1979 F150 dreadful engine decision

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Oct 29, 2008 | 10:36 PM

#16

85e150

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Deluxetruck

First of all, put a new straight-up timing chain in it. 400's were cursed from the factory with a retarded timing set as an effort to meet emissions requirements of the time. That combined with a good tune up will go along way. If it were mine I would get some cheap headers and run a true dual exhaust with some 2 and 1/2 inch cherry bombs. I would buy an aftermarket aluminum intake and find a decent 600 cfm carb to put on it. If I had the scratch I'd put a very mild rv/marine type cam in it, slightly more stout than stock. Anything more serious would require better springs. Around here I see 400 truck headers go for 50 bucks on craigslist, and aluminum 4 barrel intakes go for less than 100. If you are really junkyard savvy, you could score a 600 cfm motorcraft carb off of a junkyard 460 and throw a carb kit at it for cheap. Maybe learn to re-curve your dizzy so you could set initial at around 15 degrees and limit total to around 34.

Just me spending your money,

Jared

What he said.

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</TD></TR><TR itxtvisited="1"><TD class=alt2 style="PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; PADDING-BOTTOM: 0px; PADDING-TOP: 0px" itxtvisited="1"><TABLE cellSpacing=6 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0 itxtvisited="1"><TBODY itxtvisited="1"><TR itxtvisited="1"><TD class=alt2 itxtvisited="1">

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Postmaster
</TD><TD width="100%" itxtvisited="1"> </TD><TD vAlign=top noWrap itxtvisited="1">Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: NC/TN off the beaten path
Posts: 3,190

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR itxtvisited="1"><TD class=alt1 id=td_post_6705120 itxtvisited="1"><TABLE width="100%" border=0 itxtvisited="1"><TBODY itxtvisited="1"><TR itxtvisited="1"><TD vAlign=top itxtvisited="1">For $800...I'd go with Holley 600-670cfm carb ($200-350), an Eddy Performer Intake ($229), Cam Kit with all the accessories included ($413 from Comp Cams), then if you find yourself a little side cash...get yourself a set of headers (summit has these ranging from $119-$600). Anyways, those first three mods will eat up your $800, but ASAP get those headers too.
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Or him too.

Oct 29, 2008 | 11:40 PM

#17

1977f150xlt

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Joined: Dec 2007

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From: London, Ontario Canada

i would get a eddy carb and forget about holley, the eddy is way better plus you can get a 600 carb rebuilt from eddy for 250 that has electric choke to boot, and eddy has all gaskets above the fuel line so no fuel leaks plus mine needed no tuneing straight out of the box, and my 77 f150 with a 71 302 with the eddy performer intake started right up and purred like a kitten, can't beat eddy, holley is a pain in the @$$ and need to be tuned to much, and is just plain difficult, this is my experience and my dads, and others i know, plus why not have a matching setup and say its all eddy, heck i even got the triangular eddy chrome filter with the k&n air filter, which was a darn good deal! and it looks sweet with my future ford racing polished aluminum valve covers, and the intake only cost me 180 with tax, and the carb was 250 plus tax, but it was well worth it, oh all eddy carbs are webers, which is a classic name in carbs if i do say so my self!, just avoid holly at all costs

Oct 29, 2008 | 11:49 PM

#18

1977f150xlt

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Joined: Dec 2007

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From: London, Ontario Canada

heres there link and my favorite carb in my opinion,

9906 Reconditioned Carburetor 600cfm, electric choke

Edelbrock.com - Carburetors & Accessories - Intro

and this is the carb i got on my mine, not too flashy but gets the job done, pain free!

Oct 29, 2008 | 11:51 PM

#19

1977f150xlt

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From: London, Ontario Canada

mine is a reconditioned one and some headers and intake should waken up your motor and a nice cam and the top end too if ya want to start to burn some cash fast, heck if ya rebuild it right that 400 should really go man! and is easier than getting a 351 w tranny, but i personally love the Windsor motors!