1st post here after lurking for several months.

Just picked up a 77 F150 Supercab longbed Custom last night for $1200. I couldn't stand driving my Pathfinder anymore. No rust to be found, all the trim is straight. Only ding is a crunch in front of the right rear wheel that any body guy should have no problems with. Original paint just needs a hit of compound and wax to shine (tried that first thing).

Motor is a 400M/2BBL, didn't have any oil on the dipstick and the starter is bad. At this point I'm not sure if it's going to be any good or not....but for the price and condition of the rest of the truck it was still worth it. If it's no good I'll probably find a Windsor to drop in.

If I'm right won't the C6 bolt up to the windsor?

Definitely fun to be back in a Ford. My car history is full of 'em...

1st car- 1966 Fairlane 4spd w/ a 351C - blew up 3 wks after I turned 16. Only to return after a full rebuild. Just turned a 12.74 @ 108.18 2 weeks ago.
2nd - 1976 F100 Custom w/ 302 - Drove all through Highschool.
3rd - 1982 F250 w/ 351W - Still out at Dad's, still running.
4th - 1994 F150 - My college truck
5th - 2001 F150 XLT - Ooooh nice, 5.4L, tons of options, tons of payments,
6th - ughh 1995 Nissan Pathfinder - traded the truck to my folks for it, cheap, but not a pickup.

The fiance isn't totally convinced, but give me the extra $4000 after I sell the Pathfinder and I should have it looking, driving, sounding right with money left over. I'll try and figure out how to post some pics today.

Mion
Norman, OK

 

If your changing out motors, why not go all the way and put a 460 in it(the 400 C/6 bellhousing is the same) . You wont be disappointed, tell sweetie its just a 302 with big valve covers

 

This is going to be my daily driver and I don't think it would be very practical or economical to tow around Shell station.

 

It'll fit, but The Windsor's a small block. Bellhousing is different- so are mounts.

Bill......

 

KTM,
The small block C6 will fit a windsor. The 400 is a big block bolt pattern.
The 400 is a good motor and makes plenty of power. I'd keep it, if I were you.
Some hints:
1. Pull your plugs and squirt some automatic tranny fluid in the cylinders. Let it set for a few days.
2. Change your oil and filter
3. Replace your starter, solenoid, cables, and get a big battery. I purchased a 1000 CCA battery for $69.99. It will make your warm starts much easier.
Turn the motor over with no plugs, at first. This should get some oil pumping through the motor without loading the bearings.
Good Luck,
KingFisher

 

My rule of thumb anymore with motors is pretty simple: Better to have the power and not need it than not have it when you do need it. If at all possible stick with the 400. Strong truck motor that isn't terrible on gas. After having a few 351s in trucks in the past,,,, Never Again. Unless you plan to race it, lol. Even to rebuild that 400 would cost less than finding a 351W and changing your C-6 out for the smaller bellhousing pattern (they aren't separate, need to change the whole transmission). Not to mention any work that the 351W might need also. But anyway,,, Great Find! Welcome to the Supercab family

 

Thanks. After thinking about it some more today. I'm thinking that if this 400 will run tonight, I'll be happy with it.

If I need another motor I'll find a 351M to rebuild and swap right over without jacking with trannys, mounts, accessories,....... Good buddy's dad run's a engine shop on the side, so I should be able to get a nice, stock type motor for 1000 or 1500. I really don't plan on hot rodding this truck at all, that's why I have the Fairlane.

This truck will have window tint, a nice stereo, cold air, nice modern seats, tool box, and reliability.

EDIT:

Just got the pics uploaded to my gallery. Take a look

 

the only difference between the 351M and 400 (not 400M) is the balancer, crank, pistons, and fly wheel.

 

the truck looks very nice and it's was a good buy, in my area at least.
oh and leave the bumper guards on, they have saved my bumper and fenders from damage a few times.

 

Great looking truck! Very similar to the 76 supercab I just picked up last month. Nice interior too. Mine has the jump seats, wish it had the rear bench.

 

Congrats on your find, just hope you dont have the same ignition probs I'm having with mine. Good luck!

 

Well, I dug into it last night and the motor is locked up TIGHT. I pulled the radiator and fan, put big cheater bar on there and never got a wiggle out of the crank.

After that I just started pulling it apart so I can get it yanked out and rebuilt/replaced. Now to decide if I want to go back with a 351M or a 400?

Good news is the thing is still holding Freon. So if I'm careful I'll have AC when I get it back together.

 

Just wanted to say that I am going to show my better half(her words not mine) the pics of your truck. I have a 77 F250 supercab also that I picked up last fall for 2600. Now that I have it all ripped apart she is like what is this thing it doesn't look like the same thing that you bought. Can't wait until mine looks like that again.

RJK

 

Pulled the engine and tranny Thursday night, broke it apart today. Only had about half a coke can worth of oil and a connecting rod cap laying in the pan!! One rod flipped up and broke the cam in two. That definitely explains why it won't turn over! Looking at it, I don't see any major block damage, we'll see.

On a better note, I took some rubbing compound and chrome polish to the right front corner and passenger door. The thing shined right up and looks good. I think I'll be running in about two weeks with a fresh motor and tranny. While I was under there I noticed it had two 2.5" flowmasters and a 2.75 ratio in the 9". Does anyone else have one this high? What's it like on the highway? The gearing calculator I used put it at something like 75mph at 2000 rpms, but I'm assuming there will be some slippage with the auto.

 

ok....Ill toss in my 2 cents ....go with a 460...you'll need frame and motor mounts plus exhaust manifolds. Ive owned about every configuation of ford know to man...the truck is going to get anywhere from 10-12 mph mo matter what you run. the rear end gear of 3.54 or 3.73 would be best ..if you have a 4.10...your gonna go 10 ...with a 300 6 cyl or a 460...the 400 is a pig...I know i may get hammered but of the dozen or so i have owned if I kept the vehicle long enough I put in 460's the gas mileage between the two engine is so nominal that you will NEVER know the difference. The only time your will notice is when you step on the pedal and the truck gives you a push into the seat as the 460 opens up...with a 400 all you will get is a lot of noise and more times than not worse mileage under power then the 460. I could say trust me but ask around most all real die hard fords guy use 400's for anchors...the 460 will not let you down and you will not pay anymore at the pump. Typically from my experience the smallblock trucks got about 12-15 depending on how your drive....and the big block trucks 10-13. the thing is when you load down a smallblock truck the mileage drops off the earth and you get worse than with the 460....Im smiling hopin i made another 460 lover out there..