I've been asking a bunch of questions on a few forms about 351 Windsor or 351 Cleveland or 351m/400. I want to toss a ford V8 in my 83 Cherokee (last year for the big Cherokees, Grand Wagoner size)

After looking at three engines;
1) an advertised 351w that was actually a 302,
2)an advertised 351C that was actually a 351M or 400 with either "351 Cleveland" valve covers or heads installed,
3) a rebuilt 70s 351w with 10k miles for $1500. I finally found a 90s FI 351w out of a collage maintenance van.

So a few questions,

it had an automatic on it, ring gear still installed. I will be mating this up to the Cherokee's T176 4 speed (a the Ford bell housing will bolt to it) or maybe a Jeep NV3550 5 speed that I have, need to get an adapter between it and the Ford bell housing. What flywheel should I be looking for? did these ever come with a manual tranny?

Can I use the Ford fuel injection stuff as a stand-alone system or would it be easier to find a 4bbl intake and carb? If I can use the FI system, do I need to find an engine computer for a manual transmission or would the one that came with it (auto tranny) work ok. Will also need to figure out the gauges.

Thoughts, help, hints, greatly appreciated

 

Just a note. I do have a 71 F250, been in the family for 46 years, just rebuilt the front suspension and fuel system. I have always been a Ford and older Jeep guy. I don't want to put an AMC engine in the Cherokee, I want the 351W so both of my toys have a Ford heart.

 

The 351M/400 used the same heads as the Cleveland (aside from some minor differences in porting and chambers) but used a different bell pattern, ala 429/460) You'll need a 28 oz/in flywheel in the correct tooth count (diameter) that the bell housing you use requires, also depends on pressure plate style too (diaphragm or Long style) Can't advise you on EFI. Carb would be simpler only drawback being the EFI adjusts to drastic altitude changes (in going from sea level to running at 3000+ ft) Make sure that bell to transmission adapter works with the input shaft length, last thing you want is to have the input shaft snout fall short of going into the pilot bearing in the crank. If this doesn't happen, then your transmission will have a very short life.

 

Yes manual trans was an option, you need a 28oz imbalance flywheel in either 164 tooth or 157 tooth depending what bell housing you use, and also either a 10" or 11" clutch to match. I believe the smaller bell and clutch was mainly used in cars while the larger pair were for trucks.. which makes sense.

The EFI system in this year is pretty much stand alone especially when the vehicle has a manual or non computer controlled auto trans. This van would have had one of those PCM controlled transmissions so that computer and harness won't be any good to you but there were lots of trucks built with the C6 or a 5-speed manual that would make good candidates. And speaking of transmissions the ZF5 manual with granny low 1st was standard equipment in HD trucks(anything bigger than a 1/2 ton) and was available in 2wd and 4wd versions so that might also be an option for you.

 

Ok, next question, will the external mounting brackets for the alt, a/c comp, and power steering from a fi 5.0 for on the fi 5.8. ?

 

Yes, all brackets will swap over.

 

ok, found a 50oz and 157 tooth fly wheel and clutch set up, the 351w should only have the 28oz wheel?

 

why couldnt he use the van harness to run efi and just swap the computer to a 351w manual trans computer. just leave the auto trans plugs disconnected or cut them off.

 

351's were all 28 oz/in. No 50 oz/in a-tall

 

Back again. Its easier to try and use the Ford FI system? if so, I need to look for a harness and ECM from a manual? what years? This engine is the MPFI with the what I call the double throttle body.

 

Best bet is to find an F250 those will have the highest ratio of manual trans

 

Alright, kill me for this if you must but, really thinking about removing all the ford FI stuff and going with this

https://www.ebay.com/itm/FiTech-Fuel...9Zv8-Y&vxp=mtr

So If I do, how can I control the spark? FiTech does have a system that will have this option but I don't really like paying another 200-300 just for that. How about the GM module with the stock Ford dizzy?

thoughts welcome

 

I would read their feedback thoroughly before sending them $800. I did and didnt like what I read.

 

OK, so if not the aftermarket FI, I can maybe use the stock FL stuff?

I re-read through a post I have on here and replied with this. Also included is a exert from another forum

OK, so what you guys are saying is, I think;

1) The older truck harnesses 90 and back are "stand alone ish". The 5.0 harness from that same time period is also.

2) I can use a ecm from a 5.0 mustang and it will work on a stock 5.8.

Does it have to be a mustang? I have seen 5.0's in larger cars too and not too many folks rip stuff out of there. Would that be because its the same engine but way different wiring, setup?

3) It would be better to get the 91 and up system because its more tunable but most of those systems are not "stand alone".

Ok, so when I'm wondering through a junk yard and find a truck or van 90 and older, with a FI 5.8, how can I tell if it has the C6 or AOD trannny?
Found this on another site

"Ford EFI is one of the easiest to swap into anything. The computer doesn't care if there is Tranny there or not as long as you take the motor out of a AOD not AODE car. The AOD cars were still mechanical controlled not computer. My Mustang was AOD I put Tremec in it and it's still running fine on stock computer. The computer only controls fuel and timing. The Check Engine light will only come on when you put a free flowing exhaust on it. Cause it make the O2 sensor go crazy. You should be able to get a chip made to help. You can use all the Ford sensors."

Another question, this engine has some emissions crap plumed into the exhaust manifolds and else ware. I can just remove that crap right? may make little to no difference right? Here in North West Florida, we don't do emissions, unlike Phoenix where I grew up sheesh!

thanks for the input

 

Not going to find an AODE, AOD or C6 behind a EFI 351. Check engine light on ? Electrical tape will fix that ! LOL. The 5.0's in the Marquis , Town car and Crown Vic were all Speed density.