Every artical I have ever read about the 400M rubbishs these engines. wwwwwwwwwwhy Does any one have a good reason.

 

First of all, there's no such thing as a 400M.

Second, you sound like a troll. I'd suggest you read some different articles (my spelling is correct, BTW) that weren't written by Ch*vy apologists, like almost all the ones in Hot Rod.

 

Mines bad. It's also kewl and a little bit sick to use modern terminoloy.

 

What are you sayin theres no such thing as a 400M.
Whats the block that got about an inch higher deck higth than the cleveland and was optional in my 1979 BRONCO.
Also in the 2003 issue of the 4WHEELER Mag on page 52 in front of me the writer says stay away from the 400M engine.

I suggest you read some more articles

from the troll....

 

Just shows how much the source knows.
(Just fannin' the flames. )

 

Ford never used the letter M after the 400 engine. It is just a 400, just like a 360 is a 360, a 390 is a 390 and a 460 is a 460. They only used letters to identify the three different 351 ci displacement engines, i.e. W,C and M.
The 351M and 400 share the same block and heads.

 

Dear troll,
The M after 351 Is like the C on a cleavland, It specifies the model of the engine. Know one really knows what it stands for Modified , Midland who knows? but if you read the forums alittle youl find out that many people like this engine. some people have built these engines to 500+HP I suggest you talk to them if you think or heard these engines are crap. Yes I've read the four wheeler mag and heard them refer to the 400 as 400m but they are misinformed and don't know the history of the engine like say for instance BUBBAF250 so I'D take what they say about the 400 and 351M lightly.

 

If a mag doesn't even know the correct designation for an engine how could you trust their opinion? The 400 didn't come from the factory with much performance due to emmission control concerns. It can however be built up just like a 351C only bigger.

 

Watch the names gentlemen!

The introductory year 1971 400 was a good engine, they ruined it in 72.

 

so is it appropriate to refer to the 400 as a 400 CLEVELAND?
or is a simple '400' the ONLY proper nomenclature?

Thanx.

 

The Ford 400 (no M...never has been, never will be) was built in the early 70s at the beginning of the 'smog ****' era. All engines manufactured during this era suffered from lowered compresiion and reduced power outputs because it was prior to the introduction of computer controlled induction systems which allowed the manufacturers to produce engines which were able to adjust fuel delivery and therefore emissions output while the engine was running. Even the celebrated 460 engine took a serious beating in the HP and TQ departments. Large combustion chambers, dished pistons with lower compression heights and retarded camshafts were all methods used by Ford to lower the combustion temperature and reduce emissions.

Now as far as the magazine articles go you will also notice that it says in there that the 400 can be modified to make good power. Also bear in mind that this is the same magazine that several years ago named the Ford FE series engines as "one of the worst engines Ford ever put in a truck." So much for their credibility. All of the 4X4 rags seem to be heavily Jeep and Chevy slanted for whatever reason. I'll leave you to speculate on why, I frankly don't care.

The point here is that you can believe what you read in the 'ragazines' as gospel and stay away from the 351M/400 engines or not. If you choose to get a truck with a 400 in it then it can be made to produce good power and torque for the cost of a rebuild. There's a ton of excellent information in this forum which can help you.

 

400M and 351M words are high lighted in these messages for the direct link to Motorhaven advertisements. the word 400 is not. There's no reason to get worked up over it, just refer people to the sticky at the top of the page about forum guidelines.

I wouldn't say the '72 400 was ruined neccessarily, more like handicapped. There was a .6 point drop in compression and probably was the same year they began retarded the cam 4+ degrees. The compression loss isn't a big deal, you can more than make up for it by installing a Performer cam and intake manifold.

 

When you drove those engines in 71 and then again in 72-73 you would say ruined... The 71 engines were runners! WOW!!! I know any of these engines can be fixed with internal change$ but in stock form they went from wild to dogs...

-Just my $0.02

Some words are highlighted but the list is incomplete and adding 400 to the list is not on the high priority list of things to do.

 

I didn't have the opportunity to drive a '71 400. I didn't think the internal changes were that drastic but the net power rating change would certainly give people that impression. I do have a '73 400 LTD that ran circles around the '76 400 I once owned. It seemed like the cats killed power more than anything. Then I added the cam, intake and dual exhaust. It doesn't take much to transform these motors. At the track, the cool guy with the IROC Camaro couldn't catch up until 3/4 of the way down the track.

 

You would have loved the 71's