration mean less vacuum for your brakes. And with an automatic transmission, you'll need to match the torque converter to the camshaft. A good RV/Towing camshaft will work fine with stock converters and vacuum brake boosters. Read camshaft descriptions. Specifically the idle range. If your engine won't idle at around 650, you'll need a looser torque converter.
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Cross-Country
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Grumpy goat
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You're welcome. The 400 is a pretty good engine. There aren't as many affordable aftermarket parts for 351M / 400 as there are for Windsor's and the 460, but there's enough. I've got the Edelbrock Performer 400 intake manifold and I'm pretty sure it's the best one made for 335's. And yes, a carburetor in the 600 cfm range will work with a stock to moderately modified 400.
You said you're more of a diesel guy. I just bought a 2001 Dodge 2500, 24 valve 5.9L. My first diesel. I like it.
You said you're more of a diesel guy. I just bought a 2001 Dodge 2500, 24 valve 5.9L. My first diesel. I like it.
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Cross-Country
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You're welcome. The 400 is a pretty good engine. There aren't as many affordable aftermarket parts for 351M / 400 as there are for Windsor's and the 460, but there's enough. I've got the Edelbrock Performer 400 intake manifold and I'm pretty sure it's the best one made for 335's. And yes, a carburetor in the 600 cfm range will work with a stock to moderately modified 400.
You said you're more of a diesel guy. I just bought a 2001 Dodge 2500, 24 valve 5.9L. My first diesel. I like it.
You said you're more of a diesel guy. I just bought a 2001 Dodge 2500, 24 valve 5.9L. My first diesel. I like it.
Moderator & parts slinger
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 50,158
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From: S/W Missouri, Polk county
As already mentioned for helping the 400, straight up timing.
Grumpy goat
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 3,058
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I have a 99 2500 4wd with a 3 setting Quadzilla and BHAF (Big Honking Air Filter) Wix 10x11 and get/got along ok when towing. Then I borrowed my brother inlaws 09 Dodge 3500 crew cab duely with the 6.7...all stock that thing towed circles around my 5.9 and I forgot I had a trailer on behind me. lol Stay up on your trans service if its an auto.
As already mentioned for helping the 400, straight up timing.
As already mentioned for helping the 400, straight up timing.
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