1979 F250???

Browning

New Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2012
I have a few questions about the truck i just picked up...1979 Ford F250 Custom Highboy, Im not sure what motor it has in it, i know its a 351 but dont know how to tell if its a cleveland or a modified, also it has 16.5 inch wheels i wasnt sure if 16in wheels will fit (seems to be eaiser to find tires for 16 or 17 in wheels) Thanks for your help, RB
 
i think a cleveland has 8 vavle cover bolts? someone correct me if im wrong. and i dont see why 16 in wheels wouldnt fit. i love the body styles of the 78 79s thats a good buy! and i hope i was some help to ya
 
Highboy is an enthusiast slang term assigned to 67-77.5 (before serial # Y20,001) F250's. Stock engine for that truck would have either been a 351M or 400. 351C/M and 400 are all part of the 335 engine series, so not a whole lot of external distinguishing characteristics. The C will have a narrower intake than the M/400, the C will have a sb bellhousing...or just grab the casting number. 16" rims will fit just fine, no problems at all...I know quite a few guys running 15's that just grind down on the caliper and run them.

Since it was mentioned...valve cover bolt count is a good general identifier for engines that would be in these trucks (stock or swapped)...8 bolts is a 351C/M/400, 7 bolts is a 429/460, 6 bolts is a 302/351W, 5 bolts is a 360/390.
 
Thanks alot for the help, From both of you...Probably will be posting more questions soon (Im pretty new to all of this).

Thanks again,RB
 
utfball went into a lot more detail than i did and is more knowledgeable about the subject than me but i also have a question is a 351m basically a 400? i was brought up working on things and you know how what people think they know and tell people is not always correct!
 
olyeller said:
utfball went into a lot more detail than i did and is more knowledgeable about the subject than me but i also have a question is a 351m basically a 400? i was brought up working on things and you know how what people think they know and tell people is not always correct!
Click to expand...

Crank and pistons are the only things separating the two (some argue the balancer is different, but I've swapped with no issues). The 400 is a square engine with a 4" bore and stroke...the 351M has a 4" bore with a 3.5" stroke. In all reality, most guys toss these engines because they have less cubes than a 460, or the 460 guys get caught up in the smogged 400 numbers (neglecting that their 460's of the same time were smogged)...these are great engines, kind of a red headed step child but I love them. If you're looking for a sub-350hp sub-450tq build these engines can do it quite easily and at about the same price as a comparable 460. If you're talking anymore power than that...it's more cost effective to go 460. Lots of myths surround the 351M/400's...but alot of them a perpetuated by ignorance. I bet I've gotten 15-20 of these engines for free over the last couple years.
 
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