400CID? or 390?

[joey_hv]

i was being patient and persistently looking for a 390 for my build due to the great reference for it that you guys gave me, and I ran across a 400CID engine from a 1977 Ford Ranchero that I can pick up for a steal.
my question is,
should i go with the bird in hand or pass it up and continue my search for the 390????
not really engine savvy so excuse the ignorance. i did google the 400 and i didn't find anything impressive about it.

[rdorman]

400 modified. Detuned cleveland. Personally (and I have a cleveland in mine), I would continue the 390 search. Not that the 400 can't be made to move ....

[undy]

400=boat anchor

[CobraEd]

There was a long thread on the background and pros and cons of the 400M (Cleveland) about two months ago. If you do a search, you might find it.

Found it: 351M???



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[joey_hv]

thanks for the input...doesn't sound good for the 400
boat anchor comment pretty much made up my mind

[undy]

Originally Posted by joey_hv

thanks for the input...doesn't sound good for the 400
boat anchor comment pretty much made up my mind

My boat anchor comment might have been a little harsh.. The heads flowed terribly. The bottom end, in it's stock guise, was weak along with it's oiling system. High RPMs was it's mortal enemy. It was designed for low horse power bottom end torque. It was well suited to the land yachts/trucks of the day. The FE is by no means a HP monster in stock form but a least it's correct and sought after.. Your $$ would be better spent rebuilding the 390.

[Dwight]

very large and slow boat anchor

Dwight

[Power Surge]

I had a 400M in a 79 F-150. Was a good powerful engine for the truck, but I wouldn't run one in a car. You can build a better revving lighter motor in a small block, or a more powerful and probably cheaper motor in a big block. The C/M motors are kind of in the middle.

Also, the 400 motor does not have block coolant passages between the cylinders, so some people have cooling issues with them.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by joey_hv

should i go with the bird in hand or pass it up and continue my search for the 390?

There is no shortage of 390s. Just post a WTB on www.fordfe.com classifieds. With the economy the way it is, I think you'll be surprised with the results. Poll the group there about the reputation of the seller and, if positive, you can generally buy in confidence. Personally, I wouldn't put a 400CID in a Cobra -- a 390 is a much better choice and will not only add value to your build, it will add to your overall enjoyment of the car.

[joey_hv]

Originally Posted by patrickt

There is no shortage of 390s. Just post a WTB on www.fordfe.com classifieds. With the economy the way it is, I think you'll be surprised with the results. Poll the group there about the reputation of the seller and, if positive, you can generally buy in confidence. Personally, I wouldn't put a 400CID in a Cobra -- a 390 is a much better choice and will not only add value to your build, it will add to your overall enjoyment of the car.

thanks for the link i'll check it out.
thats why i check with you guys before i buyanything!

[joey_hv]

say hey! i found a couple 390's from the same guy here is the descriptions of both let me know which one to go with.

1. 390 shortblock, less than 500 miles, C7ME-A block, C4AE-B crank, C7AE-D rods, 60 over cast dished pistons, needs new cam. $350.00

2. 390 bare block C4AE block, thick walls,will go 60 over, has the 427 cross bolt bosses to allow machining for cross bolts $200.00

soooo...which one is the best deal? or best block? or should i just get both of them?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by joey_hv

390 shortblock, less than 500 miles ... needs new cam. $350.00

Hmm, less than 500 miles and needs a new cam. Wonder what happened there? I think I would go with the bare block.

[undy]

If I were building a FE from scratch, without even a block, I think I'd check w/Gessford, Keith Craft or Barry (Survival Motorsports) and get a 428 service block. It has the same ribbing/reinforcement as the CJ/SCJ blocks at a fraction of the cost. The 428 is "factory correct" for a large portion of the 66' Cobras. The 390s were never "factory".

[joey_hv]

Originally Posted by undy

If I were building a FE from scratch, without even a block, I think I'd check w/Gessford, Keith Craft or Barry (Survival Motorsports) and get a 428 service block. It has the same ribbing/reinforcement as the CJ/SCJ blocks at a fraction of the cost. The 428 is "factory correct" for a large portion of the 66' Cobras. The 390s were never "factory".

i was advised earlier that the 390 was a more affordable and better suite for daily street driving. i can afford a 427 or 428 but rather get the same "look" adequate performance and keep about ten grand in the bank for gas
unles the 428 service block is not crazy expensive compared to the 390....
looking into it. thanks for the heads up.

[undy]

Originally Posted by joey_hv

i was advised earlier that the 390 was a more affordable and better suite for daily street driving. i can afford a 427 or 428 but rather get the same "look" adequate performance and keep about ten grand in the bank for gas
unles the 428 service block is not crazy expensive compared to the 390....
looking into it. thanks for the heads up.

I know Keith carries a stock of the service blocks..

[patrickt]

It can't hurt to price out a 428, but it will cost you more than a 390. In my ERA I have a 428 service block that was cast in 1974. It is bored and stroked to 447CID, mild solid lifter cam, and is 100% streetable. From the outside it looks just like a 390; actually it looks just like a 427 sideoiler because you can't wiggle underneath to see the the galley or bolts. Sideoilers are nicer than 428s; 428s are nicer than 390s, but they all look the same and, if you're not careful, you can go broke building your Cobra. You have to watch your own costs as no one on this forum will watch them for you. Just take a look at the Cobra Country site for all the Cobras that are for sale with less than a couple of thousand miles. Many of them are "overbuilt" for street enjoyment (500+ horsepower, very rough below 3000RPM), and the costs got away from the owners. Remember that toy you're building is going to sit in the garage a large portion of the time and, while it's doing that, it doesn't throw off any interest. Unless you can really afford to ignore it, keep a sharp eye on what you're spending.

[joey_hv]

thanks, yeah that is why i am convinced on the 390 pretty much. i think i'm gonna pick up that bare block with the 427 cross bolt bosses and have it drilled and built from the ground up by a pro i dont want to go over 400hp at the flywheel.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by joey_hv

... i dont want to go over 400hp at the flywheel.

A good buillder should be able to do that with his eyes closed ... but tell him to keep them open just the same.

[Chaplin]

Originally Posted by joey_hv

thanks, yeah that is why i am convinced on the 390 pretty much. i think i'm gonna pick up that bare block with the 427 cross bolt bosses and have it drilled and built from the ground up by a pro i dont want to go over 400hp at the flywheel.

As patrick said, 400 hp should be no problem even with a mild cam that is very street friendly. However, if you are going to build a mild motor, you really don't need to have the cross bolts drilled- you can do it if you want to, but it's not necessary. I'd save the money you'd put towards drilling the cross-bolts and invest it somewhere else where you will get a bigger payoff, like aluminum heads or hyd roller cam.

Also, check out the 390 stroker thread. It is very possible to build a 390 stroker on a budget that will give you all the performance you could want.

And also check out the below thread and the links contained within that thread. There is a lot of good info there.

http://clubcobra.com/forums/showthre...t+Rod+magazine

[CobraEd]

A 390 FE with aftermarket aluminum heads, intake, and cam and only 400hp. You may have to pull a plug wire or two to do that!


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