To start off, I am 19. I don’t know everything (obviously) but I do have a good, basic grasp on most Ford V8 systems, carbureted and fuel-injected. I don’t wanna do this to get the most power out of an engine or to impress anybody, I’m doing this just because I’m young and I have an imagination. Anyway here’s the idea:

Take a Ford 400 (or 351M) and modernize it. Simple right? (Pffffff)

The image I have in my head is something almost along the lines of “imagine if Ford didn’t quit making the 400 in the early 80’s”. Like if the 400 or just the Cleveland series in general had gone on to get the EFI treatment and whatnot…

Anyway, just a thought I’ve had and wondered what everyone else thought about it?

 

Sure. Check out the 335 forum.

 

If you want something better go to an EFI 460 it's a pretty easy conversion from a 335 series. and when you're done you'll have something.

 

This is more of an experiment more than anything else

 

If you want to modernize it things are going to get expensive really quickly. Think roller cam and valve train, aluminum heads, aluminum intake manifold, electric water pump, electric fans and the list goes on. That's in addition to the EFI and ignition system. At that point, just buy a used Coyote and trans and be done with it. It will be cheaper.

It might be a good idea to start with just the EFI and modern distributor (not really modern since all of the latest systems use a cam/crank trigger system and coil on plug). You can learn that system and how to calibrate it and then carry that experience with you as you further modify the engine. From what I can tell, you're stuck with a throttle body style system on the 351/400 unless you want to spring for this multi-port system. Yikes on the cost!

https://www.promracing.com/ford-351m...fi-system.html

Maybe someone else has another source for something cheaper? Either way, good luck and keep that passion with you and enjoy the energy you have right now. It tends to fade with age. I remember when I was chomping at the bit every day to get home from school or work and turn wrenches on my car. I had no money like most young people but I had an insatiable appetite for learning. I read every thread on every forum I could find, regardless of whether it was relevant to what I was working on at the time. Youtube wasn't around then so the forums were the biggest gold mine of information you could get. It was amazing when someone would post a tech thread with pictures. That knowledge base, and the ability to acquire knowledge independently, I built up has been invaluable to me in my later years. Unfortunately, the fire has dimmed slightly when it comes to working 8 hours at my day job and then spending all night in the garage. Fortunately, all of the years of experience now all me to work smarter and not harder. A little cash in the bank for cool tools helps with that. Anyway, I digress. Keep it up and enjoy this point in your life!

 

I don't get the impression this is a value proposition for the OP. I've had a similar thought as the 400 seems like it could be decent. Big ports, relatively smooth ex manifolds, good stroke to bore ratio. It was just lacking in many things due to emissions. The 460 is ubiquitous, and relatively cheap, because of its long production run well into the 90s, and big size. The need for a lighter weight engine to fill the gap between the 351W and the 460 just wasn't really there into the 80s and so the 335 disappeared.

 

These guys have multiport fuel injection for the the 351m/400: https://460efiguys.com/full-efi-conversion-kits/

 

Aftermarket EFI, C.O.P ignition, roller cams/valve train,and aluminum heads, are all readily available to "modernize" any old engine. IDK what you could want to do beyond that, unless you're wanting to really crazy stuff like design a variable timing system, an active runner intake or OHC heads?

 

I mean a guy can wish in one hand and do something else in the other if ya know what I mean. I’ve had ideas like that but right now anything like that just ain’t feasible…

 

Pricey but wow!

 

If you have mechanical/electrical ability and can read schematics, 80's-90's GM TBI is easily adaptable to mild built engines. There were so many sold that there are still a bunch on the road, so it still has a decent aftermarket support for parts and programing. I just rebuilt most of the fuel system in my '93 GMC and there wasn't anything that i couldn't easily find.

 

Yep, that’s true. The stock TBI unit flows about 500 cfm and they’re a dime a dozen. You’ll probably want to go with the 75lb/hr injectors from the 454. You can support around 300HP with that system. The 747 controller is not the most versatile system but it’s easy to calibrate and a good system to learn on. I actually have a 747 ECM sitting around in my toolbox that’s been there for over 20 years. If you go that route, I’d be more than happy to contribute to the project.

 

Sounds pretty limiting, a mild rebuild should be making 400hp.

 

Sounds like he wants to just add EFI to a stock engine for now. Add an aluminum intake manifold and some headers for some extra pep and he'd have a nice setup to learn how to calibrate a fuel injection system. The 500 cfm should support that with no problem. Might not cost much money either. Just a thought.

 

You can run multiple TB's on those TBI systems, but making it fit would be interesting unless there's a dual quad manifold that could be adapted, 351c maybe? with spacers or custom flanges. Then the thing is how modern is TBI? The last thing it came on was sold in the late 90's? Everything now is plenum fed, tuned length runner, multi port, or direct, injection with active timing control and fuel management. It'd be near impossible to truly "modernize" an engine like this without redesigning the intake/heads/valve-train.

The only other thing i can add is go look at the newer Ford 6.8/7.3 gas engines and see what kinda tech they're using. They are the most modern, V8, pushrod engines Ford has. I doubt any of it is directly applicable, but it might give you some ideas.