400 into ranger: need help

[baddad457]

The steering and oil filter clearance should be no different than the other small blocks, afterall, the 400 block's bottom end is the same dimensions as the Clevelands, and the Clevelands shared motor mount boss dimensions with the 289/302/351W.

 

[lilmanMS]

baddad457 The steering and oil filter clearance should be no different than the other small blocks, afterall, the 400 block's bottom end is the same dimensions as the Clevelands, and the Clevelands shared motor mount boss dimensions with the 289/302/351W

okay so dont think i would have to move the steerin shaft and all then? and how about the exhaust? best ones can find are the dynomax and they hug the block with 1 3/4 tube.

 

[projectnitemare]

That's true, I didn't think of that part. The oil filter kit should take care of that part of the equation. The steering and exhuast will still be very tight. You might be able to get away with some tight fitting headers but you might not though. The only way you are going to know for sure is when you drop the engine in. The different steering box may be needed to divert the steering shaft out of the way of the headers. You'll just have to keep a few options open if something doesn't go as planned.

Matt

 

[lilmanMS]

okay so go ahead and plan on a pil filter relocation kit. the headers im lookin at are WLK-85051 on summit racing. could yall look at those and see what yall think of em? looks like they would be some tight fitting headers dont they?

 

[baddad457]

If you want to try shorty's, look into "Sanderson headers" Do a search, they used to have a website. They made shortys for the Cleveland motors that might work better in a Ranger.

 

[lilmanMS]

aight thanks. as long as the headers hug the motor and dont cause to much hassle ill use em.

 

[baddad457]

If I recall, someone did use the Sandersons in a Ranger/Cleveland swap once. Been awhile though.

 

[lilmanMS]

okay, checked out those sanderson headers and it seems like they only sell em as a whole exhaust kit, cant find just the headers, or they just high as all get out cause average price was around 600-700.

 

[HoleshotKFX400]

Not to shoot your 400M motor idea down, but dont you think it might be cheaper to go with a 351w or straight to a 460? Then again a 400 is quite different then i ever seen

 

[lilmanMS]

allready got the motor so instead of just huntin up another and all, we gonna use the one we got. its sittin in his old truck, 78 f100 at the moment. yea, ive hard of a few, and say a few, 460s into rangers but they all dragsters and all. i want to drop the 400 into it cause aint ever heard it being done but also that way it can be a driver on the weekend and still be able to drag it whenever i feel like it.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

The 400 is actually a good choice. They can be built to 460 power levels and are lighter then a 460.

later,
Dustin

 

[lilmanMS]

yea, everythin im findin out about the 400 seems to be somethin else. seems like its a sleepin monster cause everywhere been lookin been saying only have to do so much to it and it would be a good street monster. plus, it punches out the torque like crazy.

 

[baddad457]

The two biggest hurdles to the 400's potential are the piston compression height (that leaves it too far down the hole at TDC) and the open chambered heads. Build it with custom pistons and quench heads and then it'll be on a par with the others.

 

[lilmanMS]

okay, so what are your suggestions for pistons that dont make your wallet squall to bad? 2000 dollar budget for the motor too. already found the right cam, comes with the lifters and timing set up and all, kit only 457 if remember.
im planning on testing the compression on it this sunday, but the tester ive got tests it in pounds. what should be the optimal psi per cylinder and how do you convert the psi for the pistons into the standard compression ratio?

 

[baddad457]

Don't know what's out there now for the 400 in pistons. I built one a few years back using a set of 351C forgings. Drilled the pin bores out to fit the 400 pins. Milled the block's deck .020. Pistons were still a good .040 down the hole at TDC. Ported and poished the stock 2 bbl heads, milled them .030 too. Comp ratio ended up being 9.7 to 1. Cam was a Com Cams 280H. Ran great, but only with 93 octane fuel (where my 10.25 to 1 390 in the 68 Merc would do with 89 octane). Ended up pulling the motor from the 77 F100 it was in (my teenaged son couldn't swing buying premium gas on his money) Took the 400 that was in it,(stock .030 over reman) swapped cams to a Summit Racing p/n 5200 cam and bolted a Holley 500 2 bbl on the stock intake. Ended up being a much more fun truck to drive after that. I also had used a Crane stud conversion kit to allow rocker adjustment with the built 400. Had two studs that repeatedly would work loose, that was another factor in pulling that motor.