Which Engine?
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New User
Joined: Dec 2003
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Which Engine?
I got a 1981 F-150 Ranger 4x4, and I'm planning on fixin up the ol girl. Right now she's got a 351M that's got about 260 hard earned clicks on 'er so I decided first thing that I'll do is throw a new engine in it. This is where I'm out of my league, I dont know which Ford engine would be the best for the project, I want something that's gona be fast on the street, and have the torque needed for a good 4x4. I was thinking of going just a little bit bigger than the 351 and droppin in a 400. Any suggestions would be great.
Junior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Callahan US
I had a 400m in a f250. It ran and ran and ran. Oil pressure is a little low for me but it just kept on running. You can put a carb, cam, headers, dual exhaust, intake manifold and msd ignition on these motors and they run hard and fast. I enjoyed mine. It would be a direct swap with no headaches. That means alot in itself.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2003
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From: Corvallis oregon
the 400 will slip right in. The M series motors are not the best that ford ever made, but to change to a different motor family would be a pain, I've done it. Getting a cam for the 351 would help more then getting a 400, both would be super.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Muskegon, MI (home)
I have done a little research on the M block motors. They have darn near unbeatable reliability, and are not difficult to get power out of if you know what to look for as of power parts. I have a 351M in my 77 it runs very strong, but when (and if) it ever dies it will be replaced with a 400M. I have headers and a 4bbl intake and carb ready to install, should be a nice ride when she's done!
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From: chino valley az
i have 300k+ on my 351m, and it has no oil pressure and keeps runnin and runnin. i decided to build a 460 for it for one main reason, and dont get me wrong i really like the ol modified. the manifold. a 351m-400m will run you darn near an arm and leg. the 460 had a 4bbl and really good exhaust manifolds vs the m. i have never gotten over 11mpg in any m motor. and for that, i would rather have the 10mpg with the 460. but a 460 opens a new can of worms. the only thing that really interchanges is the bellhousing. you really need to get a complete-brackets to manifolds 460. you can reuse your old ac comp, alt, ps pump, but all the brackets will need to be replaced. with the correct year manifolds, the exhaust will bolt up. the stock 460hp or 429 will yeild great torque and hp with out the expense of aftermarket performance parts. sorry ol girl like smokey yunik said theres four c's, compression, camshaft, carb, and cubes.. Kurt ps mine is a 81 f150 ranger 2wd so your in good company
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From: MICHIGAN
JUST FOR THOUGHT WHY DONT U MAKE A 351M STROKER, HOT ROD MAGIZINE DID IT YEARS BACK WITH A FRESHLY TURNED 400 CRANK, .30 OVER AND DECKED BLOCK WITH STOCK HEADS, A NICE CAM, AND AFTERMARKET VALVETRAIN, AND AFTERMARKET INTAKE AND CARB AND THE FINAL ENGINE MADE I THINK 360 HP AND ABOUT 450LBS OF TORQUE AND IT RAN ON EVERYDAY 89 OCTANE PUMP GAS. THEY PAYED ABOUT $1200 TO GET ALL THE WORK DONE BY A DIFFERENT PERSON BUT IF YOU DO IT YOURSELF I BET YOU CAN HAVE WELL LESS THAN A GRAND INTO IT AND YOU WILL HAVE ALL THE TORQUE IN THE WORLD AND ALL THE POWER ON THE STREET THAT YOU WILL EVER NEED
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Muskegon, MI (home)
Originally posted by Scorchenstang
JUST FOR THOUGHT WHY DONT U MAKE A 351M STROKER, HOT ROD MAGIZINE DID IT YEARS BACK WITH A FRESHLY TURNED 400 CRANK, .30 OVER AND DECKED BLOCK WITH STOCK HEADS, A NICE CAM, AND AFTERMARKET VALVETRAIN, AND AFTERMARKET INTAKE AND CARB AND THE FINAL ENGINE MADE I THINK 360 HP AND ABOUT 450LBS OF TORQUE AND IT RAN ON EVERYDAY 89 OCTANE PUMP GAS. THEY PAYED ABOUT $1200 TO GET ALL THE WORK DONE BY A DIFFERENT PERSON BUT IF YOU DO IT YOURSELF I BET YOU CAN HAVE WELL LESS THAN A GRAND INTO IT AND YOU WILL HAVE ALL THE TORQUE IN THE WORLD AND ALL THE POWER ON THE STREET THAT YOU WILL EVER NEED
JUST FOR THOUGHT WHY DONT U MAKE A 351M STROKER, HOT ROD MAGIZINE DID IT YEARS BACK WITH A FRESHLY TURNED 400 CRANK, .30 OVER AND DECKED BLOCK WITH STOCK HEADS, A NICE CAM, AND AFTERMARKET VALVETRAIN, AND AFTERMARKET INTAKE AND CARB AND THE FINAL ENGINE MADE I THINK 360 HP AND ABOUT 450LBS OF TORQUE AND IT RAN ON EVERYDAY 89 OCTANE PUMP GAS. THEY PAYED ABOUT $1200 TO GET ALL THE WORK DONE BY A DIFFERENT PERSON BUT IF YOU DO IT YOURSELF I BET YOU CAN HAVE WELL LESS THAN A GRAND INTO IT AND YOU WILL HAVE ALL THE TORQUE IN THE WORLD AND ALL THE POWER ON THE STREET THAT YOU WILL EVER NEED
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: southeren Oh
a 351m/400m is one of the most detuned engines ford has ever made. cam, intake and carb, and headers will do wonders. it has the clevland sized (2v) heads and valves, it may cost a bit more but if you can get the compression up to about 9 to 9.6 it would make a big difference. same goes for using roller rockers. The 400m in one year had only 173hp. like I said it was detuned it has a lot of potential!!
Jim
Jim
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Joined: Jul 2003
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From: Weston, Nebraska
I've heard on these M engines that for Ford to keep the pollution or something down they retarded the timing by putting the timing chain half a link off and you can buy an aftermarket set of sprokets and chain to pull more ***** out of them. A 400M is basically like a high reving 300, lots of torque plus 2 more cylinders. I beleive they are both 4 in. bore and 4 in. stroke (estimated).
Redneck-Cowboy
Redneck-Cowboy
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From: chino valley az
yes ford put a retard in the timing set. it was one of there" better ideas". any replacement timing set with more than one slot for cam timing will no longer have this set up. but beware you must becareful if running an aftermarket cam and stock timing set. you need to check the cam timing carefully. for example an erson cam has a 4' retard built into it, run the stock 4' retard timing set, and the motor will hardly run, and if it did run you would have very low manifold vacuum. running an aftermrket timing set at 0' will add a whole bunch of hi end horsepower, but loose the bottom end, as you are advancing the cam 4'. yes, the bore and stroke of the 300 and 400 are the same. but the one thing you will miss out on is the long rods found in the 300. the longer the rod is, the longer the piston dwell time at tdc, and a whole lot of torque. that is why the 351w makes more torque than the 350 chevy. its about rod length. watch out for stroker kits in trucks, you are likely to loose a whole lot of low end torque with the short rods. a good ratio of stroke/rod length is 1.5 and higher. so now you know why a cummins 855 will beat up a cat 08 series motor, and why all real diesels are inline sixs and not v8's... Kurt
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