'80 w/351M?
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'80 w/351M?
I just picked up an '80 Bronco with what appears to be a 351 M, according to the emmision tag its 5.8/6.6 "E" and serial # search suggests 351 M, it has 8 bolts on the valve covers so everything appears to match up for a big block 351 "M".
Im not familiar with this engine but recent net searching suggests it was built in Windsor but its actually derived from the bottom end of a 351 Cleveland but ported diff/smaller???
Ne1 have this same engine and what can you tell me about it, good-bad or otherwise.
Im not familiar with this engine but recent net searching suggests it was built in Windsor but its actually derived from the bottom end of a 351 Cleveland but ported diff/smaller???
Ne1 have this same engine and what can you tell me about it, good-bad or otherwise.
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From: Panama City
8 bolt valve covers means it is 351m/400. Ford made millions of these and put them in trucks,and full size cars. It is a big block bell housing pattern and uses canted valve heads just like the Cleveland motors do. They are low compression motors and ford retarded the timing for smog control. If you are going to do anything performance wise with it you should start with a good "straight up" timing set to reverse the retarded timing(pun intended) There are a lot of people who dont like the 351m but I have owned 4 of them and have been happy with them all, after a few modifications. They are a basically destroked 400. They do respond well when they are allowed to breathe. And since they were made for nearly 20 years they are plentiful.Now are they a 429/460? No. But they can be built to perform right up there with a 429/460.
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Thx, that sounds promising, I dont expect I'll need to hop it up much. We currently pull our small travel trailer with an f150 w/302efi but it struggles a little on big hills so the idea is to replace the f150 with this Bronco,
and maybe the wife will drive it in rough winter weather, but otherwise it will be a spare vehicle like the f150 is now. We both commute so she has a Focus and I have a little Bronco II, this big Bronco will get cleaned up and remain mostly stock unless I find it needs more horsepower, but I dont really expect it will. Good to know it can be hopped up if needed tho.
and maybe the wife will drive it in rough winter weather, but otherwise it will be a spare vehicle like the f150 is now. We both commute so she has a Focus and I have a little Bronco II, this big Bronco will get cleaned up and remain mostly stock unless I find it needs more horsepower, but I dont really expect it will. Good to know it can be hopped up if needed tho.
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If you are pulling a travel trailer with a 302 powered f-150, then the torque from the 351m will be more than sufficient. Just make sure your brakes are in good shape. Aint no use goin if you cant stop.
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Ya brakes are a good thing..lol
This is a small trailer, 20 ft 4000 lbs or so loaded, I pulled it with a v6 Ranger 4x4 once, then bought the f150 but I think this Bronco will be much better, and I like my BII so Im pretty sure I'll like its big brother
This is a small trailer, 20 ft 4000 lbs or so loaded, I pulled it with a v6 Ranger 4x4 once, then bought the f150 but I think this Bronco will be much better, and I like my BII so Im pretty sure I'll like its big brother
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A better cam will make a huge difference if you don't go to the 400 rebuild. I will post some sources later, or you can go to the 335 series forum and find millions of posts about turning the 351m into a respectable performer.
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