351 windsor swap
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 418
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351 windsor swap
Hello all,,
Don't flame me just yet,,,,
I am considering swapping out my 400 for a SBF dart. ~400+ CI.. I know conventional wisdom is to go BBF but with cost, engine room space and headers,, I am thinking SB. I prefers to not run fenderwells and been looking into other possibilities,
I run a 406 dart block in may Camaro and with today's heads it makes more power than it needs.
anwhoo,,, any Pro/Con you want to share? the truck is a factory 400, C6 with air, 4wd..
All said,, If i do this,, I will have a 11-1 400 (414) with TF heads for sale. ~5,000 miles maybe
Chris
Don't flame me just yet,,,,
I am considering swapping out my 400 for a SBF dart. ~400+ CI.. I know conventional wisdom is to go BBF but with cost, engine room space and headers,, I am thinking SB. I prefers to not run fenderwells and been looking into other possibilities,
I run a 406 dart block in may Camaro and with today's heads it makes more power than it needs.
anwhoo,,, any Pro/Con you want to share? the truck is a factory 400, C6 with air, 4wd..
All said,, If i do this,, I will have a 11-1 400 (414) with TF heads for sale. ~5,000 miles maybe
Chris
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,738
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From: Northern VA
Maybe I'm just overly practical, but I have a soft spot for the small blocks. They make enough power for any job you'd need except race. I towed an 11,000 pound backhoe through the mountains with a stock 351w roller with maybe 210 hp on a good day. A healthy 351w should be fine without wasting gas. It would be my first choice if I didn't already have an FE. Practical as I am, I'd keep the the 400 unless its on the way out.
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 418
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Maybe I'm just overly practical, but I have a soft spot for the small blocks. They make enough power for any job you'd need except race. I towed an 11,000 pound backhoe through the mountains with a stock 351w roller with maybe 210 hp on a good day. A healthy 351w should be fine without wasting gas. It would be my first choice if I didn't already have an FE. Practical as I am, I'd keep the the 400 unless its on the way out.
Looking around,, I do not see much SBF for a 78 4wd??? Advice?
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 2,738
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From: Northern VA
Don't think it was factory unless you include a 300 six, which IIRC uses small block bellhousing and maybe the mounts too. You should be able to find original 2wd SBF frame mounts anyways. If you are lucky, that's all thats about needed. If not you are looking at custom driveshafts and a Y pipe at the very least. If its an auto, you need a whole 4x4 trans.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,172
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From: Burbank, WA
Welcome to the wacky world of Ford bellhousings. The 351W and 400 use different bellhousing bolt patterns. The small block 302/351W use one size (also shared by the 300-6), the 351M/400/429/460 share one, and FE 360/390 is different from both of them. So to swap away from the 351M/400 or 460, you'll need to change transmissions, and possibly transfer cases, too. It could get expensive and involved.
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Tuned
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Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2016
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From: Northern VA
So you're stuck with the 385 series engines, I wouldn't swap for a 351M unless you find a smoking deal on a built one. So that leaves the 400, car 429, and 460 as your options. If you want to get weird, there are some 427 and 429 heavy truck engines that should bolt up, but they are low-compression industrial engines, not really worth it unless you trip over a really nice one for a low price. All said, I have in-frame headers on a 390 FE big block on a Highboy which is a bigger engine footprint on a narrow 33.5" frame, so you should be fine if you pick the right set and route your exhaust thoughtfully.
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2013
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Oh boy, welcome to Ford. You Chevy guys sure are a little spoiled. Ford stuff is seemly all different. They also liked to change wiring and various other things yearly. You'll have to really figure out exactly what you have and what parts work with what. Still worth it after all, because it ain't a GM product!
So you're stuck with the 385 series engines, I wouldn't swap for a 351M unless you find a smoking deal on a built one. So that leaves the 400, car 429, and 460 as your options. If you want to get weird, there are some 427 and 429 heavy truck engines that should bolt up, but they are low-compression industrial engines, not really worth it unless you trip over a really nice one for a low price. All said, I have in-frame headers on a 390 FE big block on a Highboy which is a bigger engine footprint on a narrow 33.5" frame, so you should be fine if you pick the right set and route your exhaust thoughtfully.
So you're stuck with the 385 series engines, I wouldn't swap for a 351M unless you find a smoking deal on a built one. So that leaves the 400, car 429, and 460 as your options. If you want to get weird, there are some 427 and 429 heavy truck engines that should bolt up, but they are low-compression industrial engines, not really worth it unless you trip over a really nice one for a low price. All said, I have in-frame headers on a 390 FE big block on a Highboy which is a bigger engine footprint on a narrow 33.5" frame, so you should be fine if you pick the right set and route your exhaust thoughtfully.
my only issue with the 400 is a little detonation when i try to go ~16 TDC,,, I max at 30.. I might limit it to 10.. The cam is 585/235@.050
I bought TMyer pistons and during Covid the only heads were 65CC.. The Tmyer piston,, is a little better suited for OC heads. When building a motor,, I generally like to use a true flat top and put the CCs in the head CC for desired compression..
The motor runs great,, strong,,, I am just a redneck and can not leave it alone..
Chris
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2016
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From: Northern VA
You're in good company, then. Do you have an EGR ready manifold? You can run more timing and reduce ping with an EGR valve since it cools upper cylinder temps. They aren't the devil they're often made out to be.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,172
Likes: 4,772
From: Burbank, WA
A little leaded 100/130 and you were ready to go racing. 
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