horsepower
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Freshman User
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From: pa
horsepower
how much power do u think is possible to ge out of a 78 400, if i rebuild the heads and valves, edelbroke intake mainfold, and a holley four barrel 650 or 750, basically just the top end, or any other suggestions... i wanna make this truck have a lil *****. thanks
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Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2003
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From: pa
*****
how much power do u think is possible to ge out of a 78 400, if i rebuild the heads and valves, edelbroke intake mainfold, and a Holley four barrel 650 or 750, basically just the top end, or any other suggestions... i wanna make this truck have a lil *****. thanks
almost forgot what would be a good nasty cam?
almost forgot what would be a good nasty cam?
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Joined: Jul 2004
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From: I live in Morgantown, WV
Just my two cents, but I have about 450 according to the dyno, and just for you boys that have your doubts about desktop dyno, it was within 6 horsepower, it said I would have 440hp, and I have 446hp. So dont knock it, it gives you a good baseline, plus lets you play with different options and specs. I have a pic in my gallery of the engine, edelbrock top end, bored 40 over, only thing that cost alot was the stroker kit. I have a pete jackson gear drive, heads all machined and valves are 3 angled. Im happy with it. I would be happy to answer any questions about parts or part numbers if you have any.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,270
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From: Delaware
How old is your motor. If it is high mileage, then you should do a full rebuild before trying to pep it up. If it is a recently rebuilt motor, then you can get away with just heads etc., but the compression ratio will still be low. Ideally you want to change pistons to increase your CR. You could also change heads and keep your stock pistons.
You can get 300 HP, or 400 HP, or more, depending on your needs and budget.
A big cam and carb will also need headers. These will also reduce the low end torque, so you have to decide what you want to give up. If you use your truck for towing or hauling a load, you have to back off on your HP requirements.
Read some of the threads on this forum, there are many recipies for improving the performance of the 400. When you have a good idea about what you want let us know and the community here will help you tune it.
You can get 300 HP, or 400 HP, or more, depending on your needs and budget.
A big cam and carb will also need headers. These will also reduce the low end torque, so you have to decide what you want to give up. If you use your truck for towing or hauling a load, you have to back off on your HP requirements.
Read some of the threads on this forum, there are many recipies for improving the performance of the 400. When you have a good idea about what you want let us know and the community here will help you tune it.
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Freshman User
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From: pa
it has about 140,000 miles on it, and according to some ppl i tlked to, they said my bottom end is still really strong
how much money do u have into the modification of the engine to hae it putting out 440?
how much money do u have into the modification of the engine to hae it putting out 440?
Last edited by 1978fordf250351m; Sep 10, 2004 at 02:09 PM.
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Junior User
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From: I live in Morgantown, WV
Ive got about $1000 in machine work, about $3000 in parts, plus about another $1000 in odds and ends, such as gaskets, dyno, dressed up valve covers and aircleaner, engine paint, flux and dip. I have reciepts, like I said, if you want any info on parts, let me know. I cant give part numbers and ideas, its up to you to find a machine shop. You should definetly get the block dipped and fluxed before you go building it up though, you know the old saying, cant polish a terd, if your blocks cracked, all the HP in the world wont fix it.
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From: I live in Morgantown, WV
I run a 434 stroker I bought from www.strokerkits.com, It came as a package deal, for 1449.00. You can view all the stats at the site. I have an edelbrock performer package top end, all crane valve train, dual springs, over sized valves. Meling oil pump, Miloden pickup and pan. Miloden aluminum water pump, flex fan, ford racing valve covers, and edelbrock air cleaner, cylinders bored .040 over. Mallory unilite distibutor and coil. Ford Racing 9mm wires, port polish and 3 angle. Felpro race gaskets, SS bolt kit, Ford Racing Gear Drive. You can see it in my gallery.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 4,270
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From: Delaware
The 351M/400 stroker kit includes pistons which give a 9.5:1 CR. That must be a 351M CH piston. With a 58cc Aussie head, you will have a Static Compression Ratio of 11.5:1. Your cam should have an IVC of not less than 75 degrees ABDC in order to avoid detonation on pump fuel.
What cam did you use?
What cam did you use?
Last edited by danlee; Sep 12, 2004 at 07:47 AM.
Junior User
Joined: Jul 2004
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From: I live in Morgantown, WV
I used the Crane energizer 278 adv.duration. You have my attention though, is my engine safe from detonation? I was never told this at the machine shop. So if I need to do something I would rather do it now, than after it blows a cylinder or fries a head.
Senior User
Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Indiana
You can get 400 horse out of a 400 but you have to be willing to spend some money.No sense in doing a half <!a@$>job.I got 422 horse out of my 400 with a 750cfm carb on it and 443 with an 850cfm carb on it.While the 850 made more horse it wasn't praticle for a street driven engine.All my number's are actual figures from a real dyno,but the desk top number's aren't that far off.
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From: Indiana
I used the head's that came with the motor.I gasket matched the intake and exhaust port's and polished the exhaust port's for optimum flow,I also had the bowl's blended and the combustion chamber's smoothed,I had a competition valve job done as well,I also gasket matched the intake too.I could of done more to the head's but I will eventually go with the CHI head's.I have Clevland full floating piston's installed with the small end's offset bushed to raise the piston's further up in the cylinder.This gives me 10.1 to 1 compression.I can still shave my head's and 0 deck my block for more compression.The cam is a Crower.I run Torco 100 octane gas.I could of gotten away with 93 octane but I would have had to retard the timing too much and there was a noticeable difference in performance.I figure why go through all the trouble to build a good motor if your going to tame it down to try and run pump gas.