There was a discussion before that someone was planning to install a 400 engine into a mustang..... so i'm wondering if anyone has done this and what were the result...???
I'm about to install 400 into my capri and since emission is not a problem where i live...,,, so could you guys tell me how far can i go with this engine???

 

It's all about $$$. How fast you wanna go? You can take virtually any engine and with enough cu$tom piece$ make it go fast and last long. I'd start with reading the tech article on this website about M block performance parts and then read the Hot Rod Magazine article.

[link:home.earthlink.net/~tcrocker/400.html|Hot Rod 400 Build Up]

 

Thanks for the replay, i think i have seen most of these tech. articles in the net but most of these articles are about engines for trucks and low rpm's.
How fast i want to go? well here in estonia we don't have too many fast cars, i think the fastest is my friends camaro at this point http://www.tqhq.ee/est/cars/lauri.htm
so i would like to run 11's for sure, ok
Any suggestions?!

My budget for the engine is about $4K, MPG is not a concern!

 

>Thanks for the replay, i think i have seen most of these
>tech. articles in the net but most of these articles are
>about engines for trucks and low rpm's.
>How fast i want to go? well here in estonia we don't have
>too many fast cars, i think the fastest is my friends camaro
>at this point http://www.tqhq.ee/est/cars/lauri.htm
>so i would like to run 11's for sure, ok
>Any suggestions?!

I have to say I disagree about the Hot Rod article being slanted towards the truck crowd. The engine they built was going into a 79 Ranchero. Now all debate about whether the Ranchero is a truck or a car aside, it certainly weighs less than most full size trucks and the engine they put together was definitely built for speed even though they had to stick with the 2V carb for smog reasons.

The 400 has an extremely long stroke, longer than a 460 or FE so it's going to produce torque down low. You want more power in the upper RPMS...well cam it accordingly, put some larger tube headers on it and make sure you pay attention to the oiling system, i.e. restrictors and the external oiling mod. If you really want to make it scream then put the 4V Cleveland heads on it. The increased displacement of the 400 should handle the large intake ports even better than the 351C ever did.

 

>
> If you really want to make it scream then put the 4V
>Cleveland heads on it. The increased displacement of the 400
>should handle the large intake ports even better than the
>351C ever did.

Bill,

I certainly agree with that statement. My 400 with 4V Cleveland heads is very well behaved. Even with a long duration cam, it has good street manners. That is due to the low RPM characteristics of a long stroke engine. As far as high RPM operation, I have my ignition set to shut down at 6500 RPM, but I seldom rev it over 5000. I don't need to.

One point about putting a 400 in a very light car like a Capri is TRACTION. The 400 will put out so much torque, that you will not be able to hook up. I would stay with a 351C-4V on that application. You want more power at high RPM's and less at low revs.

Dan Lee
'53 F100
400C-4V

 

>One point about putting a 400 in a very light car like a
>Capri is TRACTION. The 400 will put out so much torque, that
>you will not be able to hook up. I would stay with a 351C-4V
>on that application. You want more power at high RPM's and
>less at low revs.

Excellent point Dan, power & torque output certainly are great things but if you can't get it to the ground then ET is going to suffer. Guess he'll just have to go with slicks eh?;-)

 

well, with the mustang; the mustang engine bay is almost identical to the XR-XY falcons sold in australia, and the last two models (XW and XY) had 351 clevos from the factory. Might be a bit of a tight squeeze is all (already tight with the 351C)