I have a 1979 ford f150 with a totally stock 400. I would like to put a 4 barral carb, performer intake, headers and dual exhaust on it. From what I've heard the timing chain and cam should be replaced. I was thinking of putting on a edelbrock 600 cfm egr carb but might go with something that already has ford throtle linkage. There is a fuel bowl vent on the stock carb that i don't know how to get around. EDEL egr carb has that on it. I hear of a lot of people putting on Edelbrock carbs and manifolds. Would like to see how they got around all of the stock stuff. I was also looking at carter 625. I really want 300+ hp. I am not sure what the gearing is on it and was woundering how to find out. I think the gears are pretty low. I need performance with gas mileage. Should I up grade the ignition. Maybe some MSD modifications. I don't want to really dig into the engine like getting higher compression pistons. If I have to put higher compression pistons in to beat the chevy I will. I really need to beat up on a very cocky 1999 Chevy Silverado 275 hp.

I have lots more question. Only 14 years old.

 

>I have a 1979 ford f150 with a totally stock 400. I would
>like to put a 4 barral carb, performer intake, headers and
>dual exhaust on it. From what I've heard the timing chain
>and cam should be replaced. I was thinking of putting on a
>edelbrock 600 cfm egr carb but might go with something that
>already has ford throtle linkage. There is a fuel bowl vent
>on the stock carb that i don't know how to get around. EDEL
>egr carb has that on it. I hear of a lot of people putting
>on Edelbrock carbs and manifolds. Would like to see how they
>got around all of the stock stuff. I was also looking at
>carter 625. I really want 300+ hp. I am not sure what the
>gearing is on it and was woundering how to find out. I think
>the gears are pretty low. I need performance with gas
>mileage. Should I up grade the ignition. Maybe some MSD
>modifications. I don't want to really dig into the engine
>like getting higher compression pistons. If I have to put
>higher compression pistons in to beat the chevy I will. I
>really need to beat up on a very cocky 1999 Chevy Silverado
>275 hp.
>
>I have lots more question. Only 14 years old.

Be sure that the timing chain is one that can be installed at 0 degrees. The 600 CFM carb is about right, though some prefer a 750 on the 400. Removing the 'stock stuff' (EGR/etc) depends on where you live and what state inspections there might be. Note that a Carter and Edelbrock carb are essentially the same. Plan on a new exhaust system if you are doing headers. Forget gas mileage, this is a 400 Cleveland. The parts you are adding, if selected correctly, should get you well over 300 HP but gas mileage will likely suffer. I had a 400 built up to perhaps 350 HP once, and got 8 MPG city, 10-12 MPG highway. If I got on it at all, it dropped lower. Granted - could have used some tuning.

You need to start a spreadsheet of all of the parts and their costs, plus figure in labor. You are not going to be able to do much of this yourself. The work you have already described will cost you $1200 or more, plus perhaps $300 to $500 labor.

 

Can any one tell me how to find out the gearing.

 

If your rearend is does not have a tag, then jack up both rear tires, put the axle on jackstands make a mark on one of the tires, put the trans in neutral and start turning the driveshaft by hand counting the number of revolutions it takes to make the tire turn aroung once

If the drive turns this many times then it is this ratio

3 turns = 3.00
3 1/2 turns = 3.50
3 3/4 turns = 3.73
just slightly under 4 turns = 3.91
just slightly over 4 turns = 4.10
4 1/2 turns = 4.56 (not very likley)

Hope this helps

Brian

 

the tag says dm-cn 9DA
3509 361A
so i am guessing it is a 9 inch with 3.50 gears correct me if i am wrong.