400 c.i. opinions

[rubiranch]

The 400 in my 79 is, was, and always will be a pig. I have only ever seen one that had decent power and it was mildly build and in a 1/2 ton short bed.

I have always marveled at how you can have a 400 ci V-8 with a 4" bore and a 4" stroke, canted valve heads and consume soo much fuel and produce soo little power.

I beat the ever-living hell out of mine from the day I bought it until the crank broke with 184,000 miles on it. I can't tell you how many hours that engine probably had on it with the truck in low range and 1st gear pedal to the metal screaming.

I have a mild cam in it today along with headers, a Weiand intake and a Holley 4-v, and it's still a pig.

And for the size I think the 351m is twice the pig the 400 is.

[sgs]

Tell us how you really feel!

[boatcarpenter]

My family's experience was that this was a great engine,I believe 71 was the first year these were used in full size cars.We drove the devil out of them in our cars with no issues other than valve wipers.Also thought our fuel economy was always better than the earlier cars with the 390's.Dad bought a 77 F350 with 351M in it new and never did like the power it was able to produce...but those were also the derated days.
IMHO look for one 74 or earlier there seems to have been some changes made after 75.GL

[rubiranch]

Tell us how you really feel!

[ezernut9mm]

i was just thinking this would be an easy swap to get me up and running. then i could hopefully sell off the disc brake front end and what ever else to recoup some of the $$$ i spent. i am taking my time though and still looking.