While we're talking truck engines

JDB · Jan 21, 2009

Dad had a Dodge pickup with a 400ci engine. Seemed like the power band was too high to be in a truck a 318 would out pull it. It would move right out but was a dog on the line. The only thing impressive was how much fuel it could burn (a lot). I have heard garage talk that no one got 400ci engines right. Any thoughts? Just curious, not trying to start a war.

molinebob · Jan 21, 2009

I geuss your right that no one got the 400 engines right, Both the chevy 400 and the ford 400 were gutless pigs, no power and they sure liked their fuel.

Clodbuster · Jan 21, 2009

With the smog rules, they had very low compression and small camshafts.

Put a 440 crank in one to make it a 451, good heads, cam, pistons, etc., and they are nasty!

JOCCO · Jan 21, 2009

JDB They were an after thought in the big block world. Some people liked them they did have smog/carb/cam/compression issues. As the other fellow said they could be built for power BUT they were not that common and i believe they would be exspencive compared to more common engines. As for the 400 ford it had crankshaft trouble among otherthings but some people swore by them!!! The 400 sb chevy was simeese bored and had heating issues amoung other things. There is no doubt that the 409 chevy and 413 dodge were far better. By the way i see a 400 dodge the other day they are buildng a hot rod. Much to there dismay a fellow showed them a 426 hemi original with the dual carbs. They stared speachles for what seemed like hours!!!

Anonymous-0 · Jan 21, 2009

Kinda wonder what you might be driving, Bob. I bought a worn out 78 Ford F250 400 4spd from my brother about 15 years ago. It was great for towing and not bad on fuel. Sold it a few years later to a guy in Buffalo MN and it is still being driven by a farmer there. So we bought another one, though a 150,on a ND farm auction last summer. It has 175000 miles on the original engine and it runs and drives just fine. It is a dependable starter at -30F temperatures we are experiencing, and on colder nights we plug in the block heater. The truck is not garaged. Everyone in the family likes the way it drives and handles. So bring whatever you're driving on over here and we'll try out some snow,mud or hills,and if you still think you can run with a gutless pig we'll chain them up on Eagle Bend's Main street and I can pull you backwards to the scrap yard 3 blocks east. Joe in the snow

twopop · Jan 21, 2009

had a 76 f250 with a 400.gutless and drank gas terribly.then timing chain gave out.auto parts sold me two crank gears.i put the high performance one on and then it was a good truck

Anonymous-0 · Jan 21, 2009

I've got a '77 F250 with a 400 engine that has plenty of power. Drives good - gotta be careful - you'll look at the speedo and it'll say 80, but it feels like 50. 12 MPG 'bout as good as it gets though.

Paul

bradk · Jan 21, 2009

Molinebob

There was something wrong with your Chev 400 if you thought it was a gutless pig.

I've had smallblock 400's in old Caprices and Impalas.Sizzled the tires off those things without trying!

Have a 400 in my Chev 24ft. motorhome and it performs very well and has impressive fuel mileage.

Brian Jasper co. Ia · Jan 21, 2009

I had a 77 Ranchero with a 400 in it. Totally gutless. I swapped in a 460 from a 74 Grand Marquis. Double the power and even a little better fuel economy.

barn E · Jan 22, 2009

Me and my son put a 400 in a chevy nova. Fiercest tire burnin' machine around here. Dave

While we're talking truck engines

JDB

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molinebob

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Clodbuster

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JOCCO

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Anonymous-0

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twopop

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Anonymous-0

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bradk

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Brian Jasper co. Ia

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barn E

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