Reply to "Ford 400 Build"

Well getting beyond the why part and onto the how:

Your biggest issue is the bell housing. I wouldn't want to hack up my transaxle mounts either. IMO the best solution is to look for a 400 FMX block that has the sbf bell housing pattern. They're rare but out there. I have an acquaintence that has one. I can't remember but they may even have the sb motor mount bosses as well. This would at least mean the swap back to sbf would be a bolt in.

You will need to fab all new accesory brackets, because the mounting holes either aren't there or they are in a new location that causes interference.

For exhaust, it really depends on your headers but the probability is high that the #4 primary will hit your pressure tank. Like I said, my high ports on 9.5 deck did.

As far as intake, the most practical thing is adapters. Price Motorsport makes about every combo you could imagine for 335 series heads. I'd suggest you give serious consideration to just using 4V Cleveland heads. If you buy the intake adapters for this combo you at least have the ability to use all 4V Cleveland intakes. The 4V heads actually do pretty well on big cube strokers. You may be able to just use your present headers and mod your tail pipes. If you can make the passenger side work with just a tail pipe mod, the drivers side will be a sinch.

There are some issues in getting the desired Compression ratio. 400s had very long rods and larger (than 351C) diameter and different length wrist pins. If you want to use a forged flat top 351C piston (they have the same compression height)you'll need to bush the 400 rods and then float the pins. Even with OC heads this will produce fairly high CR but with a thick head gasket you might get it under 10:1. If you just want to use the stock cast dished 400 pistons, quench heads should take you to 9-9.5:1 or so. You may avoid other problems that create balancing problems going this route well. M heads had even larger combustion chambers than OC 351c.

Other than this, I'd say cam and carb as you desire and enjoy your cubes.

This whole issue has been thrashed to death over on the 335 series forum. Just don 't call it a 400M over there. It's really just a 400. The 351 version was designated M to distinguish it from the W and the C. Many mistakenly refer to the M as modified. It's actually Midland for the city of Midland engine plant. Just like C=Cleveland and W=Windsor. If you go to the 335 series forum photo gallery there is a picture of an FMX block on the front page of the photo section.

Kelly