STGs Minions general purpose thread
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
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Okay, so it looks like this year p4 and I are going to do our first engine build.
The 400 in my truck is falling to pieces, so I'm buying the 351 in the parts truck he just bought as long as compression checks and everything looks good, and building it up.
It's going to be a mild build, no huge workover or anything, we don't really have the tools/skills for that.
Are the cleveland heads worth it? I plan on putting in a 400 crank/pistons, and he already has a set of rebuilt/polished M heads from the same truck that i might buy off of him too.
Any other general tips/help is appreciated, it'll pretty much be the biggest accomplishment of my shadetree mechanic career if I can get it together.
edit: also, I know some people think the 351m/400 is worthless, but I can get the motor itself for like 50 bucks, and anything that makes big power means I would end up having to do all the driveline upgrades as soon as I put it in, and I don't have the money, or really care to have some fire-breathing monster under the hood. As long as I can get over what i need to and it holds together, I'm fine, really.
The 400 in my truck is falling to pieces, so I'm buying the 351 in the parts truck he just bought as long as compression checks and everything looks good, and building it up.
It's going to be a mild build, no huge workover or anything, we don't really have the tools/skills for that.
Are the cleveland heads worth it? I plan on putting in a 400 crank/pistons, and he already has a set of rebuilt/polished M heads from the same truck that i might buy off of him too.
Any other general tips/help is appreciated, it'll pretty much be the biggest accomplishment of my shadetree mechanic career if I can get it together.
edit: also, I know some people think the 351m/400 is worthless, but I can get the motor itself for like 50 bucks, and anything that makes big power means I would end up having to do all the driveline upgrades as soon as I put it in, and I don't have the money, or really care to have some fire-breathing monster under the hood. As long as I can get over what i need to and it holds together, I'm fine, really.
Last edited by Dubzilla; Feb 17, 2008 at 12:47 AM.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 5,121
Likes: 1
From: Springfield, VA
By 351 I'm assuming Cleveland, right? If that's the case, yeah the Cleveland heads are a good place to start. I'd get them rebuilt and a good port/polish job never hurt anything. But to be honest, by the timeand $$ you guys spent trying to build the 351, you can get a good 460 long block for equal or less. That cleveland motor is good to have, don't get me wrong, but it's not all that common of a motor, so parts are going to be more expensive.
Oh, and if you and P4 need some weldng tips, tell him to bring that new toy down to VA and between that machine and mine I can get this Ranger frame all welded up ready for the body in no time!!
Scratch most of that, I forgot about the 351M!!! Run the 400 parts and call it done. but still the same goes for the 460 swap!!
Oh, and if you and P4 need some weldng tips, tell him to bring that new toy down to VA and between that machine and mine I can get this Ranger frame all welded up ready for the body in no time!!
Scratch most of that, I forgot about the 351M!!! Run the 400 parts and call it done. but still the same goes for the 460 swap!!
Last edited by kjett; Feb 17, 2008 at 12:55 AM.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
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It's an M, actually. The 460 is a lot heavier, no? and honestly, I don't really feel like having something that i can easily break my parts with, because real upgrades are few and far between.
It's already a running motor, I just want to go through it, upgrade a little, and make sure it'll last me til i have time/money to upgrade.
We don't have much time, the only day P4 has is sunday every week, and sometimes not even. getting our rigs ready for an april FSB meet at RC is a priority, but if we have time i'll definitely try and get him to toss the welder in the truck and drive down. My floors need patched badly, and welding is an important skill to have all around.
It's already a running motor, I just want to go through it, upgrade a little, and make sure it'll last me til i have time/money to upgrade.
We don't have much time, the only day P4 has is sunday every week, and sometimes not even. getting our rigs ready for an april FSB meet at RC is a priority, but if we have time i'll definitely try and get him to toss the welder in the truck and drive down. My floors need patched badly, and welding is an important skill to have all around.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 323
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I need to go to bed. Night guys. Those of you who read that post tomorrow should leave tips, I might not be here, because I might be going with p4 up to NY to get axles and stuff.
Then again, they want to leave at 7, and it's already 2. So I might be around.
Then again, they want to leave at 7, and it's already 2. So I might be around.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2004
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drop the 400 crank in and change out the cam if you can. intakes a good choice along with carb. headers of course. glad you said m and not cleveland two diff bell housings. they run real low compression so if you want more power junk yard turbos are cheap. other then that theres not to much with out getting into a lot of money. hope this helps
tony
tony
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Joined: Oct 2004
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good call drag i almost forgot about that one. lack of sleep yesterday was killen me
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