Thread: I'm f.n.g.

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I am a Ford man. I will work on anything, and there's very little I can't fix. I have a '62 Ford stepside, amongst several others. I was wondering if I could develop more horse pwr from a 400 or a 390. I have both, with mild performance parts, and wondering the best route. I would like to run the 1/4 mile occasionally, but mostly a cruiser beyond that. Thanks, Dan

Why not a 460 if you have room for a big block?
I like both the 400M and the 390 and I believe they are close in HP and Torque.
The same closed chamber heads that came off the cleveland will work on the
400M. In 1961 and 62 there was a Hi Perf 390 with 10.6 to 1 that made 375HP.
Now the 400M only came out with 9 to 1 compression with 260 HP with a 4V.
A 390 with 9.5 to 1 is 265 HP so you can see that the numbers are close.
But take some after market closed chamber cleveland heads and a good carb with
after maket intake and headers and I believe the 400M would make the Hi Perf 390 look sick. If I had a choice I will allways take cubic inches though. Kurt

Welcome to the forum. I agree that for the most bang for your buck, a 460 is hard to beat, but there is nothing wrong with a 390 either. I'm not so nuts about the 400 M engines, and speed stuff is not as available.

Don

Originally Posted by triple d

I am a Ford man. I will work on anything, and there's very little I can't fix. I have a '62 Ford stepside, amongst several others. I was wondering if I could develop more horse pwr from a 400 or a 390. I have both, with mild performance parts, and wondering the best route. I would like to run the 1/4 mile occasionally, but mostly a cruiser beyond that. Thanks, Dan

Some of us will not hold that against you
Welcome to this site, there are some real knowledgeable Ford guys here.
Ken

ditch them both for a lima motor ..

I was just trying to be thrifty, and respect the good american steel that is still out there after all these years, working fine. However I am a nut for h.p. and maybe I can find a 429/460. What do you think of these two? is one a better block and crank than the other? Thanks again, Dan

oddly enuff i have had both in my stang and the 460 bottom end performed greatly better than the 429 .. both had all other same add ons ..