1) The 400 is the biggest of the F--d small blocks (260/289/302/351/400).
They are VERY prone to cracking between some cylinders as there are four
sets of siamized (no water jacket separation) cylinders. (The 400 small
block chevy has a similar configuration.) The 460 is the large version of
the 429 block. Unfortunately for your friend, F--d uses about 35 different
engine/transmission bolt patterns, so he might be best off staying with the
same block.
2) Buy from a established, reputable source. I have purchased a couple of
engines from these "warehouse" rebuilders. In California the pollution laws
are too restrictive, so these guys crate & ship the engines to Arizona,
rebuild them, and ship them back to the distribution/collection sights. For
a bone stock set-up, they are pretty good for the price. The ones I've
dealt with only take virgin (never rebuilt before) engines. If the pull you
have has been done before, try a LAPS. The price might be a little higher.
All of the long blocks I got this way had a temperature sensitive tab on one
or two of the soft plugs. The tab would "pop" if the engine was over
heated. They also insisted that you boil the radiator and use the acid
neutralizer they provided. I felt that these were the marks of someone who
knew what they were doing. I did, however reject one motor from them. On
close inspection it had a crack in the transmission mounting flange.
------ Original Message -----
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2001 15:16:57 -0700 (MST)
From: "A.B." <bigfred@unm.edu>
Subject: [oletrucks] Is it rebuilt?
Hi all,
I have a couple of questions for the group.
I'm looking into helping a friend of mine get a new motor for his '77
F**d. He's got a 400 in it now, but we've got a line on a supposedly
rebuilt 460. here are my questions:
1) I believe the 400 and 460 are the same block. Is this correct? If so,
the 460 should just bolt right into place right?
2) How can we be sure it's a rebuilt motor, like the ad claims? This will
also help me because I am considering a 454 (for one of my other
projects), that is also supposed to be rebuilt.
- -I'd greatly appreciate any and all help. Tahnks
- -alfie
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
James P. Hargreaves
'35 International C-1
'57 Cadillac Sedan deVille
'62 Chevrolet C-10 panel
'64 Chevelle SS
'70 Mercury Montego
"A key ring is a handy little gadget that allows you to lose all your keys
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--Unknown
oletrucks is devoted to Chevy and GM trucks built between 1941 and 1959
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