HEY i finally got a pinto, its a 75 i picked it up for $100 and i also got a 78 LTD i picked up for $150. i plan on takin the 400 M out of the LTD along with the c6 transmission and putting them in the pinto, i really need to find a guide or a kit to make the swap easier.or if you guys could justgive me some advice id really appreciate it. by the way the engine IS a ford small block so id imagin their would be a kit. thanks for the help
sorry buddy, but your not going to get a kit for the 351m/400m into the pinto. Best bet is to ditch the engine and tranny and find a 302/351w and stick with a C4. Those engines were really awfull and the C6 will require MAJOR mods to the firewall/transtunnel. Check the FAQ section for a V8 conversion, that may help.
The 351m/400 are good engines! I have a 400hp/475ftTq 400 in my 77 f-150. It would be difficult to shoehorn it in a pinto due to the wide heads and manifold. They only weigh 575lbs and share the same bore spacing as a ford small block. They have a big block bellhousing bolt pattern and some people confuse them for big blocks, but they are not. If built for low end torque, ie below 3000rpm, they can make just as much torque as a similar built 460. No joke! If you want more info on a 400 ford, try ford truck enthusiast's(spelling?) the 351c 351m/400 forum. As for the pinto stick with a 302. there plentiful and there are numerous parts for this conversion. I have 2 302's in my garage and would happily trade one for the 400/c-6 combo, but that would all depend on where you live relitive to me. :D
Yeah i kno its gonna be hard to fit, but its all i got see im only 17 and i bought a 1978 Ford LTD with the 400 engine for $150, then i found the pinto for $100 so i though this would be a perfect cheap project. id love to get a 302 or something like that but i can only work with what i got on account of im hellllla poor, but yeah i think id be willing to trade as long as the 302 came with a tranny, im located in north cali, in the valley about 2 hrs from sac.
Quote from: KopfenJager on March 14, 2005, 09:18:59 PM
The 351m/400 are good engines! I have a 400hp/475ftTq 400 in my 77 f-150.
They were notorious for oil problems (loss of pressure, low pressure) They are as you said, well suited for truck aplications, with low rpm use.
case_26 Do yourself a favor and stick with a 302-351w In the end, the 400 will cost you more to install in the Pinto.
I would love to have a 351 or a 302, but i dont have any money and the 400 is the only motor i have, im not really lookin for a daily driver either though i just want a car that will show all the ricers in my town what v-8s can do, so any advice on how to make the 400 not have the oil problems? im in the process of tearing it down as we speak
Quote from: case_26 on March 17, 2005, 02:23:56 PM
I would love to have a 351 or a 302, but i dont have any money and the 400 is the only motor i have, im not really lookin for a daily driver either though i just want a car that will show all the ricers in my town what v-8s can do, so any advice on how to make the 400 not have the oil problems? im in the process of tearing it down as we speak
Well first you have a problem, no money and you want to "fix" the oiling problem. not a good combo.
I had a bronco with a mild 400 in it and of course it dumped a rod. By the time we got done building and modding things we had a very bad-butt engine. However the money would have been better invested into a 302/351w as I could have had added many more "goodies" The price of the 400 parts was more than the 302 stuff.
Not that the 400 was a pile or anything, it was extremely impressive and still going to this day (with a new owner)
In your situation I would find someone to buy or trade with and get the 302/c4 combo as it will fit much better and easier.
I am getting ready to stuff an injected 89 5.0/C4 combo into my 74 hatchback :)
get rid of the LTD, go find a junked 5.0 mustng, gab the motor and trans. conver your newly aquired 302 to carbed, and sell the efi partsfor nutso bucks!!!! thtas what i would do any way, oh yeah grab the radiator if you can too. ;D
I don't think you would be very happy with the 400 in your car.It requires a lot of work including cutting the fender wells and the firewall.You might as well plan on a new rear end while you're at it because the stock set up won't handle the torque.If you plan on driving it on the street be prepared for all that extra weight over the front wheels to plow.It will not handle good at all.Might want to think about a 2.3 turbo.Curtis ;D