Help! I have a brand new Ford 400 Engine Bare Block that I bought in 1980 from a guy who bought it directly from Ford. I am finally going to build it for a 53 F100 Streetrod truck that I am building. My problem is this: It does NOT have the fitting on the block that the Oil Filter screws on to. I have one on another 400 short block, but I wasn't able to get it off. I tried a pipe wrench, but can't get it in far enough, and the pipe wrench goofed up the threads a little already. I called a couple parts suppliers, locally, NAPA and Bumper to Bumper, but they can't find it in their books. The local Ford garage doesn't have anything in their computers to go back that far. I went to the Ford factory and he couldn't help me without a Ford number for the part. He said to try Green Sales Co, but I haven't tried them yet. Does someone have a good one to sell, or know how I can get one? I used to race 351-C's and the 400's back in the late 70's and early 80's, but have been out of touch for 25 years on them, but I built a single 4 bbl intake tunnel ram and also matched a set of 2 bbl heads with 4 bbl valves to the intake and it was awesome in my 1981 T-Bird Late Model stockcar back in 81. Now it is time to put it into this custom 53 F100 I am building for a streetrod truck. And I want to use this new 400 block I took in trade on a complete 400 back then. Thanks, Jim. ###
#1...Try F1AZ-6890-B...that's the 460 piece. Not gonna swear it fits the 400, but I believe so. That is about $10 at a dealership. #2... try double-nutting the other adapter... it should be 3/4"-16 threads. #3...try the N54 Cleveland board...might find someone who has one lying around. http://www.network54.com/Forum/119419/ Don't forget that nearly all 400s have the unique motor mount boss pattern, not the SBF, BBF, FE, etc...plan accordingly. They also have the BBF trans pattern, unless you have one of the extremely rare blocks with the SBF bosses & the SBF trans pattern. (In that case, I'd sell that block & get a different one....they have some value to certain people.) Normal rebuilder 400 pistons are very low in the hole at TDC...try here: http://www.tmeyerinc.com/ for good ones....or you can use Cleveland pistons & bush the rods.
Thanks loads, Homespun, I am sure one of those should work. I never thought of the double nut thing, but probably could work too, depending on HOW tight that thing is in there. I used my intake/ head setup on my late model stock car and with the 71 flattop pistons I had a 12:1 compression ratio. But I had milled the block to zero deck clearance in my previous engine and I have milled the modified 2 bbl 351 heads also. I found a new set of std pistons with deep dish on EBay, so I am set there. I was purposely looking for the deeper dish, as I have a 73 engine also, that has dish pistons, but not as deep. The new one also have the tops cut for valves. I want to be able to run it on the street without having to buy premium all the time for it. The block is brand new from Ford, but I have had it since 1980. It is the stronger truck block replacement with a build date of August 1979. Just the big ****** mount pattern on it. I just got the right side motor mount for it, and ordered the left side earlier today. So I am okay there. Thanks again for all the info. Jim. ###
Homespun91: I tried the double nut trick but it didn't work on this unit as it must be too tight in there. But I checked on one of my old 289 blocks and it had one. While not exactly the same as the 400, it works. It has a big integral nut so was pretty easy to get out once I broke it loose. Thanks again, Jim. ###
Try the engine re-builders they may let you borrow the tool. They use an easy out type of thing, Its 4 sided and tapered. They bang it into the center and use it to turn them out. When we were kids my friends and I would get a truck with a modified in it. The very first thing we would do is pull that thing and dump a 429/460 in it. This is my opinion and I'm not trying to be a **** but, Don't wast your time or money on the 400M, they have a weak bottom end, there gas pigs, and have No Balls. We used to thrash the hell out of are 4x4 and 429s/460s are the only way to fly. Sure there gas pigs but not much worse that the 351M/400Ms are.
