I am going to be tearing down my F150 here soon i have been told how to get 475hp and 557tq out of my 351M when its done 406M but what cam i want it to be a daily driver but weekend mudder with a slight lope should i go with.
1. Crane Cams Dual pattern power max .50dur 222/234
2. Crane Cams Power max H-290 Hydrolic, single power pattern .50dur 216/216
3. Comp Cams high engrgy .50dur 218/224
4. Comp Cams X-treem energy .50dur 224/230
i want good chevy killing power but good gas milage too.



Curtis

 

Curtis, lets be realistic. a 351m while a good motor won't live under extreme conditions.For most bang for bucks go 460.

 

That's a pretty good list, but I'd stick to something in the under .220 list. I run a 390 with a .224 cam, edelbrock aluminum heads, and intake, etc. It's a bit too radical for around town, it's kind of gutless below 2300rpm. (I drive a 76 f250 with 38's so an f150 might be better off with less need for the low end) It's great for mud but not loping around in traffic. Now, I just had it advanced 2 degrees to bring the powerband down, you can play with the cam timing to move the power band around. My advice is to pick one of the smaller duration cams with the largest amount of lift, that's what gives the torque but will still give you some top end for the mud.

 

I'm really getting sick of everyone out there ******* the M block engines. THERE IS NO NEED FOR A 460 for his use. A 460 is only going to suck more gas. He said for "weekend mudding", not WEEKLONG mudding. My 351M with bad valves just did a great job mudding in some of the sloppiest wisconsin mud I've ever seen, and it came back. I'm still driving it. I wish everyone would stop automatically thinking a 460 will be the answer for everything.

"I need 3 more inches of lift, whats the best way to do it?" Well put in a 460, that'll take care of everything"
Ok a little extreme I know, but it's ANOYING!!

 

I just read in engines magazine about a 406m that they pulled 468 ft lbs of torque out of with the #4 camshaft on your list. it's supposed to have alot of off idle torque for muddin but runs out of breath above 5,000. So, if your not draggin your truck I'd say that's the perfect choice. I know I'll be putting it in my '77 f-150 this summer.

 

Im with John on this one. The 460 is the best way to get HP without MAJOR modifications. I know this swap gets mentioned a bunch but it is worth it. I had this explained to me by someone with a 460 in their pickup. They said a 351 or 400 feels like a briggs & statton when you put a 460 in. There is an abundance of 460s in junkyards that are just waiting to become chevy thumpers. Plus there are many more parts available for the 460 than the M series engines. The choice is yours, good luck.

Nitro

 

ok stop with the 460 stuff i dont want to hear the sucking sound as im going down the road. the 351M is in it i dont have to hunt for a nother block and find out it is a bad one dont get me wrong i like the 460s but i like the Ms better the are lighter they can get 475hp if they are built right.

Curtis

 

umduhh these guys have been reading wnelson's posts and are starting to believe them. The only problem I've had with my 351M is it needs a trans.

Trail Rider

 

I modified my 400m until this has been little left of the origonal setup. I loved this engine. I almost cried when I gave it to my older bro. I still can hear it a mile away. And thats a 5pm in the heart of LA. Did I mention that it will never pass smog agin. Couldn't to save its life, It was easer than a 460 to work on and yelded similar results. M-blocks ask for the abuse 460 owners impose on there engines. We may not be the best or the most designed, but we m-blocks produce dam near the same results. So what does that say. ....


FE---- Fast Engine/
M----- Might
460--- ????????*./*

 

Since some of us seem to have gotten away from your question, I run a 351M convertered to a 400 with a Reed cam, advertised duration is intake 258 and exhaust at 264 with lift of .498 intake and .510 on the exhaust side if I remember correctly, the lobe sepereation is 112 degrees. Idle is fairly smooth with a nice growl. I have found this set-up with the other mods works very well. She pulls strong off the line and has guts to about 4500 rpm or so, it will run to 5500 but there just isn't as much there. I strongly agree with the second post, mild duration with healthy lift and mild lobe seperation. Make sure any cam manufacture you may deal with, knows what mods you have done to the engine or are planning to do, what gearing and tire size, auto or manual. These do make a big difference in the recommended cam. Don't get me wrong, I have a 460(project engine) to replace the 400(this will be rebuilt also-into a Ranger?), it's getting very tired(150K), but when I did the motor I was in the same position as you are and have no regrets building up the 400. It has served me very well in it's present condition and resides in a 4x4 with 4.10's and 35's, there has been very little that has stopped this truck and those times it was not for lack of power, just lack of clearence under the frame! Hope this helps you out a little bit, Chuck P.

 

While everyone else is trying to prove what engine is better all I have to say is 4x4 475hp=bad gas mileage.

78 Ranger 4x4 351C-4V
83 Ranger 302