Must be talking to Chebby gearheads that don't know anything about Fords...

 

This is interesting...

I have seen the 351m/400 as well as the 351m/400m listed.

I was reading a book last night, "how to build a max performance ford v-8 on a budget" that repeatly said 351m/400m lol.

 

There is a surprising amount of literature (probably written by old Chebby guys) that lists the 400M. Unfortunately two (or more) wrongs don't make a right. I remember when that engine first came out and it was just a plain 400. In 1971 that engine was a monster with loads of power and torque. There is all kinds of literature that speculates as to what the "M" means in the 351M. Way back in the dark ages when it first came out the mechanics and parts guys at the local dealership called it a "modified". Many people on the street claimed that it meant Michigan after the foundry like the 351C and 351W. If you look in Ford technical literature nowadays Ford Calls the 351M a "modified". Ford technical literature does NOT list the 400 as a 400M (but there may be a few errors out there that I have not seen). Of course the 400 was a heavily "modified" Cleveland also but it was not listed that way... They should have listed it as a 400C to frighten the Chebby guys.

 

I wish I knew more about the 351m/351c/400...

My buddy just got a 78 bronco with a 351m. How similar is it to the 351c? Whats the difference between the 351m and 400?

 

Check out the 335 series engine forum!

 

Same block, longer stroke for the 400.

Crank and pistons I believe......

 

I;ve got a truck w/ a 351M, and it's freshly rebuilt......runs smooth, but really has to power...I mean w/ the gears and such and the motor, it can tow pretty decent, but overall, I would not suggest this motor for any purpose...Period.....the 400 (not 400M), on the other hand is a good torque monster, but only usefull for a truck, the 351C, is just a race motor....plain and simple.....not as nice as a 427, but second to it most likely......for the mustang, I would go w/ the 302.

 

i was breezing through my"High Performance FORD Engine parts Interchange "book here this morning doin some research for a stroker 351w when i ran across this article on the 400M article on its history..there is no other 400's listed for factory fords(big block or small block) whatsoever & this book is in detail & ACCURATE on all the ford engines..here's the article.....
400M
The 400M was born of the need for lightweight,big block style power.Designed to compete directly with chevrolets 400ci small block of the era,the 400M is a 400 cubic -inch Modified Cleveland block with a .500 inch taller deck,which makes it taller & wider than a 351C.This difference is very subtle on first site,and it can make for a very challenging swap in some applications.It is easy to mistakenly confuse the 400M with a 351C.
This is an example of where close attention to detail is important.
The 400M is a "square" engine with a 4.00 inch bore & a 4.00 inch stroke.Its large 76.9cc combustion chambers yeild a reduced compression ratio for compatibility with deteriorating octane levels of the era.And because this engine was introduced for the the 1972 model year,its cylinder heads have hardened valve seats for use with the unleaded fuels.The 400M replaced the heavy & outdated 390ci"FE" big-block in intermediate & full-sized fords.

so in other words..it is a 400Modified...its a modified cleveland block
Just a quick note..right below this is the 351M..here's the first sentence on it...
The 351M,first introduced for 1975,was nothing more than a destroked 400M,this enabled ford to cut costs by inventorying one block that would be produced in two displacements

 

Well in all honesty i have to say the 302 is a decent motor for a truck and they dont work to bad for most people since 80% of trucks are just grocery getters for people now. As far as im concerned a ford 351 w in the best smallblock ford engine produced my dad had 4 or 5 of them now no complaints. I've had one and it was great and they seem to get good milage make great power everywhere and are very common. You can get a ton of add ons for them.

 

Sorry, aftermarket books are all over the map, it is just a 400 no "M".

 

The 302 would be a nice fit in a mustang. It would also be easy since they were designed for one. The 351M on the other hand is a very good dependable truck motor. One reason is they didn't have enough power to hurt themselves or anything else in your truck. The 351M and the 400 can be built to really scream and it is very easy to make 351M into a 400. They are nearly identical engines. I think you'd be happy with the lighter 302.

 

just thought I'd drop my 2 cents worth in, if you check your FORD RACING parts book you'll find that FORD quotes the 302 as capable of 1200 HP, the 429 capable of 1000 HP,this is with their off the shelf parts......

 

Are you sure those arn't the racing blocks they make?

A stock 302 block comes apart around 500-600 hp.

 

yes that is a racing block , thats why its in the FORD RACING PARTS BOOK,these blocks have reinforcing webs in the lifter galleys and around the mains to handle all that power.

 

I know that the 302 can make a ton of power. Anything CAN. The point is where do you want this power at 9000 rpms? The 1200 horsepower 302 probably makes most of this hp at above 6000; a perfect race motor that sucks for the street.