new guy needs help with 400
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New User
Joined: Jan 2005
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new guy needs help with 400
Hey guys , I have a question about my 400. I want to swap out the two barrel and cam on my my 400 for a little extra punch. Just wondering what would work well together. The engine is in a 78 f150 4x4. I thought a good dual plane manifold like an edelbrock performer but im lost on the cam. Also who makes headers that will fit good? Thanx for any info.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2004
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Originally Posted by benny700
The engine is in a 78 f150 4x4.
New User
Joined: Feb 2005
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Options?
I had a 78 f150 4x4 4spd 3.73 gears that I built by milling the heads to get the compression up , running a performer 400, 600 holley . The cam I chose was a mild hydraulic Crane cam 216 @0.50 524 lift.The lack of overlap kept the cylinder pressure up,because of the 9.5 compression. The truck sounded good and reved to about 5500rpm . Drove it every day with 36in tall tires.
John
John
Cargo Master
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,232
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From: NE Texas
I'm sorry, I didn't catch that your truck was a '78 F150 4X4. I also have this exact same truck. BTW, milling the heads alone will only raise the compression to about 8.3 or 8.4 at best.
I also have an Edelbrock Performer and Holley 600 that I built from several junk Hollies. My cam is only an RV cam with 205 at .050 intake and 216 at .050 exhaust. The engine does okay, but I know that it would be drastically improved with more compression. Read some of the other threads here about raising compression.
Good luck,
Doc
I also have an Edelbrock Performer and Holley 600 that I built from several junk Hollies. My cam is only an RV cam with 205 at .050 intake and 216 at .050 exhaust. The engine does okay, but I know that it would be drastically improved with more compression. Read some of the other threads here about raising compression.
Good luck,
Doc
More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 521
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From: Alexandria, Ohio
I can't remember what Crane cam I used, need to find that card, but it was the basic equivalent of a Performer cam with more lift and less overlap. I used a 625 Carter (Edelbrock now)w/mechanical secondaries.
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Elder User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 867
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From: Eastern Pa
I have a 79 with a 400 and as stated there are quite a few headers that are ok. I have the Dynomax ones cause they were the least expensive and they fit fine. I have the same trans and gears as you but I did some other work as well. I'm running the Crane 941 and I love it but with compression under 8.75:1 it would be too much. I would use one of the Powermax cams as they have the dual profile that helps maintain the bottome end while allowing you to get a little more breathing up top as well. Comp also makes dual pattern cams but I con;t have any experience with them. What ever you do be sure to change the timing set to a good one that you can set straight up at zero.
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Senior User
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 236
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From: Southwest Montana
Here is a link. See what bubba has to say. Its a good cleveland / 351m/400 info site
http://home.earthlink.net/~bubbaf250/index.html
I have the same truck & its getting a new motor this week.
Ken
http://home.earthlink.net/~bubbaf250/index.html
I have the same truck & its getting a new motor this week.
Ken
