is 400 a small block?
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best erm would be medium block or mid block, as it is bigger than the 351W by far, but smaller than a 460, as far as size goes, not just cubes. It would be like calling a 352 or 360 a small block, even though it has way more weight than any of the Windsor types.
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I have always heard them referred to as a "mid-block" or big block. But never a small block. The 351m and 400 were a block all their own. So usually they are called a 351m or a "400 ford" and people know what you're talking about. Now a Chevy 400 is a small block.
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Originally Posted by ford390gashog
but a 400 uses a 351m block
But from the transmission bellhousing side, the 400 (and 351M) use the same bolt pattern as the 429/460, not the 302/351W.
Last edited by broncobob; Dec 7, 2005 at 02:55 PM.
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the 351m was actually a cut back 400 that was done in the gas price/emission days. All the manufacturer's were cutting the engines back then. But as far as a small block vs big block then Ford never really used that terminology.
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That's because the terms big block and small block are chevy terms, not ford ones. They get used a lot here when referring to the bellhousing pattern, as there are two main ones (forget the FEs for a minute). The 400 and 351M share the bellhousing patterns with a 460, and they're usually called big blocks. But it doesn't have anything to do with the size of the block. That's why it's not a very good term. The 300, 289, 302, and 351W all use a smaller bellhousing pattern, and are usually called small blocks. Again, nothing to do with the size of the block itself.