I thought I would post this because of all the questions asked about the 351m/400. Lots of people want that BB power and drop in a 460.
I picked up my 1977 F250 highboy a year ago with a stock 400 in it and was not happy with the performance at all, it was ok but adding new exhaust and a carb was not going to change much.

I took it to a machine shop and told him what I was looking for and yesterday I got her back. I am glad I decided to stick with the 400, in the end I spent a fraction of the money I would of in a swap and the HP gain is crazy.

My build started with a stock 1977 400 block.
Cylinder bore 4.040
heads 1971 351c 2v w/port work
Badger 9.1 FT pistons
260HE cam with spring kit
Edelbrock dual plane performer intake manifold
Holley 670 street avenger carb
True roller timing
many other parts were reusable from the stock 400
Hedman headers with Edelbrock RPM series mufflers
I did dress it up with some chrome valve covers and air cleaner.

Desk top dyno came back with 360hp and 421FP on torque @4500rpm.
I am sure that may be off a little but not by much. Very happy.
Total build and R&R cost was $2800.00, not bad....

Thank you to the FTE member in Colorado for helping out with the Badger FT pistons when I could not get them.

 

I was thinking doing some of the same things, but about how much did the labor cost? I could handle some of the work and the cost of parts, but if it would cost to much, then I might try to get someone else to install the rest.

-Matt

 

The $2800.00 was an out the door price, They pull the block , build it and put it back. I did have some other costs I paid for. My carb, valve covers, all the belts , oil , headers.


I bought those one at a time and then went shopping for a good deal on the build.

 

Well thanks for the info, I bet its one hell of a engine. By the way what gas milage do you see?
You should post some pics in your gallary, I'd love to see some.

-Matt

 

I did run a full tank through it and I am getting 18 MPG and have not put on the headers yet. Very happy....

 

18.... I get 15 or so out of my 77 F-100 with a 302 with a fresh rebuild. My 400 got 12 once with high way miles and basically no stops. I have not seen that again... 10.

All the better for you,
Matt

 

One thing you can do to increase your performance and mileage is to get rid of that chrome air cleaner and modify the stock system. We have discussed the modifications here and in 73-9 several times. The open air cleaners draw in hot under hood air in the summer and the cause carb icing in the winter. Neither condition is very good for gas mileage or performance. There are GM and Mopar air boxes that fit the aftermarket carbs better than the OEM Ford units and can hold larger air filters also. Just graft the ford airbox snorkel(s) on the off brand boxes so they look right.

 

That is true the cooler the air the better the performance.

That's why they gave me that heat riser to weld into my hedders that goes directly to the filter. To keep it cool!!!

 

Thank you for posting your build spec's. I have a roached out 400 that is burning about a quart of oil a week -- your information just saved me a ton of time & expense.

 

hey yall thats cool.everyone always says that 351/400s are piecies of crap, but i think otherwise?!

 

I have the stock air cleaner sytem, but what could I do to do a search on here, to see the mods to flow the air better through the system,
Thanks,
Matt

 

terrmat, I have heard that time and time again, is bull sh**. They are a great engine, but just got barred with some smog stuff. Get rid of the egr, and the catalitic convertor from your exhaust, cause it's probally cloged a litte, and put a more agressive cam, and you have a great running engine, and for more performance, you can put a new intake manifold, and a 4v carb(at least 600 cfm).

Some say they had retarded timing chains, also bull ___.
They also say all the blocks will crack, guess what bull ___.
I have never seen a 351M 400 cracked block.

They got a bad rap from the low performance, because of the smog items,
Matt

 

mines a 78 all it came with is an egr but no cat. it was a non catlyst. (351 m)

 

you are very lucky terrmat. another option to improving your performance with a catalytic is to remove it and take a piece of strong pipe and ram it down the holes to bust out all the baffles and crap inside them and make it a flow through one, just be sure to do it so the inspection guys cant tell it has been tampered with.

 

im contemplating on wether to build up the 400 I have, or do up a windsor I have avaliable, I want to be in the 300-400 range for both HP and torque.