a few questions on a 400

[77FordTruckMan]

I just picked up a rebuilt 400 engine the other day. The guy claims it was never driven on the road and probably only has like 300 miles on it. He bought the truck it was in after it was rebuilt, so he doesn't know much about it. It has an Edelbrock performer intake and a Holley carb, when you pull the carb off the intake looks like brand new inside. Anyway what I was wondering was did they retard the cam timing on these like the 351m? How can I tell if it has an aftermarket timing set, and if I get one where should I set it? Also are most cams marked so if I pull it out I can see what it is? thanks.

 

[LEB Ben]

351M and 400 are the exact same engines except for some of the rotating assembly. So anything a 351M had, a 400 will have and vice versa. And yes, the timing was retarded. As far as figuring out the timing set...pop the timing cover off and have a looksee. If it's a stocker and/or stock replacement, it'll be a sigle row sprocket and straight chain, no rollers. I'd opt for the Cloyes double roller myself, check out TMI inc for all your 400 needs. As for the cam...most of what I've seen is there's an ink marking on the snout...usually doesn't last long.

 

[77FordTruckMan]

Looks like it's a double roller, I see where you adjust the cam timing but how do I know which notch is which setting? Also I was told that if I remove the big freeze plug in the back of the motor I should be able to read the number on the cam.

 

[BuzzGun79]

There should be 3 notches on the crank gear...for a straight up timing setup you will use the middle notch,this notch should have like a dot above it like the cam gear..the others are for, 4 degress retarded and 4 degrees advanced....these will have like a triangle mark above the notches

 

[77FordTruckMan]

Thanks for the help guys, I will check that out. I pulled the freeze plug but I have not had any luck identifying the cam, My guess would be that it's not stock since they put the double roller timing set in, so I will probably just put it back together and run it the way it is after some paint, everything looks new inside the motor.

 

[77FordTruckMan]

Unfortunately it looks like the carburetor actually has a hole in it, there is some white crap on it (acid?) that must have been eating away at the metal.

 

[LEB Ben]

I've got a 2150 that could use a rebuild I'd let go cheap if you need something quick.

 

[dustybumpers]

Cam marks are on the other end, under the timing gear

 

[Workin' Rig]

Looks like a possible battery explosion at one point.

Im by no means a holly expert....but i would guess you could find the front bowl cover on ebay or somewhere.....that and a rebuild would be cheaper then a comparable new or used (which should pry be rebuilt anyways) carb.

 

[Mil1ion]

That is plain corrosion from being in a part humid climate

This usually happens when aluminium meets iron.

 

[fatherdoug]

Galvanic corrosion wouldn't have been quite so selective.

 

[77FordTruckMan]

I've got a 2150 that could use a rebuild I'd let go cheap if you need something quick.

Thanks, but I think I will just use the Edelbrock from my 351.