The Old 400 2v

[davidholland]

As some of you recall I just purchased a 72 LTD Convertible with a 400 in it. I realize the 400 gets a bad wrap, but this thing has been impressing me the more I drive it. She seems to be running better ever time I drive it.

The other day I punched it from a 5 mile an hour roll and she started spinning the tires. I was impressed. I'm looking forward to giving this engine more power ,I beleive the potential to be very good!

Just my 2 cents:bows:

[OneBADLsE]

The 460 is the motor to get. GOBS of torque!

On the other hand the 400 when i recall driving a Mark 5 felt like it was just enough to get the sucker movin well. Nothin terribly powerful...

[mrjones]

The 400 got a bad rap because there was never a hi/po version of it. It came out just as emissions and mpgs were taking the place of hp and tq. A new cam (or even a properly timed stock one) and an aftermarket intake and 4bbl will make the old smogger into a completely different animal.

I've got a 77 F150 with the 400, and it does OK as well.

[Marauder2005]

Post pics of the LTD!

[davidholland]

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I get better ones when it stops raining

[jinxed]

I had a 78 bronco with a 400, we towed the drag car or the boat all time. Never a problem, sold her with 165,000 miles --- still miss it

[rayjay]

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I get better ones when it stops raining

My folks had a 72 LTD Brougham (sp?) Nice car. I remember a 67 LTD 2dr they had with a 390 HiPo in it. Now that would scoot!

[whd507]

the 71 400 (first year) was much more powerful. get a 71 timing set (351C 70-71)
it will advance the cam a few degrees. (same cam) get the edelbrock performer, dual plane is the only way to go with this engine. the edelbrock carb works good, but needs the fuel line adaptor to work with the ford air cleaner assy. I dont usually recommend Holleys, but the 780 double pumper with dual 50cc accelerator pumps was awesome in my 71 LTD. do yourself a favor, and get some crane roller fulcrums for the stock rocker arms, they are worth about 1 MPG improvement. also headers from a 71-73 Mustang with the 351C (2v) fits pretty good. get a shift kit, firm up the shifts, dont go too wild, the street-strip/towing settings are best. if you can score backing plates and drums from a wagon (68-72) do it. if you dont have the 9" get one (99% of LTDs have them, but there was a strike or some such problem, so some have a weaker axle with a bolt-on cover.)
the 400 isnt a high-revving engine, 3.25 gears aree about it in an LTD. if you ever go deep into a rebuild, get some 9.5 to 1 compression slugs, and you might as well go full-floating pins too.

its a great engine, long lived and lots of torque in its original (pre smog) condition.

july 29th 1986 somewhere near sinclair WY a 1971 LTD 2d brougham was pulled over and warned for speeding (the officer was impressed), and it was done with a similar described 400 with 200k miles on it.

[davidholland]

I'm looking forward to breathing a little life into it. My car is an early 72. Built 08/71

I wonder if the 400 is the same as a 71 due to early production?