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351m/400 oilling problems?

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Old Mar 25, 2009 | 06:14 PM
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351m/400 oilling problems?

Are 400's known to have oilling issues? The motor that was in my truck had a bad bottom end knock when it warmed up. The motor in it now is a hard runner, but its starting the same deal.
 
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Old Mar 26, 2009 | 10:11 AM
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When these engines are used as intended for low and mid range torque, and they are properly maintained the bottom ends do fine. When they are run at very high RPM without proper modifications, is when you will reveal some problems.

The crankshaft is VERY heavy and the oiling system is not designed for high RPM operation. If you are turning it to high RPM, you will need to consult Tim Meyer or someone with equivalent experience to learn the correct modifications to allow very high RPM life.
 
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Old Mar 27, 2009 | 04:57 PM
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eh thanks, I was a bit hard on it...where can I find him? Also, I seen you have a 64...Do you happen to have any others?..or know of any? thanks
 
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Old Mar 28, 2009 | 08:50 AM
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They hold up for most applications fine if you check all bearing clearances with a dial bore gage, champher the oil holes in the crank, and use a h.v. pump and always check lifter fit as well. Chech the main bearing bores and the rod bores with a dial bore gage, they should be straight across and round within .0002 and a lot of them aren't, thats where trouble starts, with any botom end.
 
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Old Mar 28, 2009 | 09:02 AM
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I don't want to start a fight here, but my crankshaft grinder told me that if you have the proper bearing clearances, you don't need a high volume oil pump. It robs horsepower.
 
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Old Mar 28, 2009 | 12:56 PM
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not starting a fight, just sayin,

good luck getting 'proper' bearing clearances from a reground crank kit. it would seem that they use the limit spec and give it some clearance from there. Tim Meyer custom ground the crank to make spec in the bearings as installed, i wonder how much larger his journals were compared to a crank that you or i would get from a 'rebuilder', to make 'proper' clearance? IIR Tim did state that his journals were above spec?

not only 'rebuilder' regrinds but within spec good to go used cranks on new standard or undersize bearings will come up showing .0025" main clearance on a good day. seems like the grinders are adding a .001" and the bearing manufacturers are adding a .001", by that time the only option other than custom clearance regrind is to use the HV pump, no big deal but it would be nice to be able come up with less than .002" clearance if you want to.

then add worn lifter bores and the HV pump is the way to go.
 
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Old Mar 28, 2009 | 02:09 PM
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My crank grinder is Brewster Machine. I don't know how he ground my cranks, but I know they have been in business for 75 years. They do the cranks on many of the Ohio sprint cars and many of the cars taking the checkered flag at Eldora Speedway have a Brewster crank in them.
 
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Old Mar 29, 2009 | 07:27 AM
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I always tell the person grinding it to leave it on the low limit if I have to use a turned crank.
 
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Old Mar 30, 2009 | 10:16 AM
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Originally Posted by fomoconate
eh thanks, I was a bit hard on it...where can I find him? Also, I seen you have a 64...Do you happen to have any others?..or know of any? thanks
Tim Meyer is the sponsor of this forum and a 400 afficionado.

I do have an extra 64, but it's a completely trashed parts car that I am getting a manual transmission out of. Try galaxieclub.com.
 
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Old Mar 31, 2009 | 04:22 PM
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Originally Posted by fomoconate
Are 400's known to have oilling issues? The motor that was in my truck had a bad bottom end knock when it warmed up. The motor in it now is a hard runner, but its starting the same deal.
From what Ive seen 400s tend to be a little hard on their bearings. Ive put a few of them in in my day but, they might have had the snot run out of them, you never know
I know the 351C's had a low oil pressure problem at idle.
 
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