How much work to drop in a 400

[Dave84]

How much work would it take to drop in a 400 cu. and the tranny that comes with it, in to my merc?, both engine and tranny are rebuilt, and the engine had a pretty decent cam and sounds real tougf

[mrltd]

About the same as a 429/460.

[Mercmarquis]

didnt you already post a thread on this? Regardless, it wont be easy in the least bit. Motor mounts, oil pan, accessories, all need to be adressed along with you need to swap out your AOD as well since the 400 uses a BBF bell housing. You'll prolly need your driveshaft shortened too.

[FastGallopingPonies]

I was under the impression the 400 was basically a factory bored/ stroked 351? is it the long block 351? I'm not very knowledgable with the subject, just trying to get the facts straight. Since I trust you guys the most.

[Mercmarquis]

351m completely different motor. Belongs to the 335 series of engines.

[mrltd]

The 400 is a CLEVELAND based motor (the 351C), NOT a windsor like the 302 and 351W. Completely different animals.

[1987cp]

Moroso makes a Mustang-swap 351C/M/400M oil pan, PN MOR-20530 at Summit - expensive but good. Headers might provide hours of fun, though it's remotely possible someone makes a 351C/M shorty header for Mustang swaps (Hedman's long-tube most likely won't fit). Still, the completed swap could be kind of cool if you can manage it.

[Lincolnmania]

the 351c would be an easier swap.......would bolt right in......just have to get creative with accys

[1987cp]

True, because of the small-block bellhousing bolt pattern, though that in itself isn't a huge concern if you get a big-block tranny with the 351/400M motor. But between typically thin cylinder walls (a pal of mine scrapped 3 or 4 0.030-over Cleveland blocks with pitted bores trying to find a good one for a customer's blower motor), limited parts availability, and the fact that it's so cheap and easy to make sick power with a Windsor (almost as much so as with a 350 Chevy), why build a Cleveland-design motor yourself (as opposed to buying one ready to go for cheap) except for the cool factor and/or bragging rights? Seems kind of like the Ford equivalent of a Mopar guy building a Hemi instead of a 440.

[gadget73]

I'd do a 400 in a truck or something, they can be made into monster motors. Lot of work to shove a big block type engine in one of these cars tho. In stock form the 400 ain't nothin special. Lots of potential with a cam and intake swap but without that its just another big inch smog motor that didn't make much power for it's size. 1987cp has a good point, its a lot of work for the amount of power you'd get from it. You'd be better investing your time and money in a windsor motor, or something else with more power potential. Besides, a mild 400 with a 3 speed trans is probably going to be putting fuel economy in the under 15 mpg range on the highway, maybe double digits in town if you're lucky.

[1987cp]

Besides, a mild 400 with a 3 speed trans is probably going to be putting fuel economy in the under 15 mpg range on the highway, maybe double digits in town if you're lucky.

Come to think of it, my mom's old 400-powered '74 Cougar almost always posted 14 mpg in the log book. I'd forgotten about that.

[mrltd]

Our 79 4wd bronco with a built 400 gets 13mpg with 33" tires and a 3.50 rear gear, C6 trans

[Grand Marquis GT]

Take the 400, find a way to swap it in, and I got a set of 4V quench cleveland heads that would make that fucker rock and roll :evil:

[1987cp]

Cleveland 4V heads = kewl

[mrltd]

Those 4V quenches would be badass on our already stout 400....