Some people including Ford use the term "Small Block" to refer to the 351M/400 also. The FE, FT, and 385 series are "Big Blocks".

 

OK the FMXwas the std.trans behind the 351M.I had two of them, both 78 t-birds.I've seen many others so why is it so rare too some of you.I'm not arguing,just wondering why the FMX seems to be unheard of with the 351M.I've seen it behind 400s but most of the 400s I see have the c-6.

 

I've seen the FMX in cars and had one in my mustang but never in a truck, and 351M/400 I've seen in a truck all had C6s. FMX was a great transmission, very strong!

 

The 4.2L 255 was used from 80 to 82 in T-Birds/Cougars and some Mustangs. It had very small ports in the heads and made little power. 82-up HO 302's use the 351W firing order to keep 2 cylinders on the same crank throw from firing one after the other to reduce stress on the crank.
Mopar uses the terms LA for 273-360, B for 361,383,400 and RB for 413,426,440
The newer Mopars are just the 5.2L (318) and 5.9L (360) are know as Maginum engines and are internally different than the older LA engines. Much inproved valvetrain.

Yes, the 221 came first in some Fairlanes and Falcons. They was quickly upgraded to the 260 which Shelby actually used in his first AC Cobras.
Ford has many different engine families which makes it confusing for many.
GM kept it pretty simple with small blocks and big blocks and may parts interchange such as flywheels (400 SB and 454 BB are extrnally balanced, the rest are internally balanced), distrubutors, etc. This is why aftermarket parts are generally cheaper for Chevy's than most others because of the interchangability of parts.

 

i seen a few fmx,s in trucks around 72.there were a lot of trucks with the c4.i dont know why they did this.after all this is a pinto trans.when i worked at a garage in the 80,s we changed them left and right.i also had a c4 in a 76 torino with 351m.most 351m in cars had fmx.

 

The 289 Switched To A 6 Bolt Belhousing In 65. I Have Both

 

when was it that the 302 and 351w went to a roller camshaft?

 

The 351W and 302 HO engines had roller valvetrains.

 

the 351W (5.8l) recieved roller rockers in 1994 (block has to be 1994 vintage) Actully
its possiable the 1994 block doesn't have roller lifters but is setup to take them. 1995 - 1996 had them for sure.

 

i knew that it was a recent thing for 351w. thats a real hard block to find for a good price.

 

got that right I've been looking for a few years now, found a few but they want too much money for my liking.

 

The 302 HO went to hydraulic roller cams in 1985.

 

Bill are you sure on that? I thought 86 was the first year for the roller cams even on hte HOs, but I have been wrong before.

 

May have been mid 85. Actually I thought it was 86 myself but just to double check I looked for some stuff online and found a site that said 85 & up blocks were machined for roller cams. Of course since it was on the internet it must be true.

I remember 86 because I was working at a Ford dealership and I kept having to explain to Mustang owners why the engine made that light tapping sound.

 

Machined for it but not nessary have the roller cam. Same as the 1994 351W it was machines for a roller cam but didn't nessary have a roller cam. 1995 started seeing the roller cam in the mass air versions of the 351w and in 1996 and 1997 all 351w had the roller cam.

Ford seemed to always have that year of change over were there was no defined rule as to what had what, so it might be that was with the 302 in 85 and 86.