Engine Advice
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New User
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
Engine Advice
Hi all, I have a 79 350 4x4 the engine was a 400 but already had been bored 40 over and is shot the tranny and transfer are great which big block should I get 351M, 400, 460 or would a 429 even work?
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: trenton ns canada
if you are going far enough to replace the engine you have,I would say the 460 would be the best idea,easier to get,the 351m and 400 aren't really all that great of a power plant to start with,unless you do some work to them,timming,intake carb etc.get a 460 and freshen it up and then you'll have something.
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Southern NM
For another opinion, post your question in the 335 series forum.The 460 is not the answer to everything.Ask around over there,and I think you will be surprised.And also,WELCOME to the site!! A great deal of experience and sharp minds with these guys!
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2009
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just to help you out here, the 351M/400 are not big blocks, they are based off the 351C which is a small block. Ford doesn't technically name their engine by big/small block, they do it by series such as 335 Series-351m/400(small).
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Back to the OP. How much power do you want? Some basic improvements in a standard rebuild of a 400 can give you 50%+ more power over stock, without more gas. Plus, your money goes towards the rebuild, not engine/trans mounts, accessories, radiator, exhaust mods and other "little things" that you get when you swap. Plus, you won't be gaining road-hugging weight on the front wheels.
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Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Stillwater, OK
460!!! Bigger the better. If you are really hungry, do what I am doing... 545. Good luck and build for the individual usage. You can have the biggest, baddest 500+ cube motor and not have anything to use it on. Have fun.
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Oh boy I just love this topic. While it is true the 400 was based on the 351C, which is a sb, and it retains the sb bore spacing, the 400 is over 10" in deck height, taller than the FE. So, by the one definition of a bb, it is one. Note the 351m uses the 400 block, and was intro'd much later.
Back to the OP. How much power do you want? Some basic improvements in a standard rebuild of a 400 can give you 50%+ more power over stock, without more gas. Plus, your money goes towards the rebuild, not engine/trans mounts, accessories, radiator, exhaust mods and other "little things" that you get when you swap. Plus, you won't be gaining road-hugging weight on the front wheels.
Back to the OP. How much power do you want? Some basic improvements in a standard rebuild of a 400 can give you 50%+ more power over stock, without more gas. Plus, your money goes towards the rebuild, not engine/trans mounts, accessories, radiator, exhaust mods and other "little things" that you get when you swap. Plus, you won't be gaining road-hugging weight on the front wheels.
. Not trying to offend you or anything lol 
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well since i went a little off topic i figure i better help out, personally im a fan of my 400, thing is bullet proof, sat for 3 1/2 years pured some gas down the carb and it started right up and hit 90 mph 15 minutes later. You can make the 400 into a decent engine without to much money. Put in an aftermarket cam and timing set will help alot since they were retarded from the factory.
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More Turbo
Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Spring Hill, TN
The good thing about 351/400,460 some parts interchange. Like the starter and distributor. 460 will bolt right to your C-6. We put a 460 in my son's 79 Bronco. We got the L&L mounts,7 qt oil pan,L&L shortie headers all from Bronco graveyard. We had a parts truck with the bigger radiator in it and used it. Pulled the front clip and did it in week end.I have a warmed up 400 in my shortbed and am very happy with the power.It's your choice,it's just time and money . Good luck
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Im aware the 351M was introduced later, but the facts are it is a "small block". It was based on a small block, has sb bore spacing and was even identified by a Ford Tech friend of mine as a small block after a couple of my buds kept on calling it a "big block", which in its own right is wrong as well . Not trying to offend you or anything lol
. Not trying to offend you or anything lol 
351c deck 9.206
400/351m deck 10.297
429/460 deck 10.3-10.322
FE deck 10.17
So yea, hey some guys call 'em a POS in stock form. But I still say rebuild a 400 for this truck, unless max power and big budget is the order of the day.
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From: where the deer and antelo
If you are into a little fab work, put a Cummins in that truck. You can buy a '90's Dodge for less than you are going to spend on a new engine. If you get a '94 up, you have the engine, transmission and transfer case you need for the swap. It is possible to get 20 plus MPG from a full size truck and have a cool truck at the same time.
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No one has ever thought of that before. (on this thread) Great point!
fordcummins.com - Increase Horsepower with Ford Cummins Diesel conversion kits
fordcummins.com - Increase Horsepower with Ford Cummins Diesel conversion kits
Posting Guru
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From: where the deer and antelo
I couldn't ever get fordcummins to return my call or answer the phone. I have no experiance with their products, but if you have any common sence and some basic weld/fab skills you can do it yourself.
I used a '89 Dodge/Cummins in my swap so the transfer case was a issue for me. I had to purchase an adapter to tie the NV4500 transmission to the Ford NP205 transfer case, but if you have a '94 up Dodge as a donor you can use the transfer case that comes with the truck. I paid $1200 for my donor, and was able to sell about $500 worth of parts from it before I haulled it off to the bone yard. I had transmission problems so I bought a wrecked '94 for the transmission. I ended up selling the '94 for more than I paid for it after taking the transmission out of it. If you take your time and wait for the right deal you can do these swaps for little or no out of pocket expence.
I used a '89 Dodge/Cummins in my swap so the transfer case was a issue for me. I had to purchase an adapter to tie the NV4500 transmission to the Ford NP205 transfer case, but if you have a '94 up Dodge as a donor you can use the transfer case that comes with the truck. I paid $1200 for my donor, and was able to sell about $500 worth of parts from it before I haulled it off to the bone yard. I had transmission problems so I bought a wrecked '94 for the transmission. I ended up selling the '94 for more than I paid for it after taking the transmission out of it. If you take your time and wait for the right deal you can do these swaps for little or no out of pocket expence.
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New User
Joined: Feb 2009
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From: Cincinnati, Ohio
wow I'm more confused than ever, but I have been offered a 460 with a camper special cam? for $600 it supposedly has only 500 miles on it since it was rebuilt but has been sitting in a shop for 2yrs so it was suggested by seller (a trusted mechanic) that I rering it to freshen it up. I would love more advice