(351M/400 Camshafts - Continued)
The list below is just a small selection
of very popular 351M/400 camshafts. Tim Meyer
says the first three hydraulic flat-tappet cams make up the
majority of cams that go into his customers builds. We've
also listed a couple of solid flat-tappet grinds that work
very well. Be sure to factor out about 10 degrees of duration
and .020 lift off the solid cam specs due to the lash setting.
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Popular 351M/400
Flat Tappet Camshafts Comp Cams
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Camshaft
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Specs
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Usage Guide
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Dual Energy 255DEH
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203/216 @.050
.465/.495
110 lobe sep
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Good torque and mileage.
Good RV and towing cam. Works well with stock exhaust.
1000 RPM to 5500 RPM |
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Dual Energy 265DEH
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211/223 @.050
.484/.510
110 lobe sep
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Very strong midrange and
torque. Everyday performance with stock exhaust.
1500 RPM to 5750 RPM |
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Extreme Energy XE256H
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212/218 @.050
.487/.493
110 lobe sep
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Strong torque thru low
end and midrange, good idle
1200 RPM to 5200 RPM |
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Extreme Energy XE262H
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218/224 @.050
.513/.520
110 lobe sep
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Strong torque,
excellent response. Good midrange, stock converter, 3.23
gears.
1400 RPM to 5600 RPM |
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Extreme
Energy
XE284H
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240/246 @ .050
.584/.588
110 lobe sep
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Street/Strip
with minimum 2800 rpm stall, 9.5:1 compression, headers,
gears. Rough idle. 2300 RPM to 6500 RPM |
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Magnum
270S
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224/224 @ .050
.540/.540
110 lobe sep
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SOLID - Excellent
Torque, good for everyday street performance. 9:1 compression,
noticable idle. 1800 to 5800 RPM |
We're big proponents of roller cams.
They offer better torque due to the more aggresive lobe profiles,
and have much better reliability. Comp Cams has a nice selection
of profiles and retrofit kits for the 351C. Use the Comp Cams
suggested pushrod to make up for the 351M/400's increased
deck height and you've got a roller setup. If you can afford
a roller setup, go for it. Here are a few mild and wild roller
cams.
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Popular 351M/400
Roller Camshafts from Comp Cams
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Camshaft
Grind #
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Specs
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Usage Guide
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260HR
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206/206 @.050
.510/.510
110 lobe sep
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Best for stock rebuild
for economy or towing. Can be used with stock gears and
converter. Smooth idle.
1200 RPM to 4500 RPM |
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270HR
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215/215 @.050
.566/.566
110 lobe sep
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Mild street performance.
Slightly noticeable lope at idle. Will work with stock
converter or even better with 1800+ stall and gear upgrade.
1800 RPM to 5000 RPM |
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288R
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244/244 @ .050
.623/.623
110 lobe sep
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SOLID - Excellent power,
okay for street use. Use 3000+ stall converter, needs
low gears. 2500 to 6500 RPM. |
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 Run EFI on a 400 with Your Choice of 351 Cleveland
2V Intake Manifolds.
Speed parts don't have to come off CNC machining centers
to qualify them for the performance aftermarket. In this
shot, TMeyer Inc. adds his own innovative touch to a pair
of 351M/400 intake adapters from Price Motorsport. Prepping
the intake adapter to fit injectors allows the 351M/400
owner to experiment with various 351 Cleveland intake
manifolds. |
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Specific Intake Manifolds and Adapter
Plates
The performance aftermarket does come up short with
just a couple one-piece 351M/400 intake manifolds. Weiand's
Action Plus and Edelbrock's Performer are mild dual-plane
upgrades over the stock casting that will bolt right up to
a 351M/400 running 2V heads. To accommodate those who are
looking for more options in single plane and hi-rise intakes
then "the other" aftermarket comes to the rescue. Price Motorsport's development of three different intake
adapter plates for the 351M/400 open up the whole world of
351C and 351W style intakes to those wishing to build a performance
351M/400. The adapter plates are designed for use with 351C
2V or 4V heads with a factory intake port location and shape. From down under, CHI's infamous single plane 3V intake manifold
(designed specifically for CHI 3V heads) is offered with its
own adapter plates to fit a 351M/400 block. However, the rumor
mill suggests that CHI will soon release a one-piece 400 intake.
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Weiand
Action Plus
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| 351M/400
Block Recommendation: Dual plane. Popular stock
replacement manifold for mild street machines and
trucks. For use with stock 2V intake port configuration. |
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Edelbrock
Performer
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| 351M/400
Block Recommendation: Dual plane. Popular stock
replacement manifold for mild street machines and
trucks. For use with stock 2V intake port configuration. |
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CHI
400 3V
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| 351M/400
Block Recommendation: Single plane intake designed
for higher operating RPM range. Great for 434 stroker,
relatively lighter vehicle, and shorter gears. For
use with CHI 3V heads only. |
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Price
Motorsport AP29 Adapter Plates
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Allows use of 351C Intake Manifolds on 351M/400
blocks with 351M/400/351C 2V style heads. |
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Price
Motorsport AP30 Adapter Plates
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| Allows
use of 351C Intake Manifolds on 351M/400 blocks
with 351C 4V heads. |
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Price
Motorsport AP34 Adapter Plates
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| Allows
use of 351W Intake Manifolds on 351M/400 blocks
with with 351M/400/351C 2V style heads. Great option
for those wishing to run EFI. |
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 Other Benefits From the 351C and
429/460 Performance Aftermarket
If you haven't been convinced yet that building a performance
351M/400 can be accomplished easily with readily-available
aftermarket products, then consider the amount of ancillary
parts that cross over from the 351C and 429/460. Many manufacturers
make the mistake of leaving out the 351M/400 when labeling
the
applications covered by their products. A few examples are distributors, water pumps, and rocker
arms. There is nothing unique about a 351M/400 distributor,
which makes choosing ignition systems a small chore. In fact,
the 351C/351M/400/429/460 all share the same distributor.
