Worst Ford Engine Ever Made?
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,292
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From: NJ where fun comes to die
Ruckus, you could be right. I really have no idea. Maybe it was from the same block as the 390. I think it did have a pretty good HP and torque when I read the info from carfolio. So maybe it was the interceptor.
I also have to agree on the 3.8. My son had one for about a year. Bought it used, and had so many problems he traded it in. When he traded it, we had to tow it to about a block before the dealer and then drive it in. It wouldn't run for more than 10 minutes or so. Had about 97K on it.
I also have to agree on the 3.8. My son had one for about a year. Bought it used, and had so many problems he traded it in. When he traded it, we had to tow it to about a block before the dealer and then drive it in. It wouldn't run for more than 10 minutes or so. Had about 97K on it.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,109
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From: Thornton, Colorado
I would argue for the 200 6 cylinder series. Four mains in an I-6 is just a bad idea. I blew one going to Ft Bragg from Colorado, and one coming back eight months later. The engine could not take cross country driving.
Broomfieldbum
Broomfieldbum
Elder User
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Close to Mr. Anderson
Originally Posted by ARMORER
400M. What a slug. At least in my 78 lincoln it was. The 302 in my 78 LTD was also anemic.
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2004
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Worst Ford engine?
Without a doubt it was the 351 VV (variable venturi) from 1980! What a PIG!
My dad had one brand new, and it constantly stalled and coughed back through the carb. SLOW as january molassis (especially compared to his previous LTD with 400M) and the milage was mediocre at best.
This thing was so bad he actually went over to Chevy for about 6 years before coming back to Fords! Ugh...
429's, regular 351's, 351/400M, all fine as frog hair, but the 351 VV?...YUK!
-Doug
Without a doubt it was the 351 VV (variable venturi) from 1980! What a PIG!
My dad had one brand new, and it constantly stalled and coughed back through the carb. SLOW as january molassis (especially compared to his previous LTD with 400M) and the milage was mediocre at best.
This thing was so bad he actually went over to Chevy for about 6 years before coming back to Fords! Ugh...
429's, regular 351's, 351/400M, all fine as frog hair, but the 351 VV?...YUK!
-Doug
Junior User
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 68
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Carb and manifold..it had a goofy intake design too.
ugh..I still remember that thing coughing back through the carb and making the aircleaner "ring".
I took it out on the highway when it had about 2k miles on it and just stood on it to see if it would go. It took a LONG time to get that needle to 80.
-Doug
ugh..I still remember that thing coughing back through the carb and making the aircleaner "ring".
I took it out on the highway when it had about 2k miles on it and just stood on it to see if it would go. It took a LONG time to get that needle to 80.
-Doug
Elder User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 602
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I don't have a opinion on this motor but didn't see it in the thread. The 292 v8. My buddy had one in a 64' (?) dually. I thought it was a wierd motor because the drivers exhaust manifold exited in front of the motor then dumped into the front of the passenger manifold. Then it was a single pipe off the back of the passenger side.
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Elder User
Joined: Nov 2002
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From: Close to Mr. Anderson
Originally Posted by DouglasR
Carb and manifold..it had a goofy intake design too.
ugh..I still remember that thing coughing back through the carb and making the aircleaner "ring".
I took it out on the highway when it had about 2k miles on it and just stood on it to see if it would go. It took a LONG time to get that needle to 80.
-Doug
ugh..I still remember that thing coughing back through the carb and making the aircleaner "ring".
I took it out on the highway when it had about 2k miles on it and just stood on it to see if it would go. It took a LONG time to get that needle to 80.
-Doug
and replaced it with a Genuine 2-bbl 500 cfm motorcraft. no problems after that!
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,226
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I have to agree with ARMORER that 400 was a slug, good name for it (the slug) run ok but no power and the gas gage went down faster than the speedo could go up, mine had 100,000 miles and it was done, those M motors had a weak bottom end, correct me if I'm wrong, but was the 351 & 400 the identical motor other than the stroke
More Turbo
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 510
Likes: 4
My little brother had a 79 Mustang with a 2.8 and got good service well over 100k when he soldit.I had an 89 Ranger that I bought new with the 2.9 and sold it after putting well over 100k on it without a problem.The last time I saw the old Ranger,the owner said it was at 270k and had only done routine oil changes and tune up.The 255 from the early 80s' however was a REAL TURD,my brother worked for a Ford dealer back then and the 255 not only was low on power,they weren't reliable engines.
Tuned
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 479
Likes: 12
From: Louisiana
Originally Posted by Ruckus
Ford had so many head gasket problems with the 3.8 V6 I feel they should have had a recall or at least repaired all under 100,000 miles with problems.I know my 92 Continental with the 3.8 had the head gasket blow around 92,000 miles.
