Crazy idea?
Thread Starter
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Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 105
Likes: 12
What is it you think is the problem with the 351C? Heavy smoke, knocks, leaks, poor running, etc??? May not need a complete rebuild with boring, pistons, rings, cam bearings, hot tanking, head work, etc ,....
My 351M doesn't smoke nor use oil, it has a persistant rear main seal leak du to my only replacing the lower half of the seal when I had to swap in new main and rod bearings and a oil pump in 1992 @ 75,xxx miles, I thought I'd need a nother engine soon so I started fixing one rfor use. 40,xxx miles later, the replacement is still on a stand waiting, the 351M in the truck idles at 40 psi hot, runs 60 ish psi at road speed hot.
My 351M doesn't smoke nor use oil, it has a persistant rear main seal leak du to my only replacing the lower half of the seal when I had to swap in new main and rod bearings and a oil pump in 1992 @ 75,xxx miles, I thought I'd need a nother engine soon so I started fixing one rfor use. 40,xxx miles later, the replacement is still on a stand waiting, the 351M in the truck idles at 40 psi hot, runs 60 ish psi at road speed hot.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 9,606
Likes: 1,175
From: San Jose, CA
Are you asking places to drive the car in and have them pull the engine rebuild it and put it back in for you?
Or places that will rebuild it after you remove it and bring it in to them?
And are you asking for custom builds? What type of shops are you inquiring of?
Maybe custom engine builders during high-end builds, or people who just don’t want to do the work so overcharge on purpose and in the hopes that you will either go away or let them charge you $9000.
Of course, there’s always the possibility that prices have gone up so incredibly even in that area that our estimates are way low based on older experiences.
We’ve had recent estimates reported as being 4K and below, but my own personal experiences are more than a few years old now.
At that time a full rebuild where I brought the engine in and they reassembled it except for the cylinder heads was 2K for a 400 and more recently $2500 for a roller 302.
I sure hope we are not wrong and a normal rebuild now cost almost $10,000!
Or places that will rebuild it after you remove it and bring it in to them?
And are you asking for custom builds? What type of shops are you inquiring of?
Maybe custom engine builders during high-end builds, or people who just don’t want to do the work so overcharge on purpose and in the hopes that you will either go away or let them charge you $9000.
Of course, there’s always the possibility that prices have gone up so incredibly even in that area that our estimates are way low based on older experiences.
We’ve had recent estimates reported as being 4K and below, but my own personal experiences are more than a few years old now.
At that time a full rebuild where I brought the engine in and they reassembled it except for the cylinder heads was 2K for a 400 and more recently $2500 for a roller 302.
I sure hope we are not wrong and a normal rebuild now cost almost $10,000!
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,830
Likes: 2,611
From: The Shenandoah Valley
If getting 10 psi for every 1,000 rpm, hot ... you are fine. If you run 15w40 or 20w50, you'll maybe be pleased. I even have had times when just changing the oil filter and adding back a quart of oil made a boost I guess because the filter became partially clogged for whatever reason ... as the oil pump pushes oil through the filter first on my 351M, then everything up stream gets fed oil, the sending unit near last. I'm not 100% sure about 351Cs, but I think they are the same..
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 7,892
Likes: 2,370
Go to your local machine shop and talk to them. they can give you a ballpark estimate for the machine work , or you can have them give you a completed rebuild price if you don't want to do it yourself.
About 8 months ago I rebuilt the 304 in my CJ7 , that was the last engine I've done and AMC isn't cheaper than Ford to work on. I had my shop turn the crank, rebuild the heads , hot tank and flush the block, bore it '30 over , press the pistons and install the cam bearings. I bought the best quality parts and did the assembly. it totaled right at $3800 for everything. if you don't need all that then start subtracting.
10k is a high dollar high performance build.
About 8 months ago I rebuilt the 304 in my CJ7 , that was the last engine I've done and AMC isn't cheaper than Ford to work on. I had my shop turn the crank, rebuild the heads , hot tank and flush the block, bore it '30 over , press the pistons and install the cam bearings. I bought the best quality parts and did the assembly. it totaled right at $3800 for everything. if you don't need all that then start subtracting.
10k is a high dollar high performance build.
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,251
Likes: 304
From: Kenner,La.
