400 rings
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Junior User
Joined: Oct 2003
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400 rings
I have a 400 out of a 1971 LTD that burns a little oil but runs great. I am having a hard time finding a good set of rings for it. Are 351 C rings interchangable? I am looking to build up this engine and this is the last piece that I need before I order my parts. Thanks for your help. 
Hotshot
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 18,423
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From: iowa
yes they are interchangeable, just make sure they are the same thickness, if you are dealing with a stock 400 then any small block ford stock rings will work (all small block fords have 4in dia bores they get the different CI in stroke differences)
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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If I understand this correctly you are just wanting to re-ring the engine.
Get a cheap set of cast iron rings for a fast break in. Use a ridge reamer and hone the cylinders with a ball hone just a little to break the glaze on the walls. You will not get all of the scratches out and you may end up with some piston slap if you go overboard with the hone. Make sure you put a new timing chain set in.
The best thing to do is rebuild the engine rather than just put rings in.
If it smokes at idle or on deceleration it may only need valve seals. Make sure you put a new timing chain set in.
The good thing is that the 1971 engine was the best 400 engine ever made. If you ned to rebuild it, all the parts are now available.
Get a cheap set of cast iron rings for a fast break in. Use a ridge reamer and hone the cylinders with a ball hone just a little to break the glaze on the walls. You will not get all of the scratches out and you may end up with some piston slap if you go overboard with the hone. Make sure you put a new timing chain set in.
The best thing to do is rebuild the engine rather than just put rings in.
If it smokes at idle or on deceleration it may only need valve seals. Make sure you put a new timing chain set in.
The good thing is that the 1971 engine was the best 400 engine ever made. If you ned to rebuild it, all the parts are now available.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
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From: houston
With an engine that is over 30yrs old, it probably has a lot of miles on it. Any rebuild on an engine with high miles should include boring the cylinders. The reason is they are no longer round and straight. And just honeing won't fix that. Then when you buy the new pistons you get the correct rings. Good luck.
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Junior User
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Actually the engine only has 98000 miles on it. It only smokes when it first starts up so I firugred it was the valve seals. Once it is warm there isn't a problem. I planned on doing a complete rebuild anyways with all the usual performance goodies. So would I be crazy to figure 450 HP with an Edelbrock 4V intake, 750 Holley, long tube headers, roller rockers and lifters, and a Crane Cam with 226*/228*
duration and .528/.526 lift? I plan on using a 2400 RPM stal converter with a 3.89 posi in the LTD to make it a full size sleeper. Who would ever suspect that?
duration and .528/.526 lift? I plan on using a 2400 RPM stal converter with a 3.89 posi in the LTD to make it a full size sleeper. Who would ever suspect that?
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broford1
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
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Jul 31, 2011 11:21 PM
