My son and I are rebuilding a 68 conv. A 1976 400 engine came with the car but not in it. We also received a 400 turbo tran. My question is would I be better off (cost wise) buying a crate engine vs. having the 400 rebuilt? What about the tranny? Checker sells 400 crates for $1500. The tranny can be rebuilt for $800. We're just looking to have a 400 Auto in the car that runs good and dont need a performance race engine. Can someone give good advice on which way to go? Any other sources to buy a crate from? Thanks!
2012 Mustang Boss 302 #1918, Competition Orange. FGF replacement 2006 Mustang V6 Pony, Vista Blue. Factory ordered. 2019 BMW X3 (Titled to the wife, but I'm always driving it for her. So I'm claiming it) Old projects, gone but not forgotten: 1967 FB 400, original CA car. After 22 years of work, trashed by the guy who was supposed to paint it. I had to sell it. 1980 Turbo Trans Am 1970 Mustang fastback, 351C 4Bbl, auto 1988 Mustang GT, 5 speed 1983 F-150 4x4, built 302 1994 Chevy K2500 HD 4x4, 454 TBI
You might want to shop around some on the tranny price. If you want a better tranny than the 400, sell it to someone who hasn't been able to evolve with technology, and buy a turbo 350.
It has less weight and less rotational mass; both are siginfignat performance upgrades, sheding weight and gaining additional hp/torque that would be wasted with the overkill pig that the 400 is.
People are running 800 to 1,000 hp through stock turbo 350's with good results although you might be better off with a 400 for these kind of number.
With less than 500 hp/torque a 350 is the most bulletproff slush box you can buy.
Thanks for all the feedback! I think we'll go with a crate. I checked around town with a few shops and they all said the same thing.. crate is a better buy for our application. I do have another question though... the car was originally fitted with a 6 cyl. I dont have motor mounts and intend to put in the 400. Can I buy 400 motor mounts and bolt to the holes already in the subframe or do I need to modify? Were the 6 cyl mount holes the same for a 400 engine? Any suggestions are greatly apprecited. I searched the FAQ and didnt see an answer for this question. Thanks!
