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2barrel-4barrel

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Old Mar 26, 2009 | 10:10 PM
  #1  
aaronvan's Avatar
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2barrel-4barrel

I have a '78 f150 with a 351m/400 with a 2barrel, thinking about trying to find a 4barrel intake and carb for it.
I was wonering what your guy's opinion is on such a swap.
What can I expect in power increse?I have a fairly large camper in the box and could use a little mone umff..

Thanks in advance for any advice
 
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Old Mar 27, 2009 | 01:19 PM
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compressorguy
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Originally Posted by aaronvan
I have a '78 f150 with a 351m/400 with a 2barrel, thinking about trying to find a 4barrel intake and carb for it.
I was wonering what your guy's opinion is on such a swap.
What can I expect in power increse?I have a fairly large camper in the box and could use a little mone umff..

Thanks in advance for any advice
You'll probably have to go for an aftermarket manifold and carb. I don't think the 351m/400 ever came with a 4 barrel from the factory. (some rumor of a 4 barrel version in cars, but have never seen one). Might want to consider replacing the timing gears with a straight up set as the stockers have an offset key to retard the timing. That will really help wake up this engine. BTW which is it, a 351m or a 400
 
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Old Mar 27, 2009 | 01:33 PM
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I have the eddelbrock intake on mine with a 600cfm carb. Runs alot better than it did with the 2bbl. And as long as i stay out of the secondaries, it seems to get alot better mileage. I had the edeljunk laying around but if i bought a carb i would go with like a 670 holley. I wasnt aware that the valve timing on these were retarded.... is the straight up timing chain set an aftermarket thing or can you get it from the local parts shop?
 
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Old Mar 27, 2009 | 02:11 PM
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93F22A6
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I just went from a 2bbl to a 4bbl intake on my 302 and it made a good difference. It had a holley 600 on the stock 2bbl intake. Then we got a edelbrock performer rpm knock off and an edelbrock 600 and I like the change. If you have the money you might be able to get a power package from edelbrock or some of the other packages they have on jegs or summit.
 
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Old Mar 27, 2009 | 05:35 PM
  #5  
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compressorguy
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From: Chehalis, WA
Originally Posted by hairyboxnoogle
I have the eddelbrock intake on mine with a 600cfm carb. Runs alot better than it did with the 2bbl. And as long as i stay out of the secondaries, it seems to get alot better mileage. I had the edeljunk laying around but if i bought a carb i would go with like a 670 holley. I wasnt aware that the valve timing on these were retarded.... is the straight up timing chain set an aftermarket thing or can you get it from the local parts shop?
The 600 is plenty of carb for the relatively stock engine. The cam is retarded 4 deg on everything in this engine family after 1971. You can get the timing set at the local parts outlet, but I would go with a good quality aftermarket roller chain and sprockets. Most of them have a couple of keyways for setting up the cam timing. Use the straight up (0 deg) keyway. Be aware that the timing cover on these engines is a flat plate with the water pump mounted to it. They get pitted and can start to leak. They are quite expensive ($125.00) to buy new so you might want to look around for a used spare in good condition, before you start the process.
 
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Old Mar 27, 2009 | 07:02 PM
  #6  
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93F22A6
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Originally Posted by compressorguy
The 600 is plenty of carb for the relatively stock engine. The cam is retarded 4 deg on everything in this engine family after 1971. You can get the timing set at the local parts outlet, but I would go with a good quality aftermarket roller chain and sprockets. Most of them have a couple of keyways for setting up the cam timing. Use the straight up (0 deg) keyway. Be aware that the timing cover on these engines is a flat plate with the water pump mounted to it. They get pitted and can start to leak. They are quite expensive ($125.00) to buy new so you might want to look around for a used spare in good condition, before you start the process.
Sorry to thread jack a little bit. So after 71' all the cams were retarded 4 degrees? If so, what kind of gains would be found from advance it to straight up?
 
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Old Mar 27, 2009 | 09:52 PM
  #7  
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wyoming4x4
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From: wyoming
Stock engine you can gain around 30 to 40 ft lb torque. with a good timing chain straight up or slightly advanced. The holley offroad carb with annular booster is a nice little carb. Once jetted to your engine is a nice little carb for 4wd truck. Used to do this to my buddies truck and they thought I was a hero for waking up their ford trucks just by timing chain and carb tuning. Did a edelbrock performer back in the day and now their are some other intakes available. dualplane intake definetly for 4wd .
 
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Old Mar 27, 2009 | 10:07 PM
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So I can get a timing set, set the cam straight up, and see good gains? Just making sure I'm reading this right. Also I have the performer 600, what kind of tuning would I have to do?
 
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Old Mar 27, 2009 | 10:12 PM
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Ranger76
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I'd go with a 4 barrel, in most cases you can get better milage. Example, on my 81 ltd it had the factory 2 barrel CFI injection, I put an Edelbrock 4 barrel on it, and I got way better gas milage, even with my lead foot!!! Bigger vehicles like my land barge or these old ford trucks, really do better in a lot of cases with a 4 barrel, because it doesn't need as much gas/effort to get to speed.
 
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