302 or 400M

[hulkford72]

i have a 1972 F100 swb sport custom. it was originally a 360 truck and when my uncle bought it he put a 302 in it. i have been driving it for about 5 years. i have done some modifing to it. i recently aquired a 400M that runs and has pretty much all the same things done to it. i am having a hard time deciding if i should get a new tranny and put the 400M in it or leave the 302 in. i put a auburn diff and richmond 4.11's in it about a year ago. i was wondering what yalls opinion would be.

[robwymer]

Hulk,
What types of mods have you done with the 302? I ask this to get an idea what kind od performance and drivability you're getting from it. Are you satisfied with the performance from it? I used to drive a 79 F-250 Supercab 4X4 with the 400M - that thing could really pull. Obviously, your 400 is a more capable mill, especially from a truck standpoint. But, the 400 might be overkill for a swb sport.

Do you also have a tranny for the 400? I don't think the tranny from the 302 will mount to the 400, and if it did, it may not handle the added torque.

Of course, you can't forget gas mileage. My advice is unless you have a lot of cash to blow, hang on to that 400 until the 302 gives up the ghost. Then again many folks in this group are sure to think that could be sooner than you might like.

Just my


Rob

[fitzwell]

depends on what you want.

A properly built 302 works great in a shortbox, snappy motor, and decent fuel economy.
You CAN build a 400 to be a real torque monster. There are a couple of things to be addressed, oil system being the main one. Then there is the fact that you will have to make sure the brackets are with the motor, to hang all the accessories. Trans will have to be changed. And you will be adding about 100 lbs to the front end....


got a 302 in the 46, and one in the 69. Both do the job they need to do, no muss, no fuss.

[hulkford72]

the 302 has a 456 lift cam, its bored 30 over, 4 barrel intake and carb, and factory heads.

the tranny wont swap and it barely handles what it has now. gas milege isnt that big a deal since i dont drive it much. its more of a go out and have fun toy. it runs a 9.6sec time in the 8th mile right now.

[Joshpow]

Both have their advantages, but I love my little 302. It is plenty for my 72 swb. The 400 would be great to put in a truck you planned to haul with, but I'd run the 302 till it let down and then consider the swap.

[SecondCamperSpecial]

I guess they are making many HIPO parts for the 400 but it has a weak lower end and I would never put it in any thing I own. I would much rather have 5.0 or 5.8. I have 390 now and would not swap it for any thing less than a 460.

[rubiranch]

Unless gas mileage was my primary goal I'd take the 400 over a 302 any day, especially in a truck.

[DuckRyder]

While I don't think the 302 is a very good truck motor and would not put one in a bump, I also don't see any real reason to take a perfectly good one out, particularly in favor of an engine ford never put there and the attendant problems with that.

[rubiranch]

While I don't think the 302 is a very good truck motor and would not put one in a bump, I also don't see any real reason to take a perfectly good one out, particularly in favor of an engine ford never put there and the attendant problems with that.

Some people just seem to have the most logical explanations.

[OldBluef100]

i have a 400m in my 68...i love it and would never switch it . all the torque i could ever need