I have an opportunity to look at a collection of '73 & '74 Rancheros & Wagons. I would like to get my hands on an 'FMX' 400 block.

What is the best way to tell a FMX block from a normal 400 block when the motor is in the car?

 

Hi Dan, Here's my guess. From what I have seen and heard, if the engine s in the vehicle it will probably have a FMX on it, otherwise why have the different block. If that is the case, you should be able to feel the back of the intake/block area and the trans should be below that area. If it is flush to the top of the block, then it is a BB bellhousing.
NOW as I said, this is my guess.

 

Tim,

That sounds like a good strategy. I'll try it. If I find any then it will depend on the price of the vehicle. I don't know the condition of these, but if they are in top shape, the asking price might be more than the block is worth.

I would pull the FMX block and replace it with a normal 400/C6. Then sell the vehicle, or just part it out, or scrap it depending on the condition.

Dan

 

FMX block? There is no such thing.

The block is exactly the same whether the trans is an FMX or a C6.

Most 1973/79 Passenger Cars with 400's have a C6.

No 1973/74Torino, whether it's a Ranchero, station wagon, two door or 4 door...came w/a 400 and an FMX. All w/400's are C6's.

Some 1973 Torino's with 351C's and 351W's came with an FMX.

Some 1975/76 Torino's came w/a 400 & an FMX.

No 1977/79 LTD II/Ranchero/Cougar/Thunderbird/Lincoln Town Car & Continental Mark V w/a 400 came an FMX. All are C6's.

Some...1973/78 LTD's came with 400's with FMX's. Most w/a 400 are C6's.

FMX: 14 trans pan bolt holes / C6 = 17 trans pan bolt holes.

Passenger Cars/Ranchero's thru 1979: The 5th digit of the VIN is the engine code: S = 400.

The TRANS code is on the Warranty Plate: X = FMX / U = C6.

No 400's in Passenger Cars after 1979.

1977/79 F100/350 & 1980/82 F150/350 with 351M/400's. The only A/T available was the C6.

The only F Series truck to use an FMX were 1973/77 F350's with the 300 I-6.

Info source: 1973/79 Ford Passenger Car Parts Catalog / Automatic Tranmission ID Charts / Section A70 / Pages 1 thru 19.

 

NumberDummy,

Thanks for the info. I'll crosscheck the list of vehicles to see if any match your list. I will skip this auction, if none of them are possible vehicles with 400s & FMX transmissions.

There may not be any FMX blocks, but there are 400 blocks that are drilled for a small block bell housing. These blocks must have additional bosses to accomodate these bolt holes. I have seen a picture of one of these blocks. It was a picture from Tim Meyer.

 

Hmmm...learn something new everyday.

It's gotta be this block, cuz there are no others listed like this.

D3AZ6010B .. 400 Bare Block / Use with PHB-AD trans only.

Block has 351 bolt hole pattern for attaching trans.

PHB-AD = 1973 Galaxie/LTD 400/FMX.

 

From what I have seen Dan, '72 seems to be the year. Not that they are not available in other years, but it seems '72 is the year they pop up the most.

http://351cleveland.wetpaint.com/page/Block+400+FMX+

 

1971/72: The 400 was installed in Galaxie/LTD / Mercury Marquis / Torino/Ranchero and Mercury Montego.

There is no listing in the '65/72 car parts catalog for a 400 with an FMX.

Every one of them came with a C6 only.

The same 400 engine block was used 1971/72: D1AZ6010A.
-----------------------------------------------------------
1970/72 Galaxie/LTD / Mercury Marquis / Torino/Ranchero/Montego / Mustang/Cougar with 351C 2V's:

Some came w/an FMX, some came w/a C4, some came w/a C6.
-------------------------------------------------------------
1971/72 400 VIN engine code: S // 1970/72 351C 2V VIN engine code: H // NOTE: H was also used for 351W's.

1970/72 Warranty Plate TRANS codes: U = C6 / W = C4 / X = FMX.

 

According to this, D3AE-B is the 1973 casting number for a 400 block with the SBF bell pattern:

Kelly hotrod - Ford Engines Page 2

Says it's usually mated to an FMX.

That link appears at the top of the SBF forums.

 

^^ Should say it's ONLY mated to an FMX ^ ^
According to the 1973/79 car parts catalog: D3AZ6010B = Only used in 1973 Galaxie/LTD w/the PHB-AD FMX.

 

A friend gave me the lead on this Auction, and I was quite excited to participate. I though that it was this weekend, but it took place on Tuesday 10/27/09. I missed it. I am trying to get the list of vehicles included. If there is anything that stands out as a potential 'FMX 400', I'll try to track it down through the auctioneer.

This thread put some light on subject, so it was worthwhile.

 

Pics are nice:



From Wanted (please don't laugh) 400 FMX Block - FordMuscle.com Forums

 

you should be able to easily get your fingers into the void between the large and small bellpatterns if you find one. IIRC there's also an earlier possibly D1 casting also



they don't have the complete set of Cleveland/Windsor 2 bolt mount bosses, the drivers side rear is missing, the arrows point out the ones that are there

 

Never was popular because FMX's are a turd and c6's come in a small bolt patern. One sat around here for years, no takers. Finally threw it in the scrap a few years back.

 

And some people wonder why street rodders like Small Block Chevy's so much.......