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351m Upgrades? 4bbl carb

So i have a good running 78 Ford 2wd with a 351m. Motor runs really good right now, all stock. but i want some more go from it. obvisoully i dont expect to get a major amount of power but anything has to be better then the stock 2bbl carb.

I have seen the edelbrock manifolds and stuff and i Have an edelbrock 600cfm mechanical secondary carb. but im wondering if for now i could buy a 2bbl to 4bbl adapter plate from shucks or autozone if itd be worth the trouble to hook it up and use a stock manifold. i know a 4bbl manifold would benefit more but with my budget right now i cant afford one and i have the edelbrock carb sitting here just waiting to go on. hahaha.

also looking at headers, an RV cam, eventually a new manifold, msd box, mas coil, full 3" exhaust, flowmaster race mufflers, a double roller timing chain and a full gasket set.
 

LEB Ben

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For starters...the adapter is fine, ran a 4bbl carb to the stock manifold for a couple of years. However, biggest bang for your buck will be swapping in a 400 crank. Next best upgrade is cam. Seems this trucks respond well to DEH-255 or XE262 Comp Cams. A good set of cheap headers will come from Hooker. As for the exhaust, you gonna run a single or double? If double 3", that's too much...you'll wanna be in the 2.25-2.5" range. Beyond that, sounds like you have it figured out.
 
The 400 crank swap is a good idea, but IMO if you are budget limited a RV type cam($109) and Summit has headers for around $100. We just took a 77 400 in a 77 F250HD converted to dually, added Summit's mildest cam, ign recurve and Summit brand headers with 2 1/2" dual exhaust with H pipe. Also went with Weiand's action plus intake and a 600 cfm Holley carb. With chrome valvecovers,14x3 chrome air filter, new timing chain and all gaskets this ran $923.71 to our shop door.
What a difference this made! Now he has the power to haul/tow all the things he wants at 75 mph with ease, No more having to floor it with 4 yds dirt in the dump to keep up with traffic and he says it's twice as good as before.
Carb adapter will work, IMO thereare bigger gains in other places.
 

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