351w

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Penstarpurist

Penstarpurist

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Picked up a 351 Windsor core engine today. 1971 has the original 351 heads on it, no intake, carb, pan or timing chain cover. Though I swore in the picture it had the cover laying on it. No front brackets. But is complete as far as crank, rods, pistons, rocker arms, springs, etc. Picked it up for $120.00 couple towns over. Thinking about putting it in my 98 xtra cab ford ranger, though my son wants to put it in his 96 mustang convertible to upgrade from the v6 in it now. Either way I don't know alot about ford 351's in Windsor or Cleveland. But I assume '71 is a good year, are there any hints or advice on how to build them, are the heads good flowing. Is a Cleveland a better choice? What's the difference? Is $120 a good deal?
 
The Cleveland has far superior heads and they are WAY wider, limiting them to larger areas. The W motor will work well for what you want. Very similar to the Chrysler engines, there's not a lot of difference in cylinder heads, so use what you have. The 4" stroker build is popular with them too, just like the 360 Chrysler. Lots of options there, but, like the Chrysler you will quickly eclipse what the stock head is capable of, perhaps more quickly than the Chrysler. What I would do would be to build a stout, stock bore and stroke 351 and call it a day. Very respectable engines.
 
When I put the 351W in my '66 Ranchero which had a 289 in it from the factory, it was pretty much a drop in. The block is taller than the 289/302 block. If that '96 V6 is a 4.3 look carefully at the motor mounts they might be the same since the 4.3 was basically a bobbed 302/5.0. Cleveland heads flow a ton. Boss 302 .. Cleveland heads. From my early in life Ford experience.
 
Unconventional said:
When I put the 351W in my '66 Ranchero which had a 289 in it from the factory, it was pretty much a drop in. The block is taller than the 289/302 block. If that '96 V6 is a 4.3 look carefully at the motor mounts they might be the same since the 4.3 was basically a bobbed 302/5.0. Cleveland heads flow a ton. Boss 302 .. Cleveland heads. From my early in life Ford experience.
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Unfortunately the engine in there now is a 4 cyl. And the mustang is the 3.8, so neither would be a drop in fit. I got the ranger for basically free, and it gets driven daily with the current engine and 5 speed manual transmission. But has 240,000 miles on it, so eventually it is going to give up. I also have a 4 cylinder perkins diesel that I picked up for $100 that was out of an '84 ranger. That may go into a little rock crawler project. But that's another day.
 
Penstarpurist said:
Picked up a 351 Windsor core engine today. 1971 has the original 351 heads on it, no intake, carb, pan or timing chain cover. Though I swore in the picture it had the cover laying on it. No front brackets. But is complete as far as crank, rods, pistons, rocker arms, springs, etc. Picked it up for $120.00 couple towns over. Thinking about putting it in my 98 xtra cab ford ranger, though my son wants to put it in his 96 mustang convertible to upgrade from the v6 in it now. Either way I don't know alot about ford 351's in Windsor or Cleveland. But I assume '71 is a good year, are there any hints or advice on how to build them, are the heads good flowing. Is a Cleveland a better choice? What's the difference? Is $120 a good deal?
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Screaming deal...
 
Penstarpurist said:
Unfortunately the engine in there now is a 4 cyl. And the mustang is the 3.8, so neither would be a drop in fit. I got the ranger for basically free, and it gets driven daily with the current engine and 5 speed manual transmission. But has 240,000 miles on it, so eventually it is going to give up. I also have a 4 cylinder perkins diesel that I picked up for $100 that was out of an '84 ranger. That may go into a little rock crawler project. But that's another day.
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Check out American Muscle ,UPI ,or 94 95 Mustangs ,for wrecking yards.
You SCORED.....on the short block. Heads are weak ,look for aftermarket ...
 
My mistake. 3.8 was the bobbed 302. I was thinking the 4.3 V6 in my GMC. There should be plenty of available accessories to implant that 351 in the Mustang. I never looked, but there may be swap kits for a Ranger :D. I likes me some little pickups with big motors :D.
 
Unconventional said:
The 351W heads were the good ones in those years. They were an improvement over the 289/302 heads. I bet the later model GT40 heads were an improvement over those.
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Yes ,they are ..traditional Ford headers ,don't clear.
 
As for Good 351 Windsor heads , ONly 69 and 70 heads ,are the good ones ...
 
I will definitely check out American muscle and upi for some ideas. I initially started looking for a 351 for my ranger. I've got a buddy that put an LS in his s10, had a buddy with a 350 in his s10, a cousin that did a 327 in a luv and a buddy do a 283 in a Nissan pickup. Have really wanted to build a little truck with too much motor (if that's possible). But the thought of it in the stang does intrigue me. Especially as its a manual transmission car. I know I takes on 351 is wider, and deck height taller. But does the tin from a 302/289 fit on a 351? Oil pan, water pump, brackets, pulleys, etc.?
 
If Rock Auto's part #s can be trusted the timing covers are the same for 302s and 351s. Just a quick check. Valve covers should be the same. Different water pump shaft lengths per model of auto. I don't recall if the alternator brackets were water pump/timing cover mounted.
 