As we mentioned earlier, 351C camshafts are a direct fit.
In addition to cams, rocker arms are also exactly the same
since the 351M/400 uses the cleveland cylinder head. Water
pumps also crossover making hi volume varieties from weiand
and moroso also eligible for a 351M/400 buildup. This list
goes beyond power-producing performance parts as well. Valve
covers make the cut as do cylinder head gaskets and header
gaskets.
Conclusion
As many already know, the 351M/400 was very common
as a Ford truck motor throughout the 70's. Owners of F-series
and Bronco who look at their 351M/400 motors and wonder why
they need to replace them with a 460 have looked to TMeyer
Inc. for performance solutions. Combine the easy-to-locate
351M/400 in your local wrecking yard with continued development
of performance parts for these motors and we'll expect you
might be seeing 434 strokers making their way into vintage
Ford muscle very soon.  |
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Posted by danlee, 03/08/07 05:00pm:
At last a real comprehensive article on the 351M/400 motors.
Posted by xafalcongs, 03/08/07 06:32pm:
Great article! Too bad the days of getting free 351M/400 blocks are now numbered.
Posted by BrianS, 03/08/07 09:27pm:
Nice job, well researched.
So, is there a 400 build coming the to pages of FM anytime soon?
Posted by Mikelonis, 03/09/07 07:44am:
Brian S.
There's a good 400 core sitting in the garage now. After all the research FM did on these motors, Yes we're going to do a 400 build.
Posted by 2800R, 03/09/07 05:22pm:
I look forward to that build. How about using iron, closed chamber 4v heads with raised floors on the intakes and raised exhaust ports using the PME port plates. It is well documented that the CHI heads are capable of big horsepower, but I think a properly prepared iron has considerable potential.
Posted by Bax, 03/10/07 05:34am:
Good Read, I want more!!! Thanks Tim Meyer for your help.
Posted by garypettengill, 03/11/07 08:21am:
Oh no, the truth is out. The days of cheap engines from the salvage yards may be numbered.
Posted by trinogt, 03/12/07 06:27pm:
Naw, we just won't spread the word... Let's keep it between us here at FM and Ford-Trucks.com! (where I first read advice posts from Tim Meyer)
Posted by mvtofino, 03/12/07 06:57pm:
Timely article as I am currently doing a mild build up on my 351M. Also quiets the many critics of this engine. Finally !
Posted by mytmike, 03/13/07 05:44pm:
Fantastic article. Thanks, being a junkyard rat
I see a lot of those M and 400 engines and I
always wondered, well wonder no more. I never
realized the similarities were so close. Make me
feel like I should build one.
Posted by jlpathmann, 03/16/07 08:15am:
I have had a 351C in a "74" Torino Elite
and 400 in a "77" Ranchero rebuilt with flat
top pistons cam and bored .20 over. The 351C
has a Q-jet 850 and headers, 4V quinch heads
roller cam and roller rockers, lifters. The 400
uses 351C 2V heads with 2V carb, mild hyd,
cam with loads of low end tork as it lives
between 1500 and 2800 RPM it gets 15 mpg
and is my summer ride here in MN.
"Dales Machine Shop"Crookston MN did the
engine work. I am very pleased with both engines!!!
Posted by Winder, 04/03/07 09:34pm:
Great story. gave me a reason to subscribe. Worth the price.
Posted by fordltd1972, 06/12/07 04:38am:
I subscribed just to read this article!
I run a 400 in my 1972 LTD mild engine
with cam Cleveland 2v heads edelbrock
carb etc. I was planning on building a
big block once this engine got too tired,
but i think i have changed my mind now.
one thing i personally have always liked
about these engines is they just keep
running. Keep up the good work can't
wait to see a buildup of this engine!
Posted by fordmonsta, 08/13/07 01:33am:
its high time these bastard motors are getting some recognition after all they do have the longest stroke of all the factry ford motors, great article it was worth the subscription to read it
Posted by job1bf, 09/17/07 12:22pm:
Now that there are (4) 400's entered in this years Engine Masters, the 400 should get some much needed respect.
Posted by BroncoRick, 02/13/08 06:54pm:
Thank you very much for this article.
I have two Broncos, one is a 1978 with a 400 and the other is a 1979 with a 351m
and I was not looking forward to just doing the easy way out 460 I wanted to make the OEM power plants
roar and perform and now you have given me a reasonable way to do just that.
Let's hope Edilbrock and the others take notice.
BR.
Posted by mvtofino, 03/06/08 12:51pm:
Looks like I'll be re-doing the reman on my 351M that was done in June 2007. The news about Aussie heads being available in nearby Oregon means happy times are just a few hundred clicks down Interstate 5! Thanks all... JT
Posted by , N/A:
Posted by fordman1, 11/15/09 06:42pm:
In the Dec 09 Pit Stop portion of Hot Rod, they
updated "the Mutt" with more info on camshafts
due to manufacturer changes. Also it calls for a
351w stroker crank and LS1 rods and two different
pistons for a 436 ci. Has anyone built anything like
this yet or seen HP / TQ numbers?
Posted by mac70, 12/03/10 08:43pm:
mind blowing idea. thanks to T meyer and the fordmuscle crew
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