360 V-8 Engine review
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2021
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360 V-8 Engine review
Greetings, & Happy New Year
Can anybody give me some insight on the Ford 360 V-8 engine?
It's in a 1978, F-250 w/ automatic trans.
Folks,
I got the VIN from the seller. By decoding the VIN, it is a 1978, F-250, 400, 2 bbl carb engine, 4x4.
Is the 400 engine good?
Any good?
pros?
Cons?
Thank you.
marty
Can anybody give me some insight on the Ford 360 V-8 engine?
It's in a 1978, F-250 w/ automatic trans.
Folks,
I got the VIN from the seller. By decoding the VIN, it is a 1978, F-250, 400, 2 bbl carb engine, 4x4.
Is the 400 engine good?
Any good?
pros?
Cons?
Thank you.
marty
Last edited by MyFlattyFord; Dec 27, 2022 at 12:31 PM. Reason: add more info, again
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 995
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Marty
How do you know its a 360? To have a 360/390 FE series engine in a 78 the whole drive train would have to have been swapped as 77-79s had the 351M/400 335 series engines. Its a major project to swap one for the other. More likely perhaps someone put a cab from a 78 onto an earlier 73-76 chassis.
Aside from that the 360/390 series engines are considered by most to be superior to the later 351M/400 engines.
How do you know its a 360? To have a 360/390 FE series engine in a 78 the whole drive train would have to have been swapped as 77-79s had the 351M/400 335 series engines. Its a major project to swap one for the other. More likely perhaps someone put a cab from a 78 onto an earlier 73-76 chassis.
Aside from that the 360/390 series engines are considered by most to be superior to the later 351M/400 engines.
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 57
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Greetings,
Thank you for your insight. The seller of the truck is telling me it is a 360 V-8 engine.
So if it really is a 351, is that a decent engine for a F-250, automatic with 4x4?
Anything that I should worry about? weaknesses of the 351?
Thank you for your time & input.
-Marty
Thank you for your insight. The seller of the truck is telling me it is a 360 V-8 engine.
So if it really is a 351, is that a decent engine for a F-250, automatic with 4x4?
Anything that I should worry about? weaknesses of the 351?
Thank you for your time & input.
-Marty
Tuned
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 403
Likes: 36
You really need to put eyes on this motor. You need to get under the truck, pull the casting numbers as well as the VIN numbers off the frame and not just the door. Also take photos of the motor. If it's a 351M/400 you are going to have a rougher time figuring out which of the two it is.
The 351 Windsor and Clevelands were very good motors. Personally between myself and my father in law who is a huge, huuuuuuuge encyclopedia of ford knowledge, you couldn't give us two plugged nickels to take the 351M/400.
302 is a great motor as well. 300 I6 is one of the best motors for durability of all time regardless of mfr.
The 351 Windsor and Clevelands were very good motors. Personally between myself and my father in law who is a huge, huuuuuuuge encyclopedia of ford knowledge, you couldn't give us two plugged nickels to take the 351M/400.
302 is a great motor as well. 300 I6 is one of the best motors for durability of all time regardless of mfr.
Lead Driver
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 5,217
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From: Pa.
If it is a 400 it is the best V-8 engine offered by ford in an F250 4wd that year. It can be made into a decent motor with some $. It's biggest weakness is the horse power left on the table to accommodate emission standards. The 78'-79' F250 4wd chassis is the best 4wd chassis in the 73'-79' years for a 4wd doing truck duties IMO. The high pinion HD hub dana front differential with disc brakes and the 4 bolt power steering gear box make it a step above the earlier chassis'.
Thread Starter
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Cross-Country
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Greetings Saluki Guy,
Thank you for your input.
Did the 351M/ 400 have any weaknesses? You mention that you didn't like them.
I agree on the 302 & I6-300, I've had both of them in a couple of vehicles over the years.
Thank you for your insight.
Marty
Thank you for your input.
Did the 351M/ 400 have any weaknesses? You mention that you didn't like them.
I agree on the 302 & I6-300, I've had both of them in a couple of vehicles over the years.
Thank you for your insight.
Marty
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Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,213
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From: SW PA
400 is a decent truck engine with cam/intake/headers/timing set
It's a good truck engine with all of the above and with a set of closed chamber heads...alum preferred.
It's like anything - much better with a little bit of work.
It's a good truck engine with all of the above and with a set of closed chamber heads...alum preferred.
It's like anything - much better with a little bit of work.
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2018
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The 360 is a much better engine but as has been said it wasn't an option in '78. if you can get a picture it's easy to see the difference.
The 335 series engines (351-400) are some of the lamest engines Ford ever made, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. but for a classic driver I wouldn't let that deter me from buying one, they're no FE or 385 series but they'll get you around.
The 335 series engines (351-400) are some of the lamest engines Ford ever made, don't let anyone tell you otherwise. but for a classic driver I wouldn't let that deter me from buying one, they're no FE or 385 series but they'll get you around.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,808
Likes: 2,604
From: The Shenandoah Valley
Greetings,
Thank you for your insight. The seller of the truck is telling me it is a 360 V-8 engine.
So if it really is a 351, is that a decent engine for a F-250, automatic with 4x4?
Anything that I should worry about? weaknesses of the 351?
Thank you for your time & input.
-Marty
Thank you for your insight. The seller of the truck is telling me it is a 360 V-8 engine.
So if it really is a 351, is that a decent engine for a F-250, automatic with 4x4?
Anything that I should worry about? weaknesses of the 351?
Thank you for your time & input.
-Marty
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 2,238
Likes: 475
There really weren't any "bad" engines in the 73-79 F-series. Some of them are better for an all out performance build or for a dedicated tow rig, but any one of them could be a reliable engine for 90% of people. Alot of people rag on the 351M/400 engines but I own one had i beat the living snot out of in a dedicated plow truck, i kept it when i junked the truck cause it still ran good, and I've known a couple other people that had them in hot rod/off road trucks and never had issues.