I would be a liar if I said that the 351 wasn't a better motor, however the Y block is waaaaaay cooler. I guess I just depends what era you are going for, neither of them would be my first choice.
They're good motors once you get rid of the smog **** that Ford did to them. Had they been built in the early-mid '60s (ie- before emmisions), the M series motors would have been well respected! http://home.earthlink.net/~bubbaf250/ Lotta good reading about them in the above link. I've been doing alot of thinking today (ow, my head hurts). I want a hot rod that can run respectable #'s at the track & not break the bank. I'm just not gonna accomplish that w/ the Y. I think I'll build the 400 Ford & see what she can do. "Period correct" isn't as important to me as hauling ***. Any opinions on build direction? Would a slammed pick-up on steelies & caps be a better route to go than a g***er-looking pick up?? Either way, I plan on running biased tires..... cheater slicks on the back, of course. I'm not asking how to build my truck so much as I'm looking for direction. I'm using the HAMB more as my gearhead conscience to help me along. I really appreciate all the input.
I love the thought of a lowered 'stude pickup with a Y-block or an FE in it...that sounds like that cat's *** to me...maybe run some lake pipes under the doors so those unsuspecting schmucks think it's a slow little cruiser pickup...hahaha...
Going nostalgic? If it was good enogh for Stone, Woods and Cooke.............Go big Olds....That's what they used in the Willys before the HEMI.............or, go HEMI
Of course I say it should have a Pontiac, but you seem to be a Ford guy. I like the Y block. Like Terry said, not everyone had an A or B g***er. The g***ers of 58-60 were very different than the current trend. How much will that little truck weigh? If it's 2500 lbs, and you want to stuff 450 hp in it, you will have to back it up with a full cage, long wheelstuds, and other requirements ($) to go down the track.
I figure it'll weigh in around 3000 pounds. I'm not a Ford fanatic, but I do like their motors alot. I actually have a 4 bolt 350 SBC, but I told my Dad he could have it for his '55 210.
My opinion is strictly for the motor only, not based on the style you would like to build your truck after. I'd say go AMC. I know that they can be a little hard to find but I think that a built 401 AMC would really haul ***. You got a truck that is not very common compared to ford and chevies. Go with a motor that is equally not as common.
I think a 400 with a nice matched setup will put a smile on your face. I've been a fan of C's since I got into cars and the 400 just gets you that much further ahead (I have about a grand in the rotating ***embly to get my 351C to 393 CID), if you take care of the emissions ****. You'll have to run a cast piston unless you want to spring for customs, but I've never had issues with cast pistons even with nitrous, which is a no-no. However there are flat top cast pistons out there to get your compression up for good prices. What head you use will dictate the rest of your combo. Check your heads upper right hand corner, they'll either have a "M" or a "2". If you have the "M"s you'll wanna swap 'em likely, they're the ones with the ****py water jacket around the exhaust valve. Whichever head, the 4V or the 2V, you chose, I'd at least put new single groove single piece valves in 'em... I split the head off the stem of one of the ****py stock valves once, all holy hell broke loose, and it jack-hammered a piston, cylinder bore, head, everything; had to s**** the whole deal. If you don't run higher RPMs you'd be OK, but whats the fun in that. Get you get yourself a new cam and timing set to take care of the 4 degree retard, I can't remember if its cut into the cam or if it was done with the timing set. I ran high 13's with a basic 2V 351 in my Mach 1; modified Performer intake (****s box-stock), stock heads, headers, and a Lunati Bracket Master II, FMX and 3.89's. You have alot of options, and your gears and the stick give you alot more flexibility (especially when you get into 4V stuff), but even the 4V heads on 400 would make good low torque. The 400's of the early 70's were nice runners, no emissions, good compression, the 2V C head. The 70's smog garbage just destroyed their reputation, along with the introduction 351M. The 351M was kinda thrown out there after the demise of the C's, and was a smogged up compromise from the get-go just to have a 351 CID mill. I'd love to get my hands on one of the early 70's 400 blocks that used the small block ****** pattern.
OK, picture this in your mind: Use the S10 ch***is you have, set it on a nice French rake with white walls. If you go with the Y block slap some cool Ford full wheel covers on it, think '56 Fairlanes, if you use the Buick drive train, think a set of '55 Buick full covers, paint it a shiny dark color, white toneau cover, '49 Stude tail lights mounted low on the fenders, black and white tuck and roll and a set of belly burner pipes. Cut outs in the front wheelwells. Some tasteful pinstriping and you'll be golden. That would be a kick *** push truck for a Cacklefest car or a tow rig for a g***er.
yeah what he said....the old tired cliche: GO GIB or GO EMOH...besides arnt 351m metric.... nothing but a boat anchor, I hated the one I had...total dog!!!
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