429 vs 400

[ares360]

Which one? have money for one or the other!

[averagef250]

I'm not familiar with a 400 small block. I always thought a 400 was a 400, big brother of the 351M.

I'd say the 429 would win, but you should probably check the year of the engine. The later ones aren't anything to write home about. The early thunderjet motors are great though.

[fordman]

the 400 is a smog motor. its not much good for real power. i don't like 460's they are gas hogs. but i have heard the 429 same block as 460 can be a real performance / race engine.

[fomocoguy]

You can make a good running engine out of a 400, but it will cost you a lot more than the 429 and it will have 30 less cubic inches. You have to get the compression up and find decent heads, and unless you find a first year 400 it means custom pistons and aussie (or edelbrock) heads. Buy the 429 and sign up over at 460ford.com. They will guide you rather easily into the 400hp range. You'll be glad you did!

[kaptnkaos]

429 all the way...

[papabug71]

Im voting for the 429/C6 combo as well.

I have seen lots of built 400's making awsome power, but it costed an arm & a leg.

Plus the thought of a C6 over a slushbox II is a no brainer..

[JEF199]

I had a hot rod artical that got 400 hp out of a 400m under $2,000 using stock heads I think the main problem was compresion.

[texrodder]

Definately big block,especially earlier versions,very litle work/money to have a torque monster,tried hopping up a 400m once in an old Bronco ,just not the same bang fo the buck,here is a link to a 460 blog ,you can get some good tips there. http://460ford.com/

[70shortwide]

my dad had a truck with a 400 that would run. after blowin it up and seeing what it took to make it run and pricing it all... he put a used 400 in it and sold it.

[427blackpearl]

429

[Blue Blood]

yes, very good price for 429/c6 setup.....

[ares360]

bad news fellas...went to go pick up 429/C6 and it had some problems.


1. block numbers had been "mysteriously" filed off.
2. crankshaft was locked up.
3. had really bad cancer on back of block.




now I have another option..


Go get the 400m/fmx and swap the tranny for a C4 (also have found some performance parts for $CHEAP$)

or


there is 460/C6 for $500, will have to wait though for budget to allow


What do you guys think?

[427blackpearl]

460 all the way

[ares360]

what about a 351W? do these have a lot of power? there seems to be a lot of them.

[BobbyFord]

$500 is too much for a 460, unless it's relatively fresh and does not need to be disassembled and refreshed/rebuilt. I've bought 2 '69 429's in the past couple of years, one for $250 carb-to-pan and the other for $150 carb-to-pan. Also bought a matching C6 for $75 (car trans...just gotta tear it down, swap out the tailshaft and rebuild it). I wouldn't take a 400M for free if I had to use it. The deals are out there you just gotta look around.