390 vs 400
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From: ~36 miles S of Pittsburgh
390 vs 400
Here is the dilema. I have a 79F350 Camper Special with a dana 70 rear and a dana 60 front with a 400 currently installed.
The current engine is bad and I am going to replace. I have a perfectly good 390 with plenty of power( I checked the crank and it is a 390) and I also have a low mileage 400. The 400 has 1978 casting numbers on the heads and block. My question is, what would be the better install?
Thanks
flcbell
The current engine is bad and I am going to replace. I have a perfectly good 390 with plenty of power( I checked the crank and it is a 390) and I also have a low mileage 400. The 400 has 1978 casting numbers on the heads and block. My question is, what would be the better install?
Thanks
flcbell
Last edited by Torque1st; Jun 16, 2005 at 06:20 PM.
Infidel
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Elkhorn WI
Im with Torque, you dont have to change anything to put in your other 400...but with the 390 you might run into engine mount, exhaust, tranny-bellhousing problems. And you can do so much more to that 400 to get even more power out of it without breaking ur wallet.
Ide stick with the 400.
Ide stick with the 400.
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From: waco
As much as I dislike the 351M's and 400's, the other guys are right it's going to be the quickest and easiest.
If money or time weren't just a big issue.....never mind, just put the piece of....I mean 400 in.
Doc
If money or time weren't just a big issue.....never mind, just put the piece of....I mean 400 in.
Doc
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Originally Posted by docholiday72tx
John, What kind of mileage do you get out of your 390? I had one in my truck for a while and I got 14 MPG out of it. That's not too bad for a 73 model truck.
Doc
Doc
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From: waco
John,
On my 73, It was a 390, 4 speed with 3.00 gears. I hooked up a Ford Duraspark distributor, with an MSD 6A ignition module. I had headers with 2 1/2" exhaust pipes and Flowmaster 50 series mufflers. I run an edelbrock performer manifold with a stock cam, and holley 600.
Doc
On my 73, It was a 390, 4 speed with 3.00 gears. I hooked up a Ford Duraspark distributor, with an MSD 6A ignition module. I had headers with 2 1/2" exhaust pipes and Flowmaster 50 series mufflers. I run an edelbrock performer manifold with a stock cam, and holley 600.
Doc
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From: winder
the 390 will require different engine mounts, bell housing, PS steering pump mount, ,,, etc,,, the 400 is a good engine however there was an issue with water jacket cracking in the lifter gallery it was a mid seventies issue, look at casting # before investing in rebuild. It was mentioned do a 460, that has my vote, can use same fram perches, use L&L, TD and I think Hooker header makes a conversion maybe only for 4 wheel chassis.
