What is the easiest way in which I can tell if the engine in a truck I am looking at is a 351W, a 351C or a 351M? (1978 to 1985 trucks).

 

This may help answer some of your questions



There are different types of Ford engine's including the Windsor, Cleveland, FE, and Big Block types. The 289 is the smallest of the popular Windsor engines. It was produced from '63-'68 and is very similar to the 302 except for the stroke. Most all 289's and 302's have mechanical camshafts and press in studs. A 289 has a 4.00x2.870 Bore and Stroke while the 302 has 4.00x3.00. The 302 Boss and SVO has the same Bore and Stroke. The 302 manufactured from '85 and up has roller type camshafts.

The 351 Windsor is the biggest smallblock Ford engines. It has a Bore and Stroke of 4.00x.3.50. It was made at the Windsor, Ontario plant. The 351 has a beefier block than the 302/289 but has the same bore spacing and bore diameter, so the heads retrofit. The deck height is taller and the Mail journals larger. Camshafts interchange but the 351W has a different firing order except for the '82 and later 302HO. The Windsor has been in production since '69.

The 351 Cleveland is in a class by itself and entered the scene in 1970 until 1974. It has canted valves and multi-groove keepers, hydraulic cam, pedestal -mounted rocker arms that are retained with cap bolts. Two types of heads where made they were the 2V and 4V. The 2V heads have open chambers with rounded ports, while the 4V has quench combustion chambers with larger rounded intake and exhaust ports. A 351C Cobra-Jet appeared in '71 with 4-bolt main caps. A 351C Boss also came out in '71 with 4V type chamber head with pedestals machined to accept a 302 Boss type valve train and mechanical cam. In '72 open chamber heads were used with a flat top piston and the name changed to 351C HO.

The 289/302/351 engines use a front cover and water exists the intake manifold face of the cylinder head through the intake manifold to the radiator. 351C/351M/400 engines do not use a front cover instead the block extends out to cover the timing chain and water exist the block face.

The FE engines are the 390/427/428 engines and are different from all other Ford engines. The 390 is set up basically the same as other engines but nothing interchanges with them. The 427 engines are overhead cam and are extremely powerful sincewise they were used in AC Cobra's. In '64 a 427 could be ordered over the counter and had 625 HP stock. The 428 isn't much different but is not overhead cam.

The last of the Ford engines are the Big Blocks 429/460. 429's were available from '68-'73 and named Cobra-Jet, Super Cobra-Jet, and Boss. Basically the 429 was a wedge engine with hydraulic cam, 2-bolt main caps, and 2V or 4V carbs. Cast iron rail rocker arms were mounted on non-adjustable, positive stop studs until '72. Then shared the same mounts as the Cleveland. The 460 is a stroked 429. The CJ had a hotter cam, larger carb, bigger port heads and valves. The SCJ had 4 bolt mains mechanical cam, adjustable non-positive stop rocker arm studs, stamped rockers arms push rod guide plates. The pistons are forged aluminum and con rod bolt seats are spot faced. The Boss had aluminum heads and hemi combustion chambers

the eaiset way to tell is the bolts on the valve cover I.e. how many. It should hold true for cars and trucks.
5 bolts = FE
6 bolts = Windsor
8 bolts = Cleveland \ modified

 

"The 351 Windsor is the biggest smallblock Ford engines."

The 351M and 400 are considered "small block" engines also. They have the same bore spacing as the 302/351C/351W but a taller block for a longer stroke and rods. The 400 is therefore the biggest "small block". The terms "small" and "big" blocks are chevy terms but they have a limited use. Ford uses engine "families". The 400 was produced with the "big block" bell housing pattern* to use larger clutches for greater torque capacity. The 351M was introduced after the 400 to fill production demand for a 351 size engine.

Some more information for engine Identification:
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351C/M/400 335 series: 8 bolts in rectangular valve covers. Timing chain housing is part of block. Thermostat housing on block. Exhaust bolt holes diagonal.

351M/400 335 series: intake is 10.7" wide the 351C is narrow.

351W/302/5.0L 6 bolts on trapezoidal valve covers. Thermostat housing on intake. Exhaust bolt holes horizontal.

429/460 385 series: 7 bolts in rectangular valve cover

352/360/390/427/428 FE series: Intake goes under valve covers.

There are other indicators but these may help.
==================

*-A few 400's were produced with the small bellhousing pattern.

 

Wasn't there a few other early small blocks in the 289/302 family? Something like 221 and 260 ci? I know they weren't offered in the trucks, but the 289 wasn't either.

 

ah, but the 289 WAS an option in the trucks... I had a '66 F-100 that came with one, even said "289" on the hood ornament.

Yes, there was a 255 offered in the early 80's cars and I have also heard of the 260.

 

The 255 is a newer windsor, it was offered in 80's trucks....

The 221 and 260 are goofy motors, avoid at all costs.

 

the 360 failed to be mentioned, it is a destroked 390 and therefore the 390 does have things that interchancge with it

 

You can find all kinds of info about the different Ford engine families in the engine forums below. Just scroll down the forum list a bit...

 

Actually the little 260 isn't a bad engine, it was in the Falcon and the early 64 Mustangs. It was also the first of the Ford V8s offered in the AC Cobra. For some reason it just seems smaller then the 289/302, I don't know if its smaller heads or what. I've never heard anything good about the 255 - wasn't it only produced for two years or so?

 

hehehe... now I must correct myself, since nobody else called me out

dotcentral was right... the 289 wasn't offered as a factory option as far as I can tell looking through my little library.

As for my old '66... I dug out some pics and saw that the hood ornament said V8... not '289'. It orig. came with a 352.

Why was I thinking 289? I have absolutely no idea. One of my shining moments, I guess.

As for the 255, yeah it was only made in 82-83 and was offered as an option for trucks in 82 I believe. Don't know why it was discontinued, maybe for lack of interest? It seemed to move my wife's Cougar XR-7 quite well, although a 302 would have been much more fun!

 

My 64 1/2 has a 260.

That car barely hooks up.

The tires just spin & spin.

"Power to spare <> power everywhere".

 

Thanks guys for all the help it really is appreciated

 

The 255 was made from 80-82 in Mustangs and Thunderbirds. Trucks had 302's in these years.

 

Hrrrmmmm My chiltons guide lists it as an applicable motor for 82 & 83 trucks.

 

Yeah I remember seeing in my Chilton truck guide, listed as an option for one year. Not that I would really want it in a truck anyway.

The 255 was original in my wife's old Cougar XR-7, and that was an '82 if I remember correctly.