>There are several problems with the 400 Cleveland; first, not all the
>'73 400s were cast for the smallblock bellhousing and motormounts.
True.
>They were only used in passenger cars with the FMX auto tranny.
Possibly true though I've not been able to confirm. Small block
C6's would also bolt up (and C4's and AOD's though they were not
offered in those cars that year).
>I've personally never seen one, and I've looked.
I have one and Dave Williams has one that he's building for a Pantera
customer. He offset ground the crank and bored it to 438 cubic inches.
You can see Dave's block at:
http://members.tripod.com/lyc_42/fengpix1/odd400.jpg Notice the undrilled otline for the big block bolt pattern.
>Second, in the early '70s, Ford had a great deal of trouble with block
>cracking in the 400 engines.
That was a problem at one of the two foundries the blocks were cast at,
and during a specific period of time. The bottom line is that if you
find a high mileage 400 block and it hasn't cracked yet, you are
probably good to go.
>I have read in a recent 351c engine rebuild book, that there is one
>more engine that will bolt to the pantera bellhousing (or 351c bell
>housing that is) and that engine is the 1973(only) 400 ford.
Yes.
>if correct, this could leave room for some huge cubic inches (of
>boring and stroking) that could almost, (i'am sure there would have
>to be modifying in someplaces), bolt right up.
Yes. The 400 deck height is approximately and inch taller than a
351C which means there's plenty of room to increase stroke and still
run a long rod and reasonable ring pack/pin height. You can offset
grind the crank for 440 cubes or so. Ford 240/300 truck six rods or
early Mopar slant six rods can even be used but the pistons required
are custom or you can modify Chevy stroker pistons with canted valve
notches (not really recommended). Back before the fancy Motorsport
blocks were available, Jack Roush built a 400-based stroker for his
personal Autokraft Cobra. An old Super Ford article ("The Cobra that
Jack built") gives the details. The article states Jack wanted a torque
monster and a 460 would have been his choice but no aluminum heads for
the big block were available at the time. To keep the weight reasonable,
he decided to stroke a 400 and use Motorsport 351C aluminum high port
heads (A3's). Using a custom stroker crank and boring the block 0.030"
over, he was able to get 460 cubes out of the 400 block. Adapter
plates and an A331 Motorsport high port intake, were used along with a
780 Holley. The cam was a surprisingly mild hydraulic Comp Cams unit
but the extra cubes and high port induction pulled 520 HP.
The 400 FMX blocks have a dual (standard 400 and small block) motor
mount pattern though my block and Dave's block differ. It appears some
400 FMX blocks have all 4 (undrilled) small block motor mount bosses,
others may not. In any case, it's no big deal. The 400 pattern matches
the 45 degree Pantera motor mount stands. A very simple adapter could be
made to use the 400 motor mount holes.
>IMHO, you'd be better off trying to locate an aluminum Cleavor to open
>out to 400+ inches.
Apples and oranges. The 400 FMX block is nearly free if you find one.
A Fontana block is over $4500 when all is said and done. I have $200
in my 400 FMX, including the cost of boring and lifter sleeving (circle
track oil control trick).
I'm saving mine, along with a set of A3 heads and matching manifold,
just-in-case the 408 cube 351C stroker I'm putting together this year
isn't enough. If 400 cubes is your goal, a standard 351C block can
be stroked to 4".
>I left out one thing in my original post, my tranny that I want to
>replace is an FMX, does that make a difference? Jack's post makes me
>think it might.
No, all that matters is the block bellhousing pattern and tranny
bellhousing pattern. The 400 FMX thing is just a (somewhat misleading)
way of referring to the 400 with snmall block bolt pattern block.
Dan Jones