Unconventional said:
If Rock Auto's part #s can be trusted the timing covers are the same for 302s and 351s. Just a quick check. Valve covers should be the same. Different water pump shaft lengths per model of auto. I don't recall if the alternator brackets were water pump/timing cover mounted.
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Yeah my research says oil pans a no go as well. There's a lot of parts for them on the list within 50 miles of me or less. I should be able to find the right stuff, hopefully I don't have to worry about generations of them being different interchangeably. As my block is a '71 and I know they made them at least until '90 does an intake or exhaust manifold or headers work from any year to the next? I'm going to have to do some serious research to build it right. I'm not opposed to a mild build set up if it goes in the ranger. Maybe a bit more if it ends up in the mustang.
 
Penstarpurist said:
I will definitely check out American muscle and upi for some ideas. I initially started looking for a 351 for my ranger. I've got a buddy that put an LS in his s10, had a buddy with a 350 in his s10, a cousin that did a 327 in a luv and a buddy do a 283 in a Nissan pickup. Have really wanted to build a little truck with too much motor (if that's possible). But the thought of it in the stang does intrigue me. Especially as its a manual transmission car. I know I takes on 351 is wider, and deck height taller. But does the tin from a 302/289 fit on a 351? Oil pan, water pump, brackets, pulleys, etc.?
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Different oil pans. Not sure about front bracketry since the 351 is both taller and wider than the 302.
 
You should just come down and buy my GT40P 302. It's fresh and ready to go. Badass little motor.
 
RustyRatRod said:
You should just come down and buy my GT40P 302. It's fresh and ready to go. Badass little motor.
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I know that most guys that have v8 swapped a ranger do say the same thing. 289/302 is the only way to go, as the 351 is too big to fit without a struggle. But having put a big block in a duster, I'm up for the challenge. But got to get it built first. I bet your 302 is badass, probably out of my price range. Lol. I can build the 351 over the next few months or so. I have to get the duster finished first. It's so close. Then my wifes 75 valiant two door. As my sons are driving the heck out of my ranger daily. Inevitably one of their rigs is always broke down or getting rearend swaps, paint jobs, etc. I get stuck on the farm or bumming rides from my dad. Haha.
 
Penstarpurist said:
I know that most guys that have v8 swapped a ranger do say the same thing. 289/302 is the only way to go, as the 351 is too big to fit without a struggle. But having put a big block in a duster, I'm up for the challenge. But got to get it built first. I bet your 302 is badass, probably out of my price range. Lol. I can build the 351 over the next few months or so. I have to get the duster finished first. It's so close. Then my wifes 75 valiant two door. As my sons are driving the heck out of my ranger daily. Inevitably one of their rigs is always broke down or getting rearend swaps, paint jobs, etc. I get stuck on the farm or bumming rides from my dad. Haha.
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I doubt it. All I want is my money back out of it. 2500 bucks will get it. It's a factory zero deck height, forged piston engine.
 
My '66 Ranchero was a hybrid between Falcon and Fairlane and width wise the 351 dropped right in. The height issue raised it's ugly head when I attempted to install the headers from the 289. Flanges matched up, but the collector pointed straight at the firewall :BangHead:.
 
Unconventional said:
The 351W heads were the good ones in those years. They were an improvement over the 289/302 heads. I bet the later model GT40 heads were an improvement over those.
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351 W heads had bigger ports and valves. Your biggest problem with 71 heads is the larger chambers, mill them, and the stupid smog port on the roof of the exhaust port, port it out. The GT40 heads are supposed to flow the same as 351W heads. We used to put 351 Windsor heads on 289's with SBC Stainless valves or SBF stainless valves if using rail rockers and BBM valve springs. Worked real nice! I'd use what you have.
 
Unconventional said:
My mistake. 3.8 was the bobbed 302. I was thinking the 4.3 V6 in my GMC. There should be plenty of available accessories to implant that 351 in the Mustang. I never looked, but there may be swap kits for a Ranger :D. I likes me some little pickups with big motors :D.
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Glad you corrected that. I was about to. Lol
 
Had one of those 3.8s in an '83 ragtop Mustang. Bought it new, 6 month later it's burning oil like crazy. Back to Ford it goes. "There is a service alert about the valve seals cracking. We'll check it out." Come on guys, you've been building these motors since 1964 and you put crappy valve seals in them. I tried to order the car with the 302 automatic combo "Not available in CA" right next to it sat a new T-Bird 302 automatic. That 3.8 ran well and the following year they switched to EFI and it really woke that little beggar up.
 
So in doing more research I'm learning about 2v and 4v heads? Not sure which ones I have yet. But am I safe to assume that they are 2v as the 4v heads are very sought after. And the guy I bought it from was definitely a hardcore ford guy and I am sure he would not have let 4v heads walk out for what I paid for it. Can I use a 4bbl intake on 2v heads? It sounds like you can't cut enough of the ports on a 2v ro run 4v intake.
 
I think I got a cast iron 4 barrel anchor, sorry, intake in the garage if you want it (shipping would probably kill it though)
 
diymirage said:
I think I got a cast iron 4 barrel anchor, sorry, intake in the garage if you want it (shipping would probably kill it though)
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Yeah Michigan to Oregon would probably cost as much in shipping as a used aluminum one here locally.
 
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