New 400 long block?
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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New 400 long block?
Hey all. I'm in the market to buy a new motor for my truck. It is a '79 F-250 with a 351m. I just recently found someone who has a rebuilt 400 long block sitting in his garage. He only wants $400 for it. The motor has never been run but has been sitting there for about 4 years. Now I have a few questions. Is the fact that it was sitting for a while a reason for concern? Also I want this engine to have some power I was thinking of going with an edelbrock intake/carb, headers and a cam. Which brings me to my next question. If the stock cam is in the engine, if I decide to replace it should i replace all the springs and lifters etc..? Lastly what other concerns should I have with the swap? Does the balancer from the 351m work with this motor? I know that all the accessories will bolt up. Anything else will help.Thanks and sorry for the long post.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Rocky Point, North Carol
There is a string completely dedicated to engine swaps under the main forum, if you want to check that out. They have just about everything you did and didn't wanna know in the posts there.
Here it is:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/f...play.php?f=136
-Edit- You have up to an hour to edit your own posts and 10 minutes to edit a title. No need to double post. -Admin
Here it is:
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/f...play.php?f=136
-Edit- You have up to an hour to edit your own posts and 10 minutes to edit a title. No need to double post. -Admin
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Joined: Aug 2002
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Originally Posted by Screamin T/A
Hey all. I'm in the market to buy a new motor for my truck. It is a '79 F-250 with a 351m. I just recently found someone who has a rebuilt 400 long block sitting in his garage. He only wants $400 for it. The motor has never been run but has been sitting there for about 4 years. Now I have a few questions. Is the fact that it was sitting for a while a reason for concern? Also I want this engine to have some power I was thinking of going with an edelbrock intake/carb, headers and a cam. Which brings me to my next question. If the stock cam is in the engine, if I decide to replace it should i replace all the springs and lifters etc..? Lastly what other concerns should I have with the swap? Does the balancer from the 351m work with this motor? I know that all the accessories will bolt up. Anything else will help.Thanks and sorry for the long post.
The price sounds good..did he happen to say who did the rebuild? Have any reciepts? After dealing with people I'm sad to say I don't trust many who say they've done a "complete" rebuild
Has he had the engine covered? Valve covers, etc on the engine? If it's been sitting in a garage for 4 years of course dust, dirt, moisture, etc will most likely have gatered on and in the engine. Also don't for forget mice... it doesn't take them long to put nests everywhere.
If all looks good, you get it, and go with the edlebrock kit I'd change the springs and lifters. Depending on which cam you get the stock springs won't be enuf. The lifters should be ok, if they were new, but at the price of lifters might as well go ahead and change them. Don't be afraid to pull the caps and plastigauge too. Now's the time to find a potental problem.
I belive you can swap the balances...The one is thinner than the other. I know their was a thread on here a while back. Do a search and you should be able to find out.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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I have a lot of the parts you are looking for. I am in tonganoxie, KS. I put a new 400 into my truck in january, put 4000 miles on it, and then got ****ed off and bought a diesel. I put the edelbrock intake and carb on it, as well as a lot of other add ons. I want to put a cummins in this truck now. If you are local, I'll let you drive it around or anything. It drives fine.
Anyway, my entire point in posting was to tell you to check the brand. i bought a recon engine, and could be more happy with it. With some reworking, it could be good, but didn't even have the ***** of the factory engine that I took out.
Anyway, my entire point in posting was to tell you to check the brand. i bought a recon engine, and could be more happy with it. With some reworking, it could be good, but didn't even have the ***** of the factory engine that I took out.
