351 windsor help
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 118
Likes: 0
From: Eastern NC
351 windsor help
Picked up a 351w with 80k origional miles on it. it is stock and am trying to decide where to go with it? any suggestions on rebuild kits, heads, and intake? would like to get around 400 hp but dont want to spend a whole lot. any suggestions much appreciated.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 369
Likes: 1
From: Indiana
I personally opted for some small chamber '65 heads and had as much done to em as I could afford. As hard as people push aluminum heads, I am surprised to see so few in use around here. Almost everyone I know rolls stock Ford castings...some modified, some stock. Personally, I am quite happy with my setup. It may not make 400HP, but it has plenty for me. (Never had my setup on a dyno)
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,063
Likes: 38
From: Valley Center, California
Air Flow Research Heads are pioneers in Ford Motor development. Edlebrock Air Gap manifold and a cam in the 280ish/.490ish area with headers. A Carb of about 750 CFM (but less is good also) with MSD Ignition is a good investment. That should get you there.
Dawg-a-saurus
Dawg-a-saurus
Junior User
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 55
Likes: 0
From: Anchorage, Alaska
I changed mine to a 418w stroker, dart pro-heads, dual quad edlebrock intake, MSD, Eagle crank, etc...
running 600hp at the flywheel. my estimate is probably closer to 450 at the wheels or so. it is pretty easy to drive on the street and I get about 10-12mpg on high octane pump gas. my foot is not normally in it too much though. that freaking thing will scare the hell out of you if you're not careful.
running 600hp at the flywheel. my estimate is probably closer to 450 at the wheels or so. it is pretty easy to drive on the street and I get about 10-12mpg on high octane pump gas. my foot is not normally in it too much though. that freaking thing will scare the hell out of you if you're not careful.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,346
Likes: 4
From: Rapid City, SoDak
I changed mine to a 418w stroker, dart pro-heads, dual quad edlebrock intake, MSD, Eagle crank, etc...
running 600hp at the flywheel. my estimate is probably closer to 450 at the wheels or so. it is pretty easy to drive on the street and I get about 10-12mpg on high octane pump gas. my foot is not normally in it too much though. that freaking thing will scare the hell out of you if you're not careful.
running 600hp at the flywheel. my estimate is probably closer to 450 at the wheels or so. it is pretty easy to drive on the street and I get about 10-12mpg on high octane pump gas. my foot is not normally in it too much though. that freaking thing will scare the hell out of you if you're not careful.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 16,192
Likes: 4,804
From: Burbank, WA
My understanding is going all the way to 427 compromises many factors inside the engine, including rod angle, ring location, piston scuff issues, etc. It may be fine if you're building a race engine that will be rebuilt regularly, but not ideal for a long-term, relaible street engine. Ford Racing offers a really nice 392 crate engine. It's not cheap, but speed costs money. How fast do you want to go?
Ford Racing 392 C.I.D. 430 HP GT-40 Head Stroker Crate Engines - SummitRacing.com
Trending Topics
I'll have the Roast Duck
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,622
Likes: 110
From: Northshore, MN
I'm in full agreement with Wayne, the Windsor heads lack efficient flow. That's why the Clevor swap was popular back in the day, as the worst C head, still flowed better than the best W head. But with today's aftermarket, there's some great options for the 351W, just that they aren't cheap, lol.
In the stroker category, I'd go no more than 392 for street reliability. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...2-stroker.html
In the stroker category, I'd go no more than 392 for street reliability. https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/1...2-stroker.html
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
Top 10 Fords at 2026 Carlisle Ford Nationals
Joe Kucinski
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,346
Likes: 4
From: Rapid City, SoDak
I'm wanting to go street strip with this one, i hear you on compromising things inside the engine but i'm a little confused about it as well because my understanding is that you can stroke a 351w to a 454 if you really want to, so you would think 427 would be safe?
I watch a lot of Pass Time on Speed channel and the main stroker i see is the 408, but the 392 would probably be a little more reliable as you mentioned. The thread was really helpful until the last post where the guy with the most experience with it said if he had to do it over again he'd stroke it to 427.
I'm going to stop stealing this thread, but since you guys have all the links so handy, do you have any on the MAF conversion mentioned in the one link? I was going to switch to intake/carb, but I still have the EFI intake on it right now so this would be the time to decide on that.
I watch a lot of Pass Time on Speed channel and the main stroker i see is the 408, but the 392 would probably be a little more reliable as you mentioned. The thread was really helpful until the last post where the guy with the most experience with it said if he had to do it over again he'd stroke it to 427.
I'm going to stop stealing this thread, but since you guys have all the links so handy, do you have any on the MAF conversion mentioned in the one link? I was going to switch to intake/carb, but I still have the EFI intake on it right now so this would be the time to decide on that.
I'll have the Roast Duck
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 9,622
Likes: 110
From: Northshore, MN
The more an engine is stroked, the more the offset of the crankshaft, and the longer the rods. This has a direct effect on the rotational "diameter" that the stock block may not allow. There is also a possibility of a clearance issue when the connecting rod makes that bigger "swing" , as it may hit the bottom portion of the cylinder wall's lip. This can be clearanced, but it weakens things, or an aftermarket block can be made with stronger webs and such. Either way, the aftermarket has done a lot of trial and error on this, and so the 427 came about, as opposed to something bigger. The 454 is an aftermarket block, such as Dart, and no stock production block will allow such an overbore and stroke.... which in turn calls for bigger oil pans, 4 main caps, etc... and more $$$.
I'm sure there's an aftermarket MAF and TB, or maybe a 351W (one year only for the Cobra? ) that might work. I know it's been done, but I'm more old school..... OK, I'm more like an old school drop out.
I'm sure there's an aftermarket MAF and TB, or maybe a 351W (one year only for the Cobra? ) that might work. I know it's been done, but I'm more old school..... OK, I'm more like an old school drop out.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,063
Likes: 38
From: Valley Center, California
Having owned a 392 Rousch motor in a '67 Mustang Fastback, I can tell you they are plenty powerful and reliable. It's a nice balance of stroke and diameter. As I recall there was some minor clearancing required on the block and the rod bolt heads were really small.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,696
Likes: 1
From: S.W. Florida
I just yesterday ordered a rebuild kit from Summit. .30 over hypereutectic slugs. A couple months ago I got a set of World Products Windsor SR. heads. Tommorrow I will order a Crane RV cam for some mild bottom end grunt, and new timing chain and gears. I already have Peformer intake and carb. I'll prolly pull the motor in a couple weeks.. It won't be a fire breather, but should be a pretty good performer.
