I have a 1963 Ford F100 unibody with a 77 351 Windsor in it. My plan is to tweak the engine a little bit cam carburetor intake manifold heads and headers. But budget restraints being what they are I can't afford to do all this at once. So I'm looking for information on headers I can bolt to the existing two valve heads and then when the time is right and I get the new heads transfer them over. Anybody have any suggestions?

 

Hi Submarriner, and welcome to FTE. This forum is for posts related to Diesel Competition, so I'm going to move your thread over to the engine-specific forum for the 351 Windsor. I think the folks here will be able to help you.

 

Unless you put some monster big nascar heads on this motor you won't have a problem with the headers, all the most popular aftermarket heads have the exhaust ports in the exact same location as the stock heads so headers will bolt up no problem.

 

sorry. this is the first forum I've ever posted to. so there is that pesky learning curve to over come.

 

Don't they make 4 valve heads? And if so wouldn't the ports be a different shape and size? or am I that ignorant?

 

No 4 valve heads on any Ford pushrod motor.*

You may have seen references to "2V..." or "4V..." heads in reference to the 351C engine. The "2V" or "4V" were referring to 2 Venturi or 4 Venturi carburetors. The 4V heads had larger ports and valves, and early versions were closed combustion chambers. Generally, 2V heads make better low end, the 4V work better up top. There are many variables.

Current model "2V/4V" references are regarding 2 or 4 valves per cylinder, as no one makes anything with a carb on it anymore.

This is all moot with a 351W, as the heads for a 351W would be selected on port and valve size and combustion chamber size. These varied by year during production, and were not usually --if ever-- determined by 2V or 4V carbs. For '77, you may still have decent heads. This shows things went sour in '78. In either case, there are better heads available through the aftermarket.

Kelly hotrod - Ford Engines Page 3

* Other than some aftermarket 3 valve SBC heads, I do not know of any domestic pushrod motor with more than 2 valves per cylinder. It can be done-- I had a Honda GL 500 with 4 valve heads and pushrods. But no one does it afaik.

 

This is all my fault ... Earlier in the day yesterday we were discussing exhaust options for the truck project and Mark (submarriner) asked if there were different exhaust port configurations on his stock 2v (2bbl.)heads compared to the 4v(4bbl.) factory heads ,gt40 heads, cleveland heads or aftermarket heads so that he could buy a set of headers now without worrying about future head swap fitment issues. I did not have an answer for him , (this will be my first small block ford build) so I suggested posting the question on this site .
The question to be answered is this... does anyone have a recommendation for a set of headers for this truck ( 63 f100 uni with 1977 351w engine , c4 trans.)? He is without exhaust at all right now and is ready to make a purchase so that he can drive it.
I have found several manufacturers of shorty headers that should fit , sanderson,hedman, ford racing. But I would like to hear from someone that has hands on experience... and a part # Thanks , Rich

 

Yup I'm ignorant. but that's ok we all were once.
Is the sticker on top on my valve cover is telling me it"s a 4v head?

As printed on sticker

Family 351W "c" (2cV4)EGR/CATLYST/PCV*

It has 6 bolt valve covers and a 2 barrel carburetor.
And thank you for your help.

 

Believe the 65 thru 79 4X2 chassis are similar and the only problem I encountered w/ installing 302 was that I had to place the headers in position before lowering the engine; in my case, because of the starter and clutch assembly; understand the 351w sets a little higher. I went with Hooker long tubes but with the 61 thru 64 straight axle and different steering configuration it may present a couple issues, possibly similar issues when selecting headers for a 4X4 ??

May have to consider 'shorty' headers and have a shop decide best way to route exhaust?? Perhaps member in the 61 thru 66 forum has experience??Anyhow, food for thought, had an urge to chime in?

 

Thanks dave , we'll take any info we can get... And I believe Mark cross poted this in several forums here , the 61-66 forum being one of them.

 

As I said, no such thing as a "4v head" for a 351W. Heads are the same 2v or 4v. I can't decode your sticker other than the obvious EGR/Cat/PCV.

 

If 4v and 2v means 4 barrel and 2 barrel then there was a 4 bbl 351W and an 2 bbl 351W in the early days, but with different intake manifold, carb, and pistons and the same heads.

 

Ok I'm strait on the 4v/2v heads. No such thing as 4 valve heads. No such thing as 4v heads on a 351w.
Are their a set of headers out there that fit both 2v cleveland and 2v windsor heads?
Are the bolt patterns the same?

 

No. Headers are for the C or the W. Forget C heads, and forget referring to your W heads as 2v or 4v or anything other than 351W heads, along with the casting number on them.

Since that engine did not come stock in your truck, you will have to do some trial work on 351W headers made for later model trucks and see what may fit. See post 9 above for example.

 

Thanks , yesterday we went down to the local muffler shop and had some pipes made that will allow Mark to use the stock manifolds for now . He is going to order some pipe and flowmaster hushpower dbx mufflers and we will build the exhaust from the trans x-member back ... when he decides the best route to go with the engine , he will order the headers at that time and we can connect the headers to the exhaust at the x-member . Thanks again . Rich