What to do

[Derf47]

I have a 78 f250 with the 400 in it. I'm mostly going to use it for hauling wood. What can I do to spice it up without breaking the bank?

[Canonman67]

The usual recipe is mild cam, carburetor and headers. Just remember to check your local smog laws so you don't shoot yourself in the foot come registration time.

[1972hiboy]

It depends on what state your in for emissions reasons. The 400 was fords emission compliant v8 of the 70s. When I had my 79 f150 4x4 in high school there was no support for them. I advanced the stock camshaft somewhere in the neighborhood of 4-6 degrees and put a aluminum intake and Holley on it and I recall that really waking it up and not breaking the bank. Obviously I had to put things back come smog time

[Ren]

Yeah. The smog compliant, domestic V8s of the '70's and '80's were absolute pigs. No power AND horrible mileage. My dad had a '78 351M. Simply disconnecting the smog equipment, advancing the ignition timing, and adding dual exhaust improved everything considerably.

[idaho_cowboy]

Trade that 78 in for a 67-72 with 300 Six and 4-speed.

[cep62]

What can I do to spice it up

I would hardly call a 300 six "spicey."

They do have some torque , but to me are a little bland.

Some head work and a cam can improve a M motor .