I finally drug out the 400. After I realized that the original 292 in my '59 was toast, I kinda lost steam. Anyway, I started doing some measurements and it looks like the 400 will want to take up a lot of the engine bay. This includes where the steering box currently calls home. I am wondering if anyone has ever attempted this swap before and what it took to make it fit?
I currently have a 351m/fmx in mine side to side is good, steering box is good front to back a little tight. You should be good.
My '55 F100 has the 400/fmx package from a '78 LTD: PS, A/C stuff, all of it, and it fits great. You'll love that engine. Ditch the pitiful Ford ignition and go with a HEI (Less than $100) Get a new Holley carb. Factory readjusted because the buyer fiddled with it and returned it, unused. (About $200). That engine will start and run like gangbusters. In mine, I also dropped in the LTD steering box (for PS), and that did fit tight. So I offset the engine about 1 inch off center to the passenger side. Thought I was a genius until I looked at my Bronco. Ford offset it more than that!
Hey chicken coop, did you use stock exhaust, or did you have to go with headers? Any chance there you have some pics of that combo in yours? Ravenwood, this one appears to be mostly stock, other than an Edelbrock manifold and some M/T valve covers. How tight is the squeeze on a '55?
CShroom, it wasn't tight at all, except, like I said the steering. I did remove the crossmember that held the front motor mount of the Y block, because it was no longer needed, so I don't know if that would have otherwise needed trimming. I used the LTD front suspension (not a frame graft, I modified the F100 frame rails) so I added the front crossmember from the LTD to attach the front struts as original to the sedan. Rides and drives like a dream. I can leave hands off the wheel at (don't tell the DPS) 100 mph. One thing I omitted about the 400. Even if you have a good running engine to install, at least replace the timing chain and gears. And get a lower gear that has the varible slots that lets you 'time' the gear. This engine, as you know, was built as a smog engine and it was built with the camshaft 'retarded' to make Uncle Sam happy. Research the number (because I've forgotten) how much it was retarded. Crank this much advance back into it, and go two-four degrees more (because as soon as your timing chain stretches you lose that much). You won't believe how it will come alive. I had a 428 in '66 (pre-smog) and the 400, with the tune ups I did would spank that 428. (Ports and exhaust headers are the difference.) And factory exhaust headers from different factory applications will suffice (as far as having enough flow. And will probably fit. Did in mine.) And... a little grinding and polishing at those factory 'knobs' on the headers will produce some nice looking headers as well. Good luck with your conversion. BTW, I have the same 400-tweaked engine in a Bronco, and it will tow a loaded trailer on the interstate against new rigs, hills and all.
I have a 400 out of a 79 bronco that i am using in my bobber truck build, i believe there is a 400 website just for these engines.
Stock exhaust it works great drops it out right under the steering box and, clears the trans cross member. Headers would be tough to get in there. In the pic department im re assembling my frame after paint and the cab is off I will get you some of the manifold to steering box clearance.
Thanks guys. I had grabbed the tape measure yesterday and when I got that width and length and then did a quick check of the doghouse, I was getting nervous. I know that Ford originally did that strange crossover on the 292 I am assuming to avoid steering box issues. And when I saw just how far out it would stick, I started thinking (am I even smart for attempting this?) Well, gotta get it back on the road somehow and this was handy. I am real glad to hear it won't require a new clip, or heavy modifications to the engine bay that I am ill equipped to do. I am not afraid of the basics, but sometimes these swaps are nasty and I didn't want to get into something like that. One more thing chicken coop. Did you have to build a hump in your floor, or were you able to get it fit with the stock floor?
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