. I wish that was true. I guess that person never saw the difference in block size between the two or was never real "knowledgeable" in the area of ford engines.
351 performance improvements
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
351 performance improvements
What engine improvements can be done to a tired out 87 351 engine? I am embarking on an engine rebuild and want to improve the low end torque and fuel economy. This is going to be used off road so the emissions stuff is history. Lastly, i have been told the 351 is never going to be a good performer like a GM 350 engine. Thx for any/all responses.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 0
From: Still under the hood in O
WHAAAT????
The last time I checked, a 350 and a 351 differ by 1 cubic inch.....in Ford's favor. So basically anything that works for a Chevy should perform similar in the Ford. (yes there will be differences but nothing major)
Check out the 221/260/289/302/351W forum in the performance section. Or the performance forum.
The last time I checked, a 350 and a 351 differ by 1 cubic inch.....in Ford's favor. So basically anything that works for a Chevy should perform similar in the Ford. (yes there will be differences but nothing major)
Check out the 221/260/289/302/351W forum in the performance section. Or the performance forum.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 608
Likes: 0
From: TAOS NM
bro i have a 91 351w v8 and i crapp allover the chevy 350 and doge ram 1500 on the freeway and the light to light sprint. i have tru duals, superchip ,cold air intake, cool blue filter ,turbo net no tailgate and i still want more out of her.
i was also told b4 that a 351 was a bored out 302 and that they were no good performers....no no no i know different now.
why not just go with a big block 460?
i was also told b4 that a 351 was a bored out 302 and that they were no good performers....no no no i know different now.
why not just go with a big block 460?
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
Maybe you meant for the same price as a Chevy? I think Chevy parts are cheaper because they are more plentiful, but you can make just as much power with a Ford SB, than you can a Chevy SB. Now when it comes to a Cleveland 351 now your talking another animal altogether, they make much more power than your typical Chevy SB due to it's much better cylinder head design and angle valves like the Chevy BB or Ford 429-460's.
Thread Starter
|
New User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Trending Topics
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 160
Likes: 0
No, they are physically different and so is the bellhousings. You can do it with the correct motor mounts and a trans adapter though. But 351 Clevelands were never a factory option since about 1973, a 400 Modified is basically the same as the 351 C. I maybe wrong about some of the facts but some other guys may know more about it than me.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
3 Best / 3 Worst Parts of Modern Ford Ownership
Brett Foote
10 Amazing Upgrades That Solve Common Ford Truck Owner Headaches
Pouria Savadkouei
Every 2026 Ford Engine Explained
Brett Foote
10 Ugly Ford Trucks That We Still Kinda Love
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Every Truck Owner NEEDS (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
Rezvani's Latest Post-Apocalyptic Monster Is a Ford F-150 Raptor Underneath
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Most Expensive Ford Trucks Ever Sold on Bring a Trailer
Joe Kucinski
2027 Ford Super Duty Buyer's Guide (Every Model, Engine, & Package)
Brett Foote
Top 10 Ford Truck Tragedies
Joe Kucinski
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,955
Likes: 0
From: Quesnel, BC, Canada
221,260,255,289,302,351w,and 351c all use the saem bell housing and engine mount pattern. The 351m and 400 m use the big block bell housing. A cleveland will replace and SB ford, except have fun finding EFI parts, unless you want to do TBI or TPI (like on chevies)
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 896
Likes: 6
I just built a 351w a couple of months ago, here's what I found. The 351w is a great truck motor, it is of the same family as the 302 but it has a beefier block with thicker webbing near the main caps. All the normal rebuild stuff applies. You can go up to .060 over but you should probably stay below .040. Have everything balanced per usual. The weak point of the 351w is the head, they don't flow real well but if you have a decent port job done it will help a lot. And if you have the money AFR makes a screaming head for the 351w. With decent heads, an rv cam a 750 carb or opened up air box and some headers your 351w will run like a scalded dog and have plenty of torque where you need it. It's a great motor don't sell yourself short.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 896
Likes: 6
The same principles apply to an EFI motor. Open up the heads or replace with Edelbrock or AFR. A better cam, the stock cams were pretty wimpy. Headers. And you can still improve the intake side with a good Holly, FRPP, or Edelbrock intake and a better throttle body. The biggest point is that your engine needs to breathe better and while you're making that happen you can make it stronger and last longer with good machining and fastners.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 649
Likes: 1
From: Monterey bay area
Will e,
do what I did....go get an FRPP 5.8L shortblock and slap a pair of edelbrock performer heads along with stud mounted roller rockers, JBA headers, bassani Y pipe, portmatch the intake to the heads and run a performance chip.....along with a K and N airfilter...I guarantee you will be spankin new powerstrokes, Duramaxes and cummings engines....
Funny how the guy in the duramax started waving as he drive by....I had let off the gas pedal....
(had traffic in front of me)
The weakness for the 351w engine are the cylinder heads and exhaust system.....
The 351w engine block has the same bore sizes and configuration as the 289 and 302's with the deck height being the only difference. 8.206 for the 302 and 289 and 8.48 for the early 351w and 8.5 for the newer.
just to give you insight to my Bronco's build up....after driving my truck, my bro in law has sold his Suburban and bought himself an Expedition....
He agree that Ford's are more expensive, but there's nothing like driving a Ford. My dad and Gramps would agree.
do what I did....go get an FRPP 5.8L shortblock and slap a pair of edelbrock performer heads along with stud mounted roller rockers, JBA headers, bassani Y pipe, portmatch the intake to the heads and run a performance chip.....along with a K and N airfilter...I guarantee you will be spankin new powerstrokes, Duramaxes and cummings engines....
Funny how the guy in the duramax started waving as he drive by....I had let off the gas pedal....
(had traffic in front of me)The weakness for the 351w engine are the cylinder heads and exhaust system.....
The 351w engine block has the same bore sizes and configuration as the 289 and 302's with the deck height being the only difference. 8.206 for the 302 and 289 and 8.48 for the early 351w and 8.5 for the newer.
just to give you insight to my Bronco's build up....after driving my truck, my bro in law has sold his Suburban and bought himself an Expedition....
He agree that Ford's are more expensive, but there's nothing like driving a Ford. My dad and Gramps would agree.
Postmaster
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 4,496
Likes: 0
capone
are you comparing your bronco 1/2 tons speed ability to a 3/4-1 ton truck? IF you look at the other perspective that big old truck help up pretty well to your bronco didn't it, especially given the fact it makes all its power extremely low and weights a whole lot more? Don't misunderstand I agree with every thing else you said. later
are you comparing your bronco 1/2 tons speed ability to a 3/4-1 ton truck? IF you look at the other perspective that big old truck help up pretty well to your bronco didn't it, especially given the fact it makes all its power extremely low and weights a whole lot more? Don't misunderstand I agree with every thing else you said. later
Last edited by jwtaylor; Nov 10, 2003 at 08:26 AM.