I'm sorry if this has been covered before, but I am looking to do this swap sometime in the future. I have a '79 Bronco with a strong, rebuilt 400 clevland in it, edelbrock cam, intake, holley 4bbl, MSD, headers, etc. I also have a, '84 F-150 with a 300, bored .30 over, offie intake with holley 4bbl and duraspark conversion. I am looking to eventually put the 400 into the pickup and my main question is if the tranny and driveline would hold up on the pickup. The tranny is a manual, 4 speed with a granny (not sure the numbers on it or what type it actually is, if anyone could give me a hint, i would really appreciate it), transfer case is a NP208 (chain driven), with a 8.8" rear. Would the tranny/t-case combo be able to hold up to the 400? or is it worth the trouble to try to convert the pickup to an automagic so i can use the bronco's C-6? Any ideas, thoughts you guys have, i'd really apreciate, thanks!
Eric

 

The 400 is not a Cleveland engine, that was reserved for the 351. The 400 uses the big block bell housing pattern and will not bolt to your I6 tranny. Find a 85 with the 351M/400 4-speed combo and use it to pull parts from, including the trans/driveline and mounting hardware.

--Mike

 

Actually, the 400 from a '79 IS a clevland, it is the same as a 351 Modified, which is a clevland block, only differance is a longer stroke on the crankshaft, at least i beleive that this is the case, i am sure there are people here who would know for sure, but, i am 99%
Eric

 

Just some additional information for you on this... The Cleveland is a 351 and does share the block characteristics with the 351M/400 EXCEPT for the bellhousing patterns, which it has a small block pattern shared with the 289/302/351W. The 351M/400 have big block bell housing patterns and share those with the 429/460's. I believe however you will find you have a 400 that can be labeled a "M" if you desire, but that usually is only associated with the 351 to distingush the family (W, C or M). That said, if you do in fact have a Cleveland in there, then your tranny and such will bolt up.

Just a few $.01, --Mike

 

Actually the the 351M and 400 (not counting a few 1973 400 blocks)have the 385 series 429/460 bellhousing pattern, not the "big block" pattern that the 352/360/390/410/428 have.


the granny 4 spd is propbably a np435, T18 or T19, all of them are fine for a 400

NP208 is better than most people think. They hold up to abuse well. most of their failures are because of lack of lubrication, not breaking from torque.
They also have a REALLY LOW low gear

The 8.8 will definatly break behind a 400. I've broken them behind a 302 with a 2bbl and a automatic.

 

You guys kill me....

Your tranny will hold up just fine, you will need a 351M/400 Bellhousing, they are different than the 429/460 bellhousing. I'm fairly certain that your NP208 will hold up. The only case I've built is an NP205. Your 8.8 will hold up just fine as well.

You will need exhaust manifolds/headers for a 400, I know Doug Thorley makes them. you might need motor mounts/towers for a 80-82 F150 with the 351M/400. The ones in your bronco will work, but you might have to drill/weld a little.