Look i just got an 83 ford bronco 4x4 from my grand father it came with a 6 banger in it. but he sais he had a 351M put in it with a 4 speed well he also sais its got a police interceptor in it. now he is getting old so i dont think he knows what is in there. i know its got a 4 speed i do know that but anyway my step dad has a 95 stang GT 5.0 HO. ok we know thats a 302 and we also have ownd a windsor so i know its not one of those because you could put both of those engins inside of this one. so could someone tell me how i can ID the difference from one to the other thanks ...

 

Lets start with counting the bolts on one of the valve covers. How many do you count? This will narrow it down. A pic would really take care of this.....can you post one up???

 

Thanks man i need to post a pic anyway ...

 

Hey dud it has 8 valve cover bolts :::: like that on the valve cover looking strait down on it. dose this help thanks ...

 

8 bolts on valve cover 351m, 400 or 351c. You need to look over the starter for number on the block. Let us know the # and will try to help.

 

Ok man well that narowd it down alot i'll look by that starter and see what it sais thanks...

 

No 351M ever intercepted anything, so where ever that "interceptor" talk came from who knows.....

The only difference between them is crank and pistons. The stroke is 3.5" vs. 4.0" for the 400. If you can measure the stroke through a spark plug hole that would be helpful.

 

Yea i here ya on the (interceptor), but dude im only 16 so you got to work with me on the mesuring the sparkplug hole thing. now way it sounds to me what you are saying do you turn the engine till the piston is all the way down as far as it will go. well pull the plug out first then do i stick a tape mesure down the hole. is that what you are talking about if not sorry man i still got a lot to learn. i mean iv'e never heard of that before i mean im not saying anythings wrong with it. i have site and helpd my step dad rebuild engines a couple of times but hes never told me anything about that. so could you please tell me so i'll know thanks. ...

 

yes the stroke is the piston travel up and down. Gonna be hard to mesure because the angle of the spark plug hole. Close to 3.5" is 351m, close to 4" is 400.

 

That was cute "a351M never intercepted anything" WOW priceless LMAO. John

 

Yea, down the plug hole is hard, but use a piece of wire like a number 12 house wire.

http://s7.cdn.hardwareandtools.net/is/image/HardwareandTools/032076012618?wid=200&hei=200

As found on these:

http://atlanticprimesupply.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/Electrical/thhn-black.JPG

Now back to square one. You are 16, and someone gave you a Bronco with a transplanted (probably) 351m.

Does it run? Good, bad, ugly?

What's the plan?

DON'T get too wrapped up in this thing--school first, I'll spare you the rest of the lecture. If it works, polish it up, tune it up, air it up and drive it.

 

throw some compression at a 351m and she will intercept a lot of stuff. longer rod and rpms and compression you have a interceptor. It has a longer rod than a cleveland and really helps on the rpms. 7000 not a problem but will need to start upgrading oil lube system. restrictors and other stuff or tim meyer newer cam bearings. adios amigos.

 

What pistons are you using to get compression out of a 351m?

7000rpm? Not with stock heads and springs.

The usual solution is to make a 400 out of it. Covered many times here.

You can call it an "Interceptor" but it was never designated as such as OEM, unlike certain FE motors for example.

The solution to the 351m:

http://www.tmeyerinc.com/400ford.html

 

Yea thanks for the advice and yes i am staying in school i want to join the service. but i still have to find out what im dealing with on this engine rather its a 351M or a 400. before i try to buy any engine parts you know like from the part stores and stuff.

 

351 cleveland pistons/dome. con rods need to have small end bushed down for the smaller piston pins. But for normal average guy I would go with the 400. cubic inch rules in natrually aspirated world unless you can turn rpms. Once you start turning 6000+rpms you need to start looking into lube systems upgrades. yes all valvetrain was upgraded. start with tim meyer or www.mpgheads.com these guys are ford guys and will get you squared away. I use both these guys for my ford projects and a few others. check out my 400 cj ford in my photos and will be updating pictures soon. It has a 351 cleveland intake and flat top cleveland pistons. working out of state at this time and not able to up grade my photos.