bad 400m
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 908
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I have a '71 400. It's not nearly as much a runner as my '69 429, but for a 400 it goes OK and gets very good gas mileage.
It jumps off the line as you would expect, and leaves the rice burners behind until they can hit 8000 RPM.
Simply putting a decent cam in these motors makes a world of difference. I plan to do that one day.
It jumps off the line as you would expect, and leaves the rice burners behind until they can hit 8000 RPM.
Simply putting a decent cam in these motors makes a world of difference. I plan to do that one day.
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 30,255
Likes: 37
A 71 that old probably has some miles on it too... If it was rebuilt it was probably rebuilt with the dished pistons that lowered compression.
The peak HP years for car engines was 68-69, of course many of those engines required gas we can't get at the corner station anymore also.
I got to experience driving those 71's when they were new all the time. I was working at a service station that had the contract for washing the new cars for a Ford dealer that had just been serviced after delivery. We broke them in properly driving them back and forth
I got to do the same with the 68 and up models. A 68 Mustang Mach 1 Twister with a big block FE was a handfull if you turned her loose, which of course we did...
The peak HP years for car engines was 68-69, of course many of those engines required gas we can't get at the corner station anymore also.
I got to experience driving those 71's when they were new all the time. I was working at a service station that had the contract for washing the new cars for a Ford dealer that had just been serviced after delivery. We broke them in properly driving them back and forth
I got to do the same with the 68 and up models. A 68 Mustang Mach 1 Twister with a big block FE was a handfull if you turned her loose, which of course we did...
Thread Starter
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New User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Thank you for the helpfull replys. Down here the 351M AND 400 engines are dumped without a look at. Most FORD V8,s are getting hard to get hold of but plenty of chev engines and parts are avalible. I was in touch with a wrecking outfit not long back about FORD V8,s and they asked me if I would take 3 400,s of their yard becuase they could not get rid of them. I have one set up in my work shop and it run just like A new unit.
Thanks again.
Thanks again.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 908
Likes: 4
No, I still have the flat tops.
Funny - ALL of my friends drive Ch*vys and laugh at my Fords. Yet, almost constantly, there is a Ch*vy down, motor on the hook, tranny going out or some such, and they accept this as "normal" and never think about it.
They'd be the very ones calling my 400 "junk". I suspect the guy who started this thread had been talking to guys like them. He did have kind of a sneering tone to his post, which made me wonder if he was a Ch*vy head trying to stir up trouble.
Funny - ALL of my friends drive Ch*vys and laugh at my Fords. Yet, almost constantly, there is a Ch*vy down, motor on the hook, tranny going out or some such, and they accept this as "normal" and never think about it.
They'd be the very ones calling my 400 "junk". I suspect the guy who started this thread had been talking to guys like them. He did have kind of a sneering tone to his post, which made me wonder if he was a Ch*vy head trying to stir up trouble.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2002
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It's an uphill battle
I have a lot more respect for the Mopile crowd, (with the exception of the ones convinced the Hemi is God's gift) because they know what it's like to have the deck stacked against them. Chevy guys are usually ignorant about all other makes, which means they can't argue why their engine is better or why a Ford is junk. It's blind faith, because I say so, kind of mentality. They're an amusing bunch.
New User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: idaho
my 81 has a 400 swapted into it and i like it just fine.oh by the way it has a rv cam/lifters /edelbrock carb and intake/k&n filter/flexalite dual fan setup. the c-6 has a low gear planetary of 2.72. the gears are 4.56 so it does just fine when i want to smoke the tires for the little kids checking out my "monster truck". nothing wrong with a 400m or is it a 400. its a good engine just tricky to get the parts guys to give ya the parts for a 351m
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 270
Likes: 1
From: columbia
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,854
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From: Des Moines, Iowa
i love my 400, great power, lots of torque (the important part anyways) for the cost of a normal rebuild it jumped in power, then adding a few mods to the rebuild it got that much better.
New User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 15
Likes: 0
From: idaho
rv cam works great.it really helps with the low end torque.my dad told me a little trick to time an engine to get the best low end torque. i havnt tryed it on a dyno but it seems to work. first set your parking brake and block front wheels. loosen your dist. so it is still a little snug but movable. start your vehicle,put in drive. adjust the idle so you can feel the tranny start to grab.turn the dist either direction to get the best power. this works with automatics. legs arent long enough to try on standards. this is very dangerous and it is a good idea to have a person in the drivers seat to stop you if you go for an unscheduled ride
and of course it doesnt help your top speed. this is also a good trick to know if you are four wheeling at altitude and need to adjust your timing and fuel mixture
and of course it doesnt help your top speed. this is also a good trick to know if you are four wheeling at altitude and need to adjust your timing and fuel mixture
Last edited by zakcode; Oct 30, 2003 at 04:16 PM.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 639
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From: not mass
i picked up a msd duraspark replacement that has 15 degs of spark adjustment i gotta get tranny for my 79 so i can run it better that my 78 with a smoky weak 351m
but anyway
ps gonna order a wide ratio c6 from broader preformance (maybe re gearing the rears later)
but anyway
ps gonna order a wide ratio c6 from broader preformance (maybe re gearing the rears later)
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 2
From: central ohio
my dad has a '77 f250 reg cab 4x4 c-6 4:10 with a 400, i think it's a real screamer, excellent snowplow vehicle, i cant imagine its underpowerd compared to a '71 motor. maybe it doent have as much pollution crap being a3/4 ton. only bad thing is-8 m.p.g. on stock 7.50-16 rubber. but it will pull ANYTHING.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 404
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From: Indiana
Whoever said the 400 was a turd is wrong.I'll take this motor over any Chevy,you just have to know how to build them,Check out my site for particulars.
http://www.superford.org/registry/ve...l/.php?id=4037
http://www.superford.org/registry/ve...l/.php?id=4037
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 193
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Originally posted by freak98
Whoever said the 400 was a turd is wrong.I'll take this motor over any Chevy,you just have to know how to build them,Check out my site for particulars.
http://www.superford.org/registry/ve...l/.php?id=4037
Whoever said the 400 was a turd is wrong.I'll take this motor over any Chevy,you just have to know how to build them,Check out my site for particulars.
http://www.superford.org/registry/ve...l/.php?id=4037
The SBC is basically a 1950's era design, that means OUTDATED. The 400 Ford with it's splayed valves is way ahead in the cylinder head department.