What would you do?

[rusty ol ranger]

Heres the issue......

77 LTD II......351W....jumped timing chain.....car is in awesome shape. I wanted to make it into a hi-po street car just for crusing around and dusting some ricers. The 351 does a good job but here is my other option....and yes i own it.

78 Ford F350 Dually.....400M.....runs strong, already got some mild work done to it.....have a feeling it would be a real screamer in the LTD....

Would you.....

1- Take the 400 and dump in the LTD after finding a C6 or Big Block pattern FMX, then take the 351W, and FMX from the LTD and put into the F350, after i got the Windsor running of course.

2- Leave the 400 in the Truck, Put a early timing set in the 351 and leave it in the LTD.

3- Pull the 400\4sp from the Dually, Junk the truck, put the 400 in the LTD, and build the 351W as i get the time\money, sell the 4sp, then dump the 351 back into the LTD, and use the 400 for a mud truck or something. (I really hate to junk the dually though)

Oh......and one more question......

Does the FMX have a removable bellhousing? That may affect my descion.

Also.....the 400 only has 13K on it.

later,
Dustin

 

[Sunk]

I'd just fix the 351 and leave it. Sounds like too much work to swap both motors and still have to fix one.

I know the C6 didn't have a removable bellhousing, but Im not sure about the FMX. Maybe you could find a BB C6..... If you go that route.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I dont think it would be that much work. The LTD II was orignally offered with the 400M....so i figured if i went and bought a set of mounts for a LTD II with a 400M, and got a BB tranny it should be the same length, so the cross member wouldnt be an issue....wouldnt it be pretty much plug and play?

Thanks for the advice though. I know the 351W can be made into a real screamer. But the extra Bottom End torque of the 400 would be nice when launching a 4000lb car.

Also....i dont wanna turn this into some debate of somesort.

later,
Dustin

 

[Sunk]

Yeah, well that doesn't sound too bad. I just figure its easier to partially put apart one motor and be done with it, than have to pull both and swap em. Id probably get stuff confused/lost between the two, but its you doin it not me.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Yeah....if it can be lost ill lose it.

I wish someone here knew if the LTD II mounts for a 400 bolt in the same frame location as the 351 mounts....cause i dont wanna have to drill through that frame :O.....its the same as a 77-79 T bird if anyone knows?

later,
Dustin

 

[Sunk]

Well is the engine cross-member welded/riveted in, or is kinda like a Dodge K-member?

Sorry, I know a bit about the F-series but nothing about the LTD, so Im just throwing Ideas out there.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Its been a while since i looked....but I belive its rivited in...cant say for sure....i think its just like a F series.

later,
Dustin

 

[baddis]

iirc the fmx does have a removable bell housing. bolts up like the old 4 speeds did

 

[Totalled]

Rebuild the 351 into a 408 Stroker.

Leave the smogger 400 in the truck.

Get a C6 anyway...

The FMX has a removable bell, but was only used behind small blocks.

 

[86ford]

pull the 351 for a winter build and install it after you built it the way you want it. take your time and make the motor you want. its not worth cutting corners to save some cash now. whatever parts save you the money today will fail you tommorow. or just find another block to build and run nitrous in the current one til something breaks then have a motor ready built and waiting. nitrous eats trannys too so you mite want to build a motor tranny combo... motor should be good for atleast a 125 shot and have significant life still.

86

 

[Dave R]

I wish someone here knew if the LTD II mounts for a 400 bolt in the same frame location as the 351 mounts

There is only one frame hole location for that chassis. All of the motor mounts used it, in fact I think they all used the same isolatior. Good luck finding a set of engine brackets for a 385 series block for that chassis, AFAIK they were discontinued YEARS ago. Your best bet is to find a donor vehicle in a breaker's yard, similar year LTD's used the same front crossmember.

 

[Will]

I would rather have the 400 than the 351W in there. I would love to have a set of 351C 4V heads on a 400. The 400 runs at 5000rpm with the same airspeed through it the 351 needs to spin 6000 for. It would really respond to those big ports and valves.

Definately need a C6 in it though.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

So the FMX wouldnt hold?

I heard the FMX was used in the LTD II with the 351W\M and 400.

But a C6 i know would for sure hold....but a C6 robs alot of power.

What kinda mileage woudl a 400 get with 2.50 rear gears? The 351 has obtained 23 on occasion.

I think I am going to pull the 400 and put in the car.....keep the 351 and build it....and maybe find a 460 somewhere to put in the dually. Are 460s still a dime a dozen....i know they used to be.....its been a looooong time since ive done anything like this.

Dave.....couldnt i just use the assecory brackets and such from the truck? Room shouldnt be an issue, and the alternator plugs in the same way....

llater,
Dustin

 

[Mutant Pony]

The FMX was used behind the 351m/400 (which are 335 series, 385 is the 429/460). The 4bbl heads on a 400 in a street car would be worthless, Australian 302c heads would be awesome. Edelbrock has heads available now for 1k each (ouch). You would need to find the mounts for the motor in that chassis, You can probably buy them new at the parts store though.
If you part out an E40d you can use the #9 roller and the low first and second gear in a c-6 and remove most of the drag.
The 351w would be much cheaper to build and would be more responsive, better low end torque.
If you do put the 400 in, change the timing chain. The factory one retards valve timing. Get a good cloyes true roller, It is worth the money. It will be a whole different motor.
The 400 has huge intake ports and valves, the exhaust ports suck. the motor doesn't get fuel mileage.

 

[Jim Oaks]

I'd probably build the 351W due to parts availability, but you could go for a 434 Stroker:

http://www.fordmuscle.com/archives/2007/02/Ford400/index.php