A true flat-top will yield about 10:1 compression with the stock heads. The stock piston is somewhere around 8.5:1. 351C flat tops will work, but you'll have to find a machine shop that will bush the rods, since the 400 rod has a larger pin dia. What kind of car/truck would you be putting this in?

http://www.projectbronco.com/

Have Fun!

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Originally posted by stretracer19:
it might not make as much torque as a 460 but it's not far behind either lets say for instance according to chiltons in 78 when my engine was produced a 2 barrel 400 made 160 HP while making 314 ft lb. of torque compared to the 460 with a 4 barrel making 202 HP and making 348 ft lb. of torque which in my mind makes the 400 a torquier engine

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Originally posted by Jimmy Ray:
I'm trying to remember...... If I think back far enough.... Even though the 351C and 400 are of the same family, (except for the heads) the rest of the major assembies, ie. the crank rods pistons will not work, because of the taller block hieght the rods are longer, (this is where I get a little fussy), the pistons won't inter change because of the offset for the taller rod.... So trying to use a 351C Piston with higher compression than the 400's 8 to 1, Isn't going to happen.... You can't use the 400 crank to stroke 351C because of the difference of main rod jounials dia.
Yep with money and the will you can make 400 run but a 429 or a 460 is cheaper, and parts much much easier to get....
If ford would have used their head the 400 could have been something. BUT the engneers over engneered it and now your left holding a boat anchor....
Sorry....

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Yep, the pistons are the same, except the 400 uses a larger piston pin.

Any how I think you should follow the 400 build up that hot rod magazine did. You would make a little more power using your headers and a 4 barrel carb. They used factory exhaust manifolds and a 2 barrel carb. They made 468 LB-ft, and 380 HP

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Success comes to those who hustle wisely.

[This message has been edited by SnakeEyes (edited 12-15-2001).]

[This message has been edited by SnakeEyes (edited 12-15-2001).]

The flattop pistons are from either Badger or Ohio Piston. If you want forged, you've either got to bush the rods for 351C pieces or go custom.

Do it all to one of the 73' FMX blocks with the small block bellhousing, and it could be fitted (with some work) in place of the 351C, and most folks wouldn't know the difference.

There used to be a guy on the fordnatics mailing list with a Pantera with a 400 topped by Weber carbs that pumped out close to 600hp with 4bbl 351C heads.

The torque curve was extremely flat as well. One helluva' engine!

Good Luck!

A minor point, it's 400. There's no need for the M, since Ford made no other
400's. The M is used for the 351M, to differentiate it from 351W's and 351C's.

> I've heard stories of a competitive local dirt modified from the early 80's winning
>against the big block chevies

A local (when I was living in Ohio) dirt track racer used to run them and liked them
a lot. He ran them with everything from cast iron 2V heads to aluminum C302B's.
In fact, I know where you can get a Roush single plane intake that was widened
to fit a 400 with C302B heads. He's also got a sheet metal intake for a 400 for sale
(IIRC, he was only asking $150).

>I know Jack Roush used to mess around with the 400's. (I've seen a couple of
>Roush prepped 400 blocks at swap meets-with 4 bolt mains and small block
>bellhousing pattern.)

Jack Roush's own Autokraft Cobra was powered by stroked 400 with SVO
high port aluminum Cleveland heads. An old Super Ford article ("The Cobra
that Jack built") gave the details. The article stated Jack wanted a torque
monster and a 460 would have been his choice but no aluminum heads for the
big block were available at the time. To keep the weight reasonable, he decided
to stroke a 400 and use Motorsport 351C aluminum high port heads. With a 0.030"
overbore and a custom Crower stroker crank, the displacement was 460 cubic
inches. The short block was topped off by a set of A3 aluminum high port heads
with matching A331 high port intake (using adater plates) and 780 Holley.
According to the article, the cam was surprisingly mild, a hydraulic Comp Cams
280 with 0.530" lift (the article mistakenly states 0.500" lift). Claimed output was
520 HP.

>There used to be a guy on the fordnatics mailing list with a Pantera with a 400 topped
>by Weber carbs that pumped out close to 600hp with 4bbl 351C heads. The torque
>curve was extremely flat as well. One helluva' engine!

That was William Mullen. I still have a copy of his post:

"Well, here's the info most of you have been waiting for....I took the Pantera
motor to Cobra Restorers, in Kennesaw, GA, after getting fed up w/not being
able to tune the carbs up properly, and then had it dynoed by my engine
builder, when he got up above 4000 rpms I left the room b/c I was afraid
what might happen. Here are the results:

RPM HP TQ
2000 158 415
2500 212 445
3000 274 480
3500 352 527
4000 431 566
4500 500 583
5000 543 571
5500 567 541
6000 577 505
6500 567 458

Here are the engine parts:
Ford 400 FMX block, bored .030", 4-bolt main
Stock rods/crank
Arias forged pistons
351C 4V heads, ported, 2.19/1.76 SS valves, 11:1 CR
Comp Pro Magnum 1.73 intake/1.8 exhaust roller rockers
Hall Pantera manifold
PME intake spacers
Weber 48 IDA's, 45mm chokes, Inglese needle/seats/circuits
Comp 32-771-8 Magnum roller cam
GTS Equal-length 2" headers"

He ended selling the Pantera. Something about needing money to go to
college so he could have a future. Some lame excuse like that :-) He's
building a V8 Fiero to take its place. Sigh.

>Do it all to one of the 73' FMX blocks with the small block bellhousing, and it could be
>fitted (with some work) in place of the 351C, and most folks wouldn't know the
>difference.

I've got one of those blocks. I'm keeping it in reserve, just in case, my planned
408C stroker isn't enough. By offset grinding the crank and using Ford 240 rods,
it's possible to get 430+ cubes out of the 400 and still have a good rod to stroke
ratio (240 rods are 6.79" long).

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Originally posted by Daniel Jones:
[B The article stated Jack wanted a torque
monster and a 460 would have been his choice but no aluminum heads for the
big block were available at the time.
[/B]

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