I am looking for high compression pistons for my '79 400 cui. F150. I have contacted parts stores and several online engine parts companies with no luck. Can anyone tell me where I can find higher compression pistons for this engine?
The stock pistons are very low compression. When I rebuild I want to give this engine some more horses under the hood and hopefully better mpg (currently get 9 mpg without a heavey foot or a load).

 

try a machine shop

 

you can always deck the heads alittle, give you some compression there, pending the heads you might be able to squeeze 1.0 out of them... I know that JE Pistons makes custom anything.

 

You might have better luck with 335 engines in the 335 engine forum.
No, there aren't and high compression pistons available for the 400.

 

A cheaper way than custom made pistons is to have the rod ends bushed to fit 351 Cleveland pistons. Lots of those to choose from.

Nathan

 

You really don't need anything greater than 9 : 1 as when you finish your head work your probably going to be sitting on 10 : 1 or a little greater which is going require you to use 93 octane gas and you'll be getting about 7 mpg. Now, unless you're wealthy, you are going to be spending A LOT of money on gas. Most people don't factor this into their buildup equation until after the engine is already built then they realize they can't afford the Gas......you've got a 400 HP truck that is Too expensive to Drive on a regular basis..........s.kuteman

 

400 Ford,I used 351C piston's in my 400 and had the small end's bushed.I'm at 10 to 1 and the piston's ard still .025 in the hole.If I zero decked the block and shaved the head's I could get almost 12 to 1.

 

High compression pistons do exist for the 400M. I have a set in my LTD. The are very hard to find though. They were made by Dynagear and they are bored thirty over only cost me 124 dollars. I don't know if I can post phone numbers on here but if anyone is interested where I got them let me know.

Sanders

 

Skuteman is right about mpg. I zero decked my block and milled my heads and installed a set of flat tops. I really don't know what my compression level is, but it has to have 93 octane, any less and it knocks and pings. I get about 6-8 mpg around town and on the interstate aound 18-20. The bright side is that is a strong motor that pulls like a frieght train. Sounds mean too, it has true duals with no cats and dual glass packs.
Anyway the part number for flat top 400 pistons is 1282P. I am going to call the parts store where I got mine and see if they have any more. I let you know.

Sanders

 

You may be able to find a few sets of the flat top pistons on eBay. Distributors do not have them because they are no longer manufactured.

Ertel #1282P
Ohio Piston #1282P
BADGER # 40010F

There are a LOT of threads on this subject here if you use the search function.

 

None on Ebay right now.

Ok I just found some, they are $54 a set of 8, the 1971-2 8.4:1 compression pistons, they are stock replacements, the bidding ends in 8 hours, but I am gonna post the contact info, they have 5 pallets of them, and nobody has bid on them, I am sure they will relist.

1-800-792-9984 toll free from Maddog Racing. Mon-Fri 8-5 eastern.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2453454000

these ones are 4.060" bore

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2454933415

 

MotorHaven will not carry engine parts. It may take a while to see them on eBay, you will need patience.

 

probe industries has flat top pistons to fit the 400
probeindustries.com


I looked @ the pistons on ebay that you linked and those are dish pistons not flat tops

 

I bought my flat tops off ebay. There made by badger. I am getting about 9.6:1 out of them. The guys has alot. He sells them on Ebay all the time. everything from stock bore to .60 over

 

Maybe the guys here can email you for his contact information. He may have bought the remains of that last production run before Ertel closed their doors. When I talked to them a year or so ago just b4 they closed they had about 100 sets available. They just put different labels on the boxes, the pistons are the same.