I need a used shortblock for my 88 351W. I can't have my vehicle out of service very long, and money is even more of a issue. What years trucks can I swipe a short block from and still use my EFI setup? The differences I'm looking for are in the cam and pistons more or less, something that will work with the EFI (Speed Density),


Or (as mentioned in another of my posts) convert to carb. Which would be more cost effective? Less time consuming? I just want it to have good oil pressure, I can deal with performance issues. My current engine is on its last leg and I need to be prepared when it goes. 20psi @ 3K @ 65mph, 1-4 psi @hot idle, no knocking or lifter tap, but it won't be long! driven 70 miles daily!

Thanks in advance for any and all responces.

P.S. I seem to have a good supply of 83-86 truck with either a 302 or 351W in my area that are running in the truck for 300 to 700 bucks, if that helps any.

 

Am I asking the wrong forum?

 

You're in the right forum.

It's highly likely your engine is a 351W. I beleive they pretty phased out the 351M as the base engine in trucks by mid-1980 and stopped offering them in trucks altogether by 1982.

Cosmetic differences in the various 351s -

- Number of valve cover bolts per head - FE = 5, W = 6, C = 8,
M = 8, 335 Series (Big Blocks) = 7
- Thermostat Housing - W = on intake manifold, C = on block
- Fuel Pump - W = bolts on each side of block opening for fuel
pump. C = bolts on top and bottom of block opening
- 351W water pump boss stops aprox. 1" or more from top of
block at bottom of head. 302 water pump boss goes right up
to bottom of head
- 351W (and late 302 H.O.) firing order is 13726548. 302 firing
order is 15426378
- 351W eighth digit of VIN = generally is H
- 351C has dipstick going into the block, 351M has dipstick going
into the oilpan

You should be o.k. with any 351W block from 88 through 92. Good place to look is Broncos or F and E series trucks. You don't want a car block in this case.

Regards,

 

You mean to say that I can't use an 87 and older block? Why not?
Whats the diff in the car block compared to a truck block?

I do know that the 351M and the 351W have no interchangable parts.

I'm not trying to be rude, just finding out all my options. My truck is in very good condition and AM NOT SELLING IT TO GET ANOTHER!

Sorry for Yelling, I've wanted a 4x4 supercab since I was 16 years old, and I am not giving up my dream so easily.

 

He said it was.
Where did he say anything about a 351M/C?

 

What I am asking is can I use a short block from a carbed 87,86, 85, etc ? You know 87 and OLDER.

 

sounds like you could probably use the older ones but it woudl probably be easier with the new......I have found one CAN MAKE ANYTHING WORK. Its just some are harder and more expensive than others.

 

Everything should interchange. Some older blocks had provisions for a dipstick in the front timing chain cover and would not have the hole in the block for it, like the newer ones. You should be fine with the 80's motors you listed.

 

Fishin,

"You mean to say that I can't use an 87 and older block? Why not? "

I did not mean to say you CAN'T use them. You seemed to say that you wanted a trouble free block swap as you wanted minimal downtime. That would imply that you wanted no screwing around with mixing componants from various years. To my knowledge the 88 through 92 were virtually identical with no changes whatsoever. Prior to 88, the compression ratio was only 8.3 versus the 88-92 comp. ratio of 8.3 . I strongly suspect there were differences in the cams between the pre-88 and 88-92.
Which cam would you use? How would this (cam and comp.ratio differences) impact the running of the SDI?

Truck 351Ws didn't get roller cams until 94 (to my knowledge) I can't recall when car 351Ws got them. You don't want to end up with a roller cam block if you're planning to swap all your non-roller stuff into it.....




"Whats the diff in the car block compared to a truck block?"

I believe the main differences are in the oilpan & oil pick up and the cams. My sources show substantil differences in HP & Torque between car and truck 351Ws of the same years.


"I do know that the 351m and the 351w have no interchangable parts. "

This must have been a brain fart by me. For some reason I thought you had a mild suspicion that you had a 351M. Having reread your original note, I see no such mention so perhaps I was confusing your note with someone elses. My apoligies.

"I'm not trying to be rude, just finding out all my options. My truck is in very good condition and AM NOT SELLING IT TO GET ANOTHER!"

I never thought you were planning to sell it. I took your scenario at face value.

"Sorry for Yelling, I've wanted a 4x4 supercab since I was 16 years old, and I am not giving up my dream so easily."

Good for you. Good luck. (I'm glad you're paying the gas bills, not me )

Later,

 

Thanks for the reply,

I had another post that suggested selling my truck to get another, but I like this one. (even with the problems) My plan is to get a running motor and swap all the top end parts and accessories to that block, (heads, intake, EFI, water pump, and serpentine belt setup to the new short block) If I am thinking right, I should be able to do this with not much of a problem. I know it would take time, but maybe I can limit my down time to a week or so and not a month or more to rebuild the one I got. (I can always rebuild the old one when I want to.)

The other thing, How hard would it be to just put a carbed motor in? I know that the computer would not like it, but I can deal with that because it would not have control over anything,( remove it?) I would have to find the correct kickdown rod, and add a manual choke(maybe?) Otherwise the wiring is all there and the computer only controls the FI and smog stuff. Seems not to bad, but what does the forum think?

Thanks again for the response.

OH by the way, I live in the cornfeilds of Illinois, no smog testing here.

 

Stick with the EFI, the change to carb would take more work than it might be worth. Get any 80's 351w short block, just pay attention to where the dipstick goes in the pan. The only differences to the 88 up 351 will be the heads, pistons, and (minor) cam differences.