help me out here

[burbanbeast]

i am a chevy guy always have been but i keep gettin hell everytime i go out there with it and its my one truck so i need to try and keep it in good shape.

my next door neighbor has an old 70s somethin ford sittin in his backyard and ive been thinkin about buyin just to use as a mud rig. its already got 38s winch/bumper, light bar etc. i was wondering if i did decide to go this route what would be a good set of axles to run under it and all that. mosta the stuff i runin is thick mud and pullin people out. thanks for the help
tim

[tsmall07]

rockwells with 53" tires

[bmc69]

You'll get plenty of help here..as soon as we know more than 'old 70s Ford' about the truck. That tells squat about what yr starting with for axles, engine, driveline..even model and wheelbase. Not to mention that some things might be living under it already that are not stock..

[Earlybronco42]

Besides its a Ford. Got to be better than anything you got now. :-)

[burbanbeast]

ouch my bubran can hold its own very well thank you i just hate breakin stuff then goin truckless for weeks

as far as i kno it has a 400m in it. it looks to b a shortbed. its a single cab. its got five lug somethins under it. hes got another axle in the back to so i aint to sure of what hes got in it now or back there. and next time i see him ill ask some more it is a F150 custom. automatic.

[burbanbeast]

i hear that the 400m is a pretty good engine is that true?

[Earlybronco42]

Originally Posted by burbanbeast

i hear that the 400m is a pretty good engine is that true?

I have no experience with them but have heard they are pretty good engines. Supposed to have lots of torque.

[burbanbeast]

well sorry the details are so skeptical right now but its at his parets house(next door to me) and he lives in ashland so ive gotta wait till he comes home to get ?s in and all that

[Slow]

400m's don't have much aftermarket support and get horrible fuel mileage. Otherwise it's all good. What year? otherwise.. split grill or big single grill? Who knows how much it has been changed tho..

[burbanbeast]

i do believe is a big single

[bmc69]

Originally Posted by burbanbeast

i hear that the 400m is a pretty good engine is that true?

Absolutely true. They are somewhat 'anemic' in stock form but easily woken up with a cam and 4V carb/intake upgrade. They prpoduce incredible torque due, in part, to their very long stroke.

Aftermarket support is great and there are several builders that are specializing in 400 and 400 stroker builds (including us).

The bad gas miileage thing is a total myth, propogated by people who heard that from their buddie's father's uncle. You want to see bad gas mileage in the ole F-150, stick a 302 in it. It takes a gallon of gas every 12-13 miles or so to move that truck..whether it's a gaggle of Briggs and Strattons under the hood..or a 460.

[CHOPPEDBII]

if it is a 70's ford and it is five lug I would say that you got a D44 and a 9" the 400 has a big block bell housing so you probably got a c6 tranny. for your application I hope it has the 205 transfer case under it. they are as solid as they come. the most common gearing for those trucks is 3.50's and if it is 4x4 you probably got a 31 spline rear. most people around here just bolt up 38's and do new gears and go to the mud drags with those. how solid is that? not very but they do it and have fun. personaly I would grab it if the price was right. then just keep your eyes out for some 3/4 axles to swap out if you want to go bigger.

[Aces'n'8s]

Why not find some 1-ton axles instead?

[bmc69]

Going D60 in the front would kinda be the opposite of 'cheap beater'...800-1000 bucks for a hard-to-find 78/79 D60...then most likely a gear change required at the very least. Then all the fab work to change over for coil mounts. Figger 2 grand to upgrade a $500 trail beater?...nah. It will be fine with the stock stuff under most circumstances..my '78 400 Bronco does fine with the D44/9" with just upgraded axles and u-joints and the LS difs.

[jopes]

I love my 400, Even more once it got aussie heads and SEFI on it.

[Proeliator]

Originally Posted by jopes

I love my 400

Sissy

[burbanbeast]

double posted my bad

[burbanbeast]

ok i have another question ive seen the headers that run up through the hoos and then merge into alil smokestack lookin thing what are those and where can i get em or should i just run headers into smokestack up through the bed

[mbburchell2004]

That 400 is an awsome motor as posted b4 a cam intake and a 4bbl it will make masive amounts of torque. As for the 400 its just a 400 not a 400m that only applies to the 351m/c. the 400 also has most parts interchangealbe with the 351 if you took and had 351c pistons and heads match the the 400 it would be a power house.