hey i am new to this forum, i am also new to fords!!!! Have been dealing mostly with chevy's in my short 3-4 year span of doing mechanic work (i am only 21) and am looking at an 82 f-250. From the research i have been doing, their were two available 351 engines in these trucks that years wich were the 351M (modified) and 351W (windsor). I would like to know how they can be differenciated by looking at them because i am interested in the truck but only if it has a 351 winsor because of the after market availablility and reliability. The guy told me on the phone he doesn't know wich one it is but knows its a 351 and the truck only has 111,000km wich is like 60,000miles so i doubt its been changed but is possible. Anything i should look out for on the engine and truck? Body looks very solid and has 4" of lift on suspension any opinions and info would be awsome thanks!!

 

Easiest way to tell is the thermostat housing bolts directly to the block on the 351C 351M/400 and it bolts to the intake manifold on the 351W. The 351C has never been factory installed in truck but the 351M is very similar so the two are often confused.
-John

 

Windsor's have six valve cover bolts, C/M have eight.

 

Windsor fuel pump bolts were horizontal. Cleveland/Modified fuel pump bolts were vertical.

 

look at the valve covers. the cleveland and modified engines look like this:


and the windsor valve covers look like this:

 

i checked it out its either modified or a cleveland, the guy says the engine is from a car, is their a way i can tell it if its a modified or cleveland?

 

A Cleveland's thermostat housing will be flush with the distributor hole a 351M or 400 will be raised up above the distributor hole. The Cleveland will also have a two bolt motor mount where the bolts to straight up from the bottom and the 351M/400 will have three blots that go in the side of the block.
-John

 

Bellhousings are what I look at first unless you see some casting numbers or date codes. Clevelands were only made from 70-74, 351M's were made 75-82. The 351C uses the same bellhousing pattern as the 289/302/351W. The 351M is common to the 400 in the same family and the big blocks, the 429 and 460 and it is a BIG difference. The distance between the top two bellhousing bolts on a small block ford is 5-1/8". If a 351M it will be about 7".

351W and C pattern (and 289/302/some late model V6 and some I6)



351M, 400 and 429, 460 pattern





If the owner says anything about it being a boss 351 it will not work in your application and you should call me immediately!