Settle something for me...390 vs 400.

[rusty ol ranger]

I got a buddy that thinks the 390 is the best thing since sliced bread.

I think the 400 is the better overall engine.

Disclosure...ive never really messed with FEs beyond driving a couple. They were fine but not really knock your socks off.

The 400s i have had seemed to have torque for days and a cooling system that actually worked.

So....whats your guys take?

 

[Blmpkn]

140

 

[rusty ol ranger]

140

Please......we are talking engines...not noisemakers

 

[lil_Blue_Ford]

300… with a cross-flow head.

 

[Curious Hound]

140

Is that on your weedeater?

 

[Shran]

FE's are really heavy... 1950's technology. 351M/400's are just neutered by smog controls and lack of significant aftermarket support and they never came with cool hot rod parts out of the box like FE's did. Other Ford engines from the era suffer from the same stuff too. 385 family... heavy...maybe smog parts...maybe pretty cool. SBF, light but not a ton of power stock.

I drove a few FE powered trucks back in the day and they were no hot rods but plenty reliable. I have no preference towards any of them from about 67 on, I think if I was building a truck I would just use whatever was in it unless there was nothing, and in that case it would be a 351W in a half ton or any of the others in a 250/350. I'd have a very hard time building a stock 302, 352, 351M, 360...etc... seems like kind of a waste when you can find more bigger & more better parts for a build.

For a 66 or older build I think a 351W or inline 6 would be my go-to's if I was starting with nothing. I like inline 6's in general but they just seem right at home in those old trucks and less so in newer ones.