Crazy idea
Check with a local Jasper engine rebuilder dealer. Just get a short block and have the heads rebuilt. Since the car is already set up with the Cleveland that will surely be the most practical way. The only other engine that will replace it would be a 351 Windsor from a late Ford truck that will have a roller cam since the transmission bolt patterns match.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 105
Likes: 12
Are you asking places to drive the car in and have them pull the engine rebuild it and put it back in for you?
Or places that will rebuild it after you remove it and bring it in to them?
And are you asking for custom builds? What type of shops are you inquiring of?
Maybe custom engine builders during high-end builds, or people who just don’t want to do the work so overcharge on purpose and in the hopes that you will either go away or let them charge you $9000.
Of course, there’s always the possibility that prices have gone up so incredibly even in that area that our estimates are way low based on older experiences.
We’ve had recent estimates reported as being 4K and below, but my own personal experiences are more than a few years old now.
At that time a full rebuild where I brought the engine in and they reassembled it except for the cylinder heads was 2K for a 400 and more recently $2500 for a roller 302.
I sure hope we are not wrong and a normal rebuild now cost almost $10,000!
Or places that will rebuild it after you remove it and bring it in to them?
And are you asking for custom builds? What type of shops are you inquiring of?
Maybe custom engine builders during high-end builds, or people who just don’t want to do the work so overcharge on purpose and in the hopes that you will either go away or let them charge you $9000.
Of course, there’s always the possibility that prices have gone up so incredibly even in that area that our estimates are way low based on older experiences.
We’ve had recent estimates reported as being 4K and below, but my own personal experiences are more than a few years old now.
At that time a full rebuild where I brought the engine in and they reassembled it except for the cylinder heads was 2K for a 400 and more recently $2500 for a roller 302.
I sure hope we are not wrong and a normal rebuild now cost almost $10,000!
Lead Driver
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 7,892
Likes: 2,370
That sounds about right, but that's probably with elcheapo parts. they'll upgrade for whatever the extra cost will be.
If it's in your budget consider upgrading to a custom roller cam you won't regret it. I've been using Brent Lykins and I can't express how happy I am with the cams he specs.
If it's in your budget consider upgrading to a custom roller cam you won't regret it. I've been using Brent Lykins and I can't express how happy I am with the cams he specs.
Thread Starter
|
Mountain Pass
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 105
Likes: 12
What is it you think is the problem with the 351C? Heavy smoke, knocks, leaks, poor running, etc??? May not need a complete rebuild with boring, pistons, rings, cam bearings, hot tanking, head work, etc ,....
My 351M doesn't smoke nor use oil, it has a persistant rear main seal leak du to my only replacing the lower half of the seal when I had to swap in new main and rod bearings and a oil pump in 1992 @ 75,xxx miles, I thought I'd need a nother engine soon so I started fixing one rfor use. 40,xxx miles later, the replacement is still on a stand waiting, the 351M in the truck idles at 40 psi hot, runs 60 ish psi at road speed hot.
My 351M doesn't smoke nor use oil, it has a persistant rear main seal leak du to my only replacing the lower half of the seal when I had to swap in new main and rod bearings and a oil pump in 1992 @ 75,xxx miles, I thought I'd need a nother engine soon so I started fixing one rfor use. 40,xxx miles later, the replacement is still on a stand waiting, the 351M in the truck idles at 40 psi hot, runs 60 ish psi at road speed hot.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,259
Likes: 1,321
From: Pryor, OK
Ford 7.3 Godzilla V8 Motor Swap Package - The Infamous Project
I vote Godzilla. But if that is out of the question, then a roller 390 or 428 would be the only other option. You would put a LOT of money into suping up a 300 to even match a stock 351C. Just ain't worth it. The 300 is a truck engine for a reason, not a hotrod engine.
I vote Godzilla. But if that is out of the question, then a roller 390 or 428 would be the only other option. You would put a LOT of money into suping up a 300 to even match a stock 351C. Just ain't worth it. The 300 is a truck engine for a reason, not a hotrod engine.
Tuned
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 387
Likes: 25
Nearly 40 years ago, I bought a 1965 Galaxie with a factory 240/C4 in it for the engine (Don't ask). It was actually kind of fun to drive....for a 6 cylinder. They never came factory with a 300 but would have been the easiest swap ever. I kind of regret not doing it, just to be different.
Hotshot
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,830
Likes: 2,611
From: The Shenandoah Valley
No, but if you were to pull the pan just to look at the bearings ... be a cheap addition. After all, it mounts to a main bearing cap and you'll have it off anyway.
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