1974 Ford Country Squire

Here is a new member of the family of fine cars available for sale..

http://southcoast.craigslist.org/cto/2658625445.html

 

These 400cid Fords, I dunno? Weren't these a turd of a motor? Just sayin'.

 

Yeah, I'm kinda on the same side of the fence with Moto, 400ci Ford isn't really a good engine and thats coming from a Ford fan. Desined for the smog era and designed way to fast. Having owned a 73 4 door sedan and a 77 wagon, if the rear bumper is rusted there is a greater chance than not there is alot more rust to the under side of the car.

Could be a very nice wagon for all we know but the pics don't show the car, but show rust and there is no real descrption.

 

I think the real problem with the engine was the time it came along, Detroit was saddled with making emission standards using old school smog control devices. Severely retarded ignitions and very lean carb settings. The engine was born off the line almost knocking. Concur Tedy?

 

They were just disigned in "to much of a hury", The older lead fuil engines had years to slowley work in smog regulations and then unleaded fuil came in and all the big 3 scrambled, all produced duds of there own.......at the consumors expence IMO....test them with the buyer rather than a proving ground but i feel that had alot to do with goverment regulation ( time factor) rather than the big 3 itself, but for that era, thats just my opinion.

 

My Dad owned two of those, a '74 and a '75. Even as a kid I could remember him complaining about the engine and its issues.
Even still- I wouldn't mind having it , just to relive part of my childhood, and that isn't too far of a drive for me!
Edit: My wife just saw me looking at it and told me to stop looking at wagons, we have enough.
I blame it on her, she was the one who encouraged me to get a wagon originally!

 

All of the "issues" with the stock 400 are easily corrected with readily available parts if the desire is there. In stock form it is a turd. So were a lot of Chevy 400's and 350's in their day. It all depends on what you want to do.

 

My parents' 77 LTD had the 400 and that car never gave a problem in all the years we had it.

 

I'll just say....I'll take the 460 every time.

 

Am I correct in saying the 400 is a stroked 351 Windsor motor?

 

The 400 is basically a stroked 351 Cleveland. However it is a taller deck block. Then they used that same block and destroked it to create the 351M Leave it to Ford to have three different engines of the same displacement.

 

I love the 460, until it's time to go to the pump!

 

yup Can't disagree with that.

 

Its my car

The car is not bad with rust it is still a 1974 ford which was the worst for metal in the cars anyway in the 70's . But is a great driver and has always been serviced. I bought a 1962 Rambler american wagon to keep in stead. So if any one wants a good driver wagon the ford is for sale. All you need to do is call the ad number and i will answer all ???

 

Hey Bad Rat, post some pics of your 62 Rambler. I'd love to see it.
Good luck in selling the Squire. It looks like you have a realistic selling price.