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I have an 81 F350 with what appears to be a 5.8 351 crate motor (see pics).
It runs ok but the belts squeal like a pig and I'd like to tune her up with plugs/wires/filters/oil.
First of all, is this in fact a 5.8 351 motor?
How do I ID this motor in the parts store? In other words, do I need to know the year of the motor or other details other than its a 5.8L?
If anyone spots anything in the pictures I should address please let me know. Thanks
that is a 351M engine, not the 5.8 Windsor that people usually associate with the 351 or 5.8 engine prefix
so when asking for parts you need to specify it is a 1981 351 M engine and make sure they understand that it is not a 351 W.
they are 2 completely different engines, and i don't think any of the parts interchange.
the tag is for the 351/400, but it says engine displacement 5.8L in the second line.
and the 351M was a stock engine for the 81,. so that may be the original engine that was rebuilt, or it may be a replacement engine.
either way,, year of the engine is not real important. as long as you get parts for a 81 351M you will be good.
the tag is for the 351/400, but it says engine displacement 5.8L in the second line.
and the 351M was a stock engine for the 81,. so that may be the original engine that was rebuilt, or it may be a replacement engine.
either way,, year of the engine is not real important. as long as you get parts for a 81 351M you will be good.
Time for my eye exam again. Thanks for the correction.
That could also be a 400 in there. Same externally. Same blocks and heads, different crank rods and pistons. You can remove a spark plug and using a coat hanger wire, measure the stroke as you turn the crank by hand with a breaker bar and 15/16" socket in the front crank bolt. The 400 has far more power over the 351M. But based on how it looks in that picture, it's the original engine that hasn't been torn into. Look at the gaskets and the bolts, they look to have not been disturbed.
I see that the tag says M.Y. Heavy Duty Engine. That might be useful.
If you look at the picture carefully you can see that the sticker label is applied overtop another Ford sticker. This seems pretty sloppy for a factory rebuild, but then who else would have access to those labels?
The power steering belt looks to be too narrow for the pulleys in which it's riding.
