gas mileage
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Cross-Country
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 92
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gas mileage
Just a quick question. I am looking at a 1978 F150 4x4 with 351 and C6, I need a good work truck to drive all winter and this looks like a good deal but I am just wondering what kind of mileage I could expect out of a truck like that- I dont expect alot but I am curious as to how bad it will be. thanks
Junior User
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 74
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well when i got my truck i needed a carb rebuild and was getting about 2gallons per mile!
i rebuilt the carb then i was at
6mpg!
did a tune up (points caps roters plugs and wires) got it to
10mpg
new tires
12mpg!!!!!!
im driving a 79 f250 with a 400 and c6 trany 2wd
i rebuilt the carb then i was at
6mpg!
did a tune up (points caps roters plugs and wires) got it to
10mpg
new tires
12mpg!!!!!!
im driving a 79 f250 with a 400 and c6 trany 2wd
Zombie Survivalist
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 14,809
Likes: 3
From: Rock Springs, WY, USA
are you serious?? two gallons a mile? dude, after i got my 76 running, i drove it back and forth to work every day for the whole summer. i thought it had a one speed t-case thanks to an incorrect ****. so i thought it just had really low gears. it has an FE block and i was still getting two miles per gallon while turning 4k to go 55 mph. turns out, while doing more work on it later, i discover it is in fact an NP 205, so i was in 4lo the whole time... and it STILL has carb issues... now it gets like 12 or 14... im not sure cause i dont drive it on the highway (or at all right now) that often.
New User
Joined: Mar 2009
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If I were you I would have your engine checked! First to determine the exact size motor it is. I don't know of a 400 ci engine being built by Ford. There was a 352 ci motor built in the early 60's for trucks. They were also installed in early Ford cars as well. 400 ci I don't think so. I could be wrong. To my knowledge, limited as it is, GM produced the only 400 ci motors. It is possible Ford cast a few 400 ci engine. But I would check to see
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 485
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From: Fowlerville, Michigan
If I were you I would have your engine checked! First to determine the exact size motor it is. I don't know of a 400 ci engine being built by Ford. There was a 352 ci motor built in the early 60's for trucks. They were also installed in early Ford cars as well. 400 ci I don't think so. I could be wrong. To my knowledge, limited as it is, GM produced the only 400 ci motors. It is possible Ford cast a few 400 ci engine. But I would check to see
New User
Joined: Mar 2009
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I believe that maybe Ford made a 400 performance motor. I would question it being in a F-250 2wd truck in 1976. I am going to research it a little and see what I can find about it. I'd be interest in the engine code from the truck.
Last edited by Ric166; Sep 23, 2009 at 08:15 PM. Reason: mis spelled word
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Zombie Survivalist
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 14,809
Likes: 3
From: Rock Springs, WY, USA
allow me to clear this up. ford made two 400 motors. one was a big block that ended in the early 70s. i dont know much about it. then they made the 400. the 400 is a stroked 351 CLEAVLAND. not windsor. it has a 10.3 inch deck height. it is a small block. then they made a 351 MODIFIED that had the original 351C stroke, but could use the 400's heads and deck height, so they didnt need to make two motors. sometimes the 400 is referred to as the 400M, since its so similar to the 351M. however, that is incorrect, it is just a 400 small block.
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Senior User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 228
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From: North Carolina
Just a quick question. I am looking at a 1978 F150 4x4 with 351 and C6, I need a good work truck to drive all winter and this looks like a good deal but I am just wondering what kind of mileage I could expect out of a truck like that- I dont expect alot but I am curious as to how bad it will be. thanks
New User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Thanks for clearing that up. I have some questions! Since one 351 was a big block and one a small block, what was the degree of bore to make the 351c a 400? Also why would Ford do that? Especially for use in a truck the size of an F-250? two wheel drive no less. I am a 60's and 70's car and truck guy! And in all my years of owning Ford cars and trucks and working under the hoods of many others I have never found there to be a 400 engine in one. Did it wear a 351 badge? What made it special?
New User
Joined: Mar 2009
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I own a freshly rebuilt 5.0 Roush engine. It has stock parts. Cam, heads, everything are brand new right out of the box from the Ford company. It is fired stock and has a 1989 truck EFI injection system. This engine is in a 1989 F-150 4x4 with a five speed overdrive tranny with 10X15 inch American Racing wheels and SS exhaust and flowmasters. I get right at 8 miles to the gallon. How can a 351 possibly get between 12-16 miles a gallon
Zombie Survivalist
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 14,809
Likes: 3
From: Rock Springs, WY, USA
Thanks for clearing that up. I have some questions! Since one 351 was a big block and one a small block, what was the degree of bore to make the 351c a 400? Also why would Ford do that? Especially for use in a truck the size of an F-250? two wheel drive no less. I am a 60's and 70's car and truck guy! And in all my years of owning Ford cars and trucks and working under the hoods of many others I have never found there to be a 400 engine in one. Did it wear a 351 badge? What made it special?
Senior User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 228
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From: North Carolina
no such thing as a 351 big block. ive never heard of a 400 big block either, there is a 406 and a 410. the only 400 i know of is the 335 series 400 small block. could be mistaken though so dont jump down my throat. the 351m and 400 are the same except for the stroke so they could be easily mistaken for one another(there is probably a way to tell them apart but i dont know it). this was all probably done to save money in the factories, much easier to make 1 block instead of 2, and to reduce emissions and improve gas mileage(they failed). i dont know why your engine gets 8mpg, but a 351 running right can at least get 12mpg.
Zombie Survivalist
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 14,809
Likes: 3
From: Rock Springs, WY, USA
I own a freshly rebuilt 5.0 Roush engine. It has stock parts. Cam, heads, everything are brand new right out of the box from the Ford company. It is fired stock and has a 1989 truck EFI injection system. This engine is in a 1989 F-150 4x4 with a five speed overdrive tranny with 10X15 inch American Racing wheels and SS exhaust and flowmasters. I get right at 8 miles to the gallon. How can a 351 possibly get between 12-16 miles a gallon
New User
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 11
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Man, I read your profile! If indeed you are 18, your up on your fords! I am having a problem with my truck. See if you can explain it. My truck idles great at 900 RPM. When I take off in 1st gear and shift to 2nd it starts to lose RPM's and drops to nothing before stalling completely . Can you tell me what would cause it to act like that?