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I have a 1978 bronco with 56 k original miles. Truck is ALL original. which means it's a dog and won't get out of its own way because it's so heavy and the motor makes like 16o hp. I need some more juice. I don't need to pull the front wheels off the ground but I wouldn't mind being able to smoke the rear 32 inch times. So I was thinking a cam (flat tappet or roller) and dual chain timing gear, 4 barrel intake with 600 cam carb. I am not adverse to a set of heads also.
What I do not want to do is pull the motor for a complete stroker.
A good set of afr heads would flow head and shoulders above the stock heads. An RV cam that builds good low rpm, 4 bbl, and headers would help it breath too. The 351m and 400 are hamstrung by low compression and stifled heads, intake, and exhaust. Anything you do to remedy these will show significant improvement. The oiling system leaves a bit to be desired too.
I had a 400 years ago with flat top pistons, RV cam, 4bbl, long tubes and it ran like a raped ape. Better heads would have made a significant improvement. The 400 actually won engine masters years ago...
Stephen
Thanks for the input. I was thinking if I got a "kit". then everything would be matched well. I know there is a lot of discussion out there about the AFR heads and which ones to use. 165, 185 etc. There is also a lot of discussion about the need for custom made push rods for them and guide plates needing hardened rods. To mush guessing for me at my age. I just a bolt on package lol. But then I also am not looking to get 600 hp so hopefully something around 400 hp with a bolt on COMPLETE package would be great.
Also what is a "3 keyway timing chain". That seems to be an important item. I have built tons of chevy and a few Chrysler motors but this 400 ford is new to me.
Stephen
Thanks for the input. I was thinking if I got a "kit". then everything would be matched well. I know there is a lot of discussion out there about the AFR heads and which ones to use. 165, 185 etc. There is also a lot of discussion about the need for custom made push rods for them and guide plates needing hardened rods. To mush guessing for me at my age. I just a bolt on package lol. But then I also am not looking to get 600 hp so hopefully something around 400 hp with a bolt on COMPLETE package would be great.
I think Edelbrock may be the only kit like you're describing, but not sure if they offer one for the 400.
They make 2 different kits. I shared a link to one of them offered by summit. One is with a flat tappet cam one is with a roller cam. They funny thing is if you buy the parts separate its several hundred dollars cheaper then buying them in the kit. The guy at summit even verified it for me. They list the part numbers and links in the descriptions so its easy to find the right ones for comparison.
The factory heads for the 400 are good to maybe 350-375 unported, but most in this range get some light port work.
TFS makes some excellent heads for this application - 400HP easy. I've got a Howards #233215-10 roller camshaft 217/225 and .571"/.576" lift and it's a lot of fun in my 78 Bronco! Probably very close to 400HP with mild porting on the factory heads. It might be just a tad much for slow speed off-roading, but on road it rips! Lol!
Mine was about 98% stock when I purchased it but around 100k miles. I knew from the start it was going to be a resto-mod. That 160HP was going away for sure!
I mixed and matched my 351Measly when I did it for my 77 F250 4x, Weiand intake, Summit 500cfm carb, Comp cams cam, lifters, pushrods, cloye timing set, it's not close to 400hp, but it was a huge improvement, same mileage, but soo much more fun to drive, and it will spin 35's on my asphalt driveway..
I'm getting ready to dig into my 78 Bronco and plan on going the same route but probably a different carb, it also has the NP435 as does my 77 F250, except it has 3.50's compared to 4.10's in the 250, so I'll be sticking with 33's for now.
The factory heads for the 400 are good to maybe 350-375 unported, but most in this range get some light port work.
TFS makes some excellent heads for this application - 400HP easy. I've got a Howards #233215-10 roller camshaft 217/225 and .571"/.576" lift and it's a lot of fun in my 78 Bronco! Probably very close to 400HP with mild porting on the factory heads. It might be just a tad much for slow speed off-roading, but on road it rips! Lol!
Mine was about 98% stock when I purchased it but around 100k miles. I knew from the start it was going to be a resto-mod. That 160HP was going away for sure!
Did you have to use different rocker arms and push rods or did the stock ones work on the stock heads with that cam?
The factory heads for the 400 are good to maybe 350-375 unported, but most in this range get some light port work.
TFS makes some excellent heads for this application - 400HP easy. I've got a Howards #233215-10 roller camshaft 217/225 and .571"/.576" lift and it's a lot of fun in my 78 Bronco! Probably very close to 400HP with mild porting on the factory heads. It might be just a tad much for slow speed off-roading, but on road it rips! Lol!
Mine was about 98% stock when I purchased it but around 100k miles. I knew from the start it was going to be a resto-mod. That 160HP was going away for sure!
I used Howards link-bar lifters that are a different effective length than stock, so needed new pushrods too. I ended up using Scorpion roller ROCKERS. I'm not sure anyone would recommend using stock rocker arms with that much lift. It can probably be done, but service life cut short.
I'm currently using an Edelbrock Performer 400 intake (non-EGR), and an old Holley 670 CFM carburetor (Street Avenger I think).
My Cam is a comp. I think the duration is at 270 something and some astronomical over half an inch lift and it really opened her up but the money is in my distributor and my carburetor. I went with full adjustable metering blocks and I Machine to 750 Holly Way out 850 to 900 CFM almost I think.. what really gets it humming and buzzing is all of the internals that I completely redid to resemble the Cleveland in a Pantera 😎😎
