Ford 400 vs 351 - 425-450hp which is best choice??

ROMANBUILT · #1 (**permalink**) 04-23-2003, 10:15 PM

Guys,

Need help here. Ford Motorsports offers 2 engines, a 351 and a 392 or 398 (just shy of 400). I want to get about 425-450hp and a truckload of torque (400-450ftlbs) out of it. For any of you guys running these motors, what are the pros and cons of each keeping in mind that ultimately I want to see these sort of numbers.

Also, for those of you running these motors, what trannys are you using and has anyone tried Weber carbs (the funnel-looking type).

Romanbuilt

Tinker51 · #2 (**permalink**) 04-23-2003, 11:50 PM

The numbers you are after are very obtainable. The motor in my car is a vintage iron block 351 stroked to 392 and produces much more Hp and Ft lbs than you are after. 450/400 should be easily produced. My motor is very streetable but she will go like stink if you stab it. Good luck.

agro1 · #3 (**permalink**) 04-24-2003, 08:40 AM

One thing to remember - Ford Motorsports does not warranty those "crate" motors at all...You'd be better off going with a local builder who will stand behind his work after the sell. There are also allot of other "custom crate" builders out there. Southern Automotive is one that many on this forum speak highly of.

Tom Wells · #4 (**permalink**) 04-24-2003, 08:53 AM

Hello ROMANBUILT,

AMEN to the "no warranty" on the FMS crate motors.

So far, the crate motor I bought directly from Ford has cost me an extra $2800 to repair failures caused by Ford's improper assembly and just plain defective parts. Ford has reimbursed ZERO under their "no warranty" policy. I have complaints filed with the Michigan BBB and the Michigan Attorney General's Office over this. Sigh.

I firmly second the motion to have a reputable builder assemble the motor!

Tom

agro1 · #5 (**permalink**) 04-24-2003, 01:20 PM

Tom - OOOOUUUUCCCHHHH...Good luck man, that kind of crap is never pleasant...

Dan Semko · #6 (**permalink**) 04-24-2003, 05:18 PM

For the extra couple of dollars, I'd heed the warnings about the crate motors. I've had 3 351's in the past two years, all custom built by Eric Hinderberger at Performance Engineering in Ross, Ohio. The benefits outweigh anything that a crate engine can offer. Eric warranties his builds and stands behind his word. He just completed a stroked 351 to 418, which produces a dyno'd 505 hp with 520 ft. lbs of torque AND is user, street friendly. My second engine had a larger cam and would buck like an old lady when the rpms were below 1900 which is not comfortable in city driving. All of my cobra friends that started with crate motors have developed new expletives for Ford as they've all had problems that have been "unwarrantied" or due to "questionable user abuse". That's NOT what you or anyone that has a legitimate complaint needs to hear. You might consider a Tremec TKO2 with a Pro 5.0 shift during the build. The cruising ranges are better and the shifts are short, crisp and quick.