Hello all,
I have a 1977 F150 4x4 with 351M and 4 speed manual transmission (1st gear is granny gear).
This was my Dad's truck since 1987 and I've had it for about 4 years now. Runs and drives, but I'm still working on making it nicer. I've improved some of the interior and fixed a bunch of minor issues that were pretty easy.
I'm no mechanic, but pretty handy with tools and instructions.
So....
the 351M is stock. I want to supe it up. I don't need it to be a race truck or anything like that. I just want it to be a little peppier than it is now and in the process replace a bunch of old parts with new.
Having said that.....I've read and read and read over the years and to be honest I still don't know where to start.
My thoughts are: new heads, new cam, new timing chain, new intake and new 4bbl carb.
From everything I've read this seems to be a good combination of upgrades that would achieve what I'm after.

I'd value any thoughts and opinions. And...I'd very much appreciate specific brand/item recommendations.

Thanks so much.

 

personally since it's a 77 and you made no word of if it's ever been out, i would start with yanking it, refresh the bottom end, main & ,rod bearings rings inspect the cam bearings, replace if needed, before i dropped heads ,cam and 4 v intake on it,
i just finished a 66 289 k code motor and was shocked at how badly pitted the bearings were, not so much wear ,but acidic like pitting, a few stuck rings , sloppy cam chain , might cost you a few hundred more but it will leave you with some strong peace of mind

 

How many miles on the truck? You should of course run a compression test on it, assess the condition of ignition like plugs, wires, cap, rotor, timing. My '77 is a F150 4x4 Auto. I will say a Edelbrock Performer 400 intake (fits 351M too), a Holley list 1850 4 bbl 600 cfm carburetor, "Torque type" Crane cam, and a quick advance kit in the distributor helped my 351M back in the late 1980s. It has dual exhaust with "turbo" type mufflers. I've been happy enough with it to leave that 400 on my engine stand, and I have never lusted after a 429 or 460.
In 1992 at 75,000 miles I had to replace main and con rod bearings, and I did it again this year as an "exploratory exercise", here now 35,000 miles later (I did it without pulling the engine). My stock timing set was not the retarded one because it's a truck (not a car) ... but I'd replace it if going in. Here at 110,000 miles it uses NO oil.

351M/400 bearing "roll in" job plan. - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums (ford-trucks.com)

 

personally i have found street run fords to love dual plain intakes , engine masters proved it in a show they did not long back, TRUE you don't have pull the motor to do a bottom end job, rings and bearings but if those cam bearings are shot, than it becomes a must, that's the only reason i stated to pull it. no way will you get the back cam out and replace it and the plug in frame..