I have a 1996 351w and before I start installing it on my Mustang II front end I want to make sure I have everything first. I read a few things about changing the oil pan to a rear sump. I have not taking off my oil pan yet, but it looks to already be a rear sump. Any suggestions.

 

Give it a try and see how it fits. You just might get lucky. ;-)

 

I believe a rear sump pan has the dipstick coming out of the side of the oil pan. If it is a front sump it should come out of the timing chain cover on a 351W. At least it did on mine when I changed it over.

 

Sorry i cannot answer your question i have one similar in nature, my 351 is being stroked to a 408 and i asked the builder if he thought a rear sump pan would work and he said he didnt think it would because it wouldnt clear the stroke and rod, trying to plan ahead for the MII, any suggestions?

 

There will be a noticeable rear 'sump' but it isn't really located at the 'rear'. In front there will also be a smaller 'sump'. Both will have drain plugs. Some dipsticks go into the pan and some into the block on the side with those pans. I haven't searched far enough yet to figure out the difference.
If you have two drain plugs, you have the pan you need.

 

There are several different oil pans for the 351W. In addition to the old style traditional front sump, there's variations of rear and mid and semi-mid sumps for different van, truck (both 2 and 4 wheel drive) and the Fox body conversion pan to fit late model Mustangs sold through Ford Racing Performance Parts. Some have 2 drain plugs and some have only one. It depends on the depth of the pan center and if there's sufficient drain back abilities for the area around the oil pump.

If none of the factory pans will work for a particular application, and if you have a lot of money to spend, there's several different aftermarket companies that make myriad other specialty pans as well.

Again, I stand by my original post and say give what you have a try. The beauty of custom engine swaps is there's more than one right way to do something. If it fits in a way you're comfortable, go with it. But you won't know until you try, and you just might stumble on a magic combination you can share with the rest of the class.

 

I have a '95 351W going into my '49 i am using a Jag IFS so its not quite comparing apples to apples but, my '95 351w came out of a truck. It is a rear sump and the dipstick goes thru the block the oil pan that came on it IS a rear sump pan has only one drain plug. You will, as said, just have to try it for fit. I had to use a pan made for a '91 crown vic with a 351W.
the sump sits more to the rear than the current '95 truck pan. I bought it from autozone for $80 ish and $20 ish for the new oil pickup tube. It was made by SPECTRA (think thats the name) FP16B. i have a thread about it. search for "my next JAG IFS hurdle".
Anyway the new pan DOES have two drain plugs, the front sump is barely a sump but nonetheless it does hold a little oil.
here is a picture of the two for comparison....left one is the '95 truck pan...right one is '91 crown vic pan, also the dipstick tube panel on the side does not have to be used in my case because it does not interfere with the dipstick that does thru the block. another note, you can remove the side pan tube attachment shown in these pics. they are simply bolted in with a cork gasket. I am probably gonna take mine out and have it welded shut professionally. or make a plate and use the gasket they have in it,but i don't like the thought of a potential oil leak later on.

 

351W reverse sump pan: 1975/91 Econoline.

 

this sump in the top picture looks like the dump in my truck.

 

hey there Gibby55,
sorry, i see pics left to right, not top to bottom. anyway the pan that has the sump closer to the end/rear is the pan i had to get. the pan with the sump closer to the center of the pan is a duplicate(except for the dipstick hole) of the '95 351W truck application.

 

I have a donor engine from an F150 with the 351w (5.8l). The stock pan is the rear sump type....here's a pic during my engine assembly of the installed pan:


Here's a pic of the same pan prior to assembly....I did several fit checks with the crossmember to check clearance to the crossmember and steering:



It clears everything. I'm not sure what your Mustang has, but you could change pans....you'll need to get the right oil pick up to go with whatever pan you use.

By the way, the end result was about an inch of clearance to the steering rack and the crossmember. I have plenty of firewall clearance with the C6 trans as well:

Dan

 

old DAN, nice lookin engine! can't wait to see some color in my garage besides RUST !!!

 

Note that in both of those pans, the depth of the front sump area is the same, as it provides clearance for the oil pump. Using one or the other will not gain any clearance at the steering rack. The difference is in the level of the pan floor area, and the placement of the main sump, front to back. The intent of the double sump is to allow the engine to straddle the stock Ford crossmember and place the front sump ahead of the steering rack, allowing the engine to sit lower.

 

What IFS are you using? I know that's a 351, but the oil pan on my 302 is much farther back and basically the front of my oil pan touches the steering rack.

 

That is the Fatman crossmember & IFS.

Dan