What are the strengths and weaknesses of each 351? Which one is better and why? I'm always hearing people defending one or the other and I'd like to know what's so great about the windsor, and how it stacks up against the mighty Cleveland. Thanks in advance.

 

Maybe you should ask this in the Windsor forum. The stock W heads have much smaller valves than even the 2V Cleveland and simply cannot make the same power. The bottom end of the W is very strong since it has the same size main journals as the 351M/400 & 460. Aftermarket support for the 351W is much stronger than any other Ford engine except maybe the 302 and certainly more than the 351C so the options to "pump up" the W are easy to find.

Bottom line, IMO is that no stock, out-of-the-box W motor ever made as much power as the Boss 351 but with the aftermarket pieces currently on the market you could fairly easily build a killer 351W that would put virtually any stock Cleveland in the weeds. I'd still take a Cleveland over a W any day of the week tho'. (Gee there's a suprise for ya! )

 

It isn't easy to make a fair comparison of these two engines especially when you throw in special machine work and aftermarket parts. So toss all of those points out right now and it will be easier to get a clearer understanding.

The Windsor was mostly built for heavier vehicles and later on working like truck engines do pulling loads at lower RPMs. The Cleveland was built for higher RPM use from day one. The main journals are larger on a Windsor and smaller on a Cleveland. Smaller main journals allows higher RPMs with less friction and heat. The larger main journals on a windsor crank are stronger, more durable pulling loads and is just a better truck crankshaft.

Here is one thing I have never understood myself. If the heads on a 2V 351C and 351M and 400 engines are basically the same and interchangeable then why do the 351M and 400 heads work so good for truck use?

I'll put my money into a 351C over a 351W for peformance in a truck that doesn't work for a living any day. Sure, high performance parts for a 351W parts are numerous when compared to the ones available for a 351C. Maybe it has something to do with the larger number of vehicles that 351Ws were installed into for more than two decades. 351Cs were only available for 5 or 6 years, so not as many car and truck owners even have a 351C to buy parts for. So, don't let anyone mislead you into believing that the reason not as many 351C parts are available is because a 351W is a better engine than a 351C. It just isn't true.

If you want to know the true potential of a 351C then check out the 351 Boss (A special 351C with a special name). They have 4 bolt main bearing caps. Now why would Ford do that if this engine didn't need it? When was the last time any of you saw a factory built 4 bolt main bearing cap equipped 351W? I already know the answer...... never. I know someone will say they did, but it would have to be a 302 Boss or an aftermarket Windsor block.

This is just my opinion and I am obviously a fan of the 351 Cleveland. Don't get me wrong, I really do like the Windsors as well. I can think of more daily use applications for them overall than the 351 Cleveland.