hey guys im new to the site was wondering if anybody has some ideas on a 351w im want to build for my 81 2wd? i have a 351w block .040 over stock crank and rods they havent been touched still standard bearings i want a good street motor doesnt have to be high hp bout 300-350 hp would be good more if i can!!! my questions are bout heads im a fan of the iron heads i dont want to spend a ton on aluminum but im not sure what castings to look for i have a set of 302 d5oe that are shaved .020 and have good valves and roller rockers came of a 302 that blew in november can i use them? i no they will have to be drilled for 1/2'' head bolts but other than that are they ok to use the 351w has flat top pistons in it any ideas or help would be great!!! thanks

 

To get that level of HP, the 302 heads will not come even close. Look for a set of early 351W heads (C9OE, DOOE castings, these have "L" shaped coolant ports on the intake side) or iron GT40 heads.

 

And even those are only just going to get you to 300hp, IMO your money is better spent on a set of Dart or RHS irons with 1.90/1.60 valves, 170-180cc intakes and 60-62cc chambers, that's and easy 350hp with a mild cam.

 

i think i have a set of dart iron eagles they dont have any ford markings on them and theres a big 351w cast in the head under the valve covers and they have daul exhaust manifold bolts on them? any other ideas what else they could be i have two sets of them ones on a 351w thats in my mud truck and the other is on a motor i picked up out of a garage with a whole bunch of other stuff it was a package deal. this motor is said to be a 358 built for stock car racing i havent pulled it apart i have just pulled they intake and valve covers and its a mexican block it saya heco de mexico on the lifter valley ive heard that these are stronger than the standard windsor block any help on how to identift them would be great

 

Could be N351 heads.With dual bolt patterned exhausts, they're definately not stock heads. The only thing stronger about the Mex blocks are the main caps. (on the 302 Mex block) If it's a 351 Mex block, it's the first I've heard of one.

 

Dart heads don't have dual exhaust bolt holes so they're something else like World Products Windsors or maybe Ford Racing heads like Baddad said. With the 351 block you don't have to worry about strength, even an all stock late model short block will handle 400hp all day long and the block itself is good for upwards of 700hp with a forged and balanced rotating assembly.

 

its definately a 351w and heco de mexico is cast right into the lifter valley ive read some articles on the internet that they have highe nickle content thats makes them stronger and heavier. i had never heard of them until i got a hold of this one ill try to get some pics this week and post them like i said i only have the intake off right now my plan is to tear it down and check it to make sure its good i want to use it in my 81 2wd its got a c6 with a shift kit and im not sure what it is for a converter i dont think its stock but hard to tell what it is for stalll with out it running it blew up pretty bad in november num 1 main cap let go and took out the crank 2 rods 4 pistons the timing chain and cover and the oil pump so i want to upgrade to the 351w theres alot of chevy small blocks up hear im one of the only ford guys around so i would like to shut them up any and all help and insight is greatly apperciated!

 

The "high nickle content" thing is a myth. The same incorrect info has floated around about the 302 Mex blocks for years. I recently had one in hand, along with a C8OE 302 block, and two D8VE 302 blocks. I stripped all four down to the bare castings with the main caps bolted on. They all weighed the same 134-136 pounds. The D8VE-A3A casting even had the same Hi-Po main caps, as does the D9AE-E3A block. If you really want to shut the Bowtie crowd up, build a Clevor.

 

High nickle content allows the formation of stronger crystalline structure during the casting process. By itself, it will not make the casting heavier.

 

And it also makes the metal harder to machine. Which makes it highly unlikely that it ever happened, especially in Mexican blocks. There's a guy on the FE bigblock forum that has Ford's records pertaining to block casting techniques and the alloys used. The high nickle thing didn't happen.

 

turns out the heads are windsors im pumped bout that! the blocks .040 looks to be in great shape i found a eagle 408 stroker crank for cheap what else needs to be done to stroke it kan i use the same rods or do i need different ones

 

heres the casting number form the block above the starter 77AY-6015-AA
on the rods C90E and the crank WCP66

 

These heads are certainly better than any stock head that appeared on this motor but as cast they only flow about the same as GT40Ps... which is still a bit low for this displacement. They do flow well enough to make 300-325hp or so without going too radical with the cam.. so you'll hit your target without the need to buy another set.. which is good news I'm sure.

 

I agree with Baddad regarding the "high nickel" anything. The onus is on whoever makes such claims to back it up with real evidence, such as original Ford Motor Company literature, a copy of Ford foundry specs, memos or the like.