429 vs 400

Engine, ignition, fuel, cooling, exhaust

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429 big block or 400 small block

Poll ended at Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:08 pm

Option 1: 429 big block w/c6 auto for $400
11
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Option 2: 400 small block w/fmx for $250
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Total votes: 11

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ares360
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429 vs 400

Post by ares360 »

Which one? have money for one or the other!
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Re: 429 vs 400

Post by averagef250 »

I'm not familiar with a 400 small block. I always thought a 400 was a 400, big brother of the 351M.

I'd say the 429 would win, but you should probably check the year of the engine. The later ones aren't anything to write home about. The early thunderjet motors are great though.
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Re: 429 vs 400

Post by fordman »

the 400 is a smog motor. its not much good for real power. i don't like 460's they are gas hogs. but i have heard the 429 same block as 460 can be a real performance / race engine.
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Re: 429 vs 400

Post by fomocoguy »

You can make a good running engine out of a 400, but it will cost you a lot more than the 429 and it will have 30 less cubic inches. You have to get the compression up and find decent heads, and unless you find a first year 400 it means custom pistons and aussie (or edelbrock) heads. Buy the 429 and sign up over at 460ford.com. They will guide you rather easily into the 400hp range. You'll be glad you did! :thup:
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Re: 429 vs 400

Post by kaptnkaos »

429 all the way...
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Re: 429 vs 400

Post by papabug71 »

Im voting for the 429/C6 combo as well.

I have seen lots of built 400's making awsome power, but it costed an arm & a leg.

Plus the thought of a C6 over a slushbox II is a no brainer.. :thup:
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Re: 429 vs 400

Post by JEF199 »

I had a hot rod artical that got 400 hp out of a 400m under $2,000 using stock heads I think the main problem was compresion.
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Re: 429 vs 400

Post by texrodder »

Definately big block,especially earlier versions,very litle work/money to have a torque monster,tried hopping up a 400m once in an old Bronco ,just not the same bang fo the buck,here is a link to a 460 blog ,you can get some good tips there. http://460ford.com/
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Re: 429 vs 400

Post by 70shortwide »

my dad had a truck with a 400 that would run. after blowin it up and seeing what it took to make it run and pricing it all... he put a used 400 in it and sold it.
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Re: 429 vs 400

Post by 427blackpearl »

429
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Re: 429 vs 400

Post by Blue Blood »

:yt: yes, very good price for 429/c6 setup..... :yt:
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Re: 429 vs 400

Post by ares360 »

bad news fellas...went to go pick up 429/C6 and it had some problems. :x


1. block numbers had been "mysteriously" filed off.
2. crankshaft was locked up.
3. had really bad cancer on back of block.




now I have another option..


Go get the 400m/fmx and swap the tranny for a C4 (also have found some performance parts for $CHEAP$) :fr:

or


there is 460/C6 for $500, will have to wait though for budget to allow


What do you guys think?
:fr:
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Re: 429 vs 400

Post by 427blackpearl »

460 all the way :thup:
Last edited by 427blackpearl on Tue Jan 13, 2009 7:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: 429 vs 400

Post by ares360 »

what about a 351W? do these have a lot of power? there seems to be a lot of them. :?
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Re: 429 vs 400

Post by BobbyFord »

$500 is too much for a 460, unless it's relatively fresh and does not need to be disassembled and refreshed/rebuilt. I've bought 2 '69 429's in the past couple of years, one for $250 carb-to-pan and the other for $150 carb-to-pan. Also bought a matching C6 for $75 (car trans...just gotta tear it down, swap out the tailshaft and rebuild it). I wouldn't take a 400M for free if I had to use it. The deals are out there you just gotta look around.
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