CHRISTOPHER MCKITTERICK

1972 Ford LTD
Resto-Rod Project

PICTURED ABOVE (left) is one of my first purchases to further beef up this engine: a set of roller rockers to bump those valves open. Roller rockers dramatically reduce friction, which robs an engine of power while adding heat and wearing it out faster. Also, the roller tips allow bigger cam-to-lift ratios so that the valves can let in more air, faster, for more power. More power is good!

Don't have a photo yet, but I picked up a set of big-valve Cleveland heads

Other purchases: Higher-compression pistons (stock is a measly 8:1 or so - these will bump it up to 9.5:1), new oil pump; coated headers (for a pickup - no one makes them for an LTD! So I'll be doing some cutting and welding); stainless-steel fastener set; chrome oil pan, heavy-duty valve springs; high-performance aluminum water pump; and of course an overhaul kit with new gaskets, piston rings, seals, bearings, and so on.

The cam specs and short-block will be pretty close to the design specifications written up for a September, 1998, Hot Rod magazine article, "Down & Dirty," in which they made 468 lb-ft of torque and 380hp out of a 400M engine for the cheap. I'm expect to get quite a bit more with the bigger valves and higher-ratio roller rockers. Check back later for some of my evil engine plans.

UPDATE: Okay, so I lied. I saw a great deal on eBay and decided to go with this engine instead. This'll be fun!