I looked it up in a book i have on that family of engines. It says to use a 1 1/4 in socket to remove the filter adapter and dont let it slip and round the head. the socket wont go all the way on and needs a chamfer ground on it to go all the way on. It says if you round the adapter you wont get it off? re-torque to 80 ft. lbs. Good luck. The book i have is FORD V8 ENGINES by Tom Monroe. covers 351c,m,400,429,460. I use it a lot. I got it from speedway
Bret: THanks for the info, however, I already have all the stuff to build my 400-C. Some of it was left over from 1981 from my Late Model Stockcar. I don't want to remove that filter adapter by destroying it. I wanted it for the NEW engine that doesn't have one. So an Easy Out is out. Your engines were obviously stock as I built both 351 Clevelands and the 400 Clevelands back in 79-81, and the 400's were considerably stronger than the 351-C's that I built. No comparison when in a heavier car or truck, as a matter of fact. It took me 6 long weeks to build the single 4 bbl tunnel ram intake, and matching 2bbl hogged out heads for it. But it was unreal in the torque department. NO stock 460 would have compared to that. I am not sure what you mean by weak bottom ends on the 400's, as I had very little trouble with them. Course I only turned them to 6500 rpm's. But that is plenty with that great long stroke they have. As a matter of fact it is THE longest stroke that Ford ever had in any of their gas engines. Besides porting to a point where I had to weld up some holes, I also added 4 bbl valves to these 2bbl heads, AND milled them, and cc'd them. I kept the exhaust valves stock, but cut the intakes down to 2.10 inches. This was a great compromise combo. I had also milled the block decks to zero cleanance, for a true 12:1 ratio, and had a Crane cam, Holley 800 Double pumper, Headers, etc.. Another guy from Northern Minnesota used to come down and race his late model, and he ran 400's also. No one could beat him. And most of the guys ran Chevies; both big and small blocks, some pretty exotic.
Hi Greg: Thanks for the info. However this particular 400 filter adapter does NOT have a nut. Like I explained up above, a 289 that I have did have the one with the nut so I took it off and have installed it in the NEW block. I haven't torqued it yet though. MY regular 1 and one quarter inch socket fit it fine. I also have a deep socket but didn't need to use it. I imagine there are all kinds of different shaped sockets out there. Would depend on the brand I imagine. I have a lot of Ford books. I will have to go through them all and see IF I have the one you mention. IF I do, I will read it again. If not, I will order it. THanks. Jim. ###
go to a local junk yard use a big square easy out slitly tap it in middle use cressent wrench on other end should come out..i have a 400m in my 1931-1932 roadster hauls ***...lots of torque. not stock though ..jeffrey
I have a 400m in my Merc. I know it has plenty of miles on it cause it smokes sometimes,but it runs awesome! Besides the oil leak I had when I got stuck on some RR tracks,I haven't had any problems. The gas milage isn't very bad at all. I have an Edelbrock600 and Performer manifold. Eventually when I rebuild it,i'm gonna put a mild cam in it,and a MSD dist. Just to pick it up a little.
Looks cool, Moses. Reminds me of my first streetrod back in 1961. I turned a 30 coupe into a roadster, only it was red. I would do a lot of things different with it today though. I don't have any photos of mine anymore though. BUt someplace I think I still have 8mm movies of my wife driving it when it was a channeled coupe. You guys are giving me the bug here. Gonna have to work harder on this project to get it on the road sooner than I planned. Jim.
Bad Bob, looks nice and clean. You are right in that you can get decent mileage with them. I plan to only drive mine on nice days for fun, but a little over 30 years ago I had a 1965 and a half Mustang fastback that I put a Boss 302 into. I drove it about 80 miles each way to the dragstrip and was surprised that I got 11 mpg with it. I built it pretty hot for mainly running on the 1/8th miles strip. I had a toploader, 5:14 detroit locker, 800 double pumper, pretty hot crane cam, headers, etc.. I was pleased with how streetable it actually was. Course we didn't pay $4.00 a gallon for gas back then. ;o) Jim.
Also I should mention that I drive like an old lady! At least with the Merc. I want it to last,so I don't push it.
I don't drive like I used to, but still not like an old lady. Though THAT is the SMART way to drive with the prices of gas today. Jim. ###
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