My brother wants me to build him a small blck to go in my dad's 56 Ford.

I know nothing about a small block.

What would be the best small block to build. He wants it to have a big cam and have a lopey idle. Can someone in here start me off in the right direction.

I was thinking a 302 or a 351W. Which could i get parts for cheaper? Which could i get more HP and TRQ out of?



Thanks
-Brandon-

 

well if you go with a 351w you can stroke it to a 393 or 408 which would be a sweet build for that 56 ford. what your brother needs to understand is big lopey cams dont always make power. actually they can make a good motor run like crap and hard to drive on the street. going the stroker route can easily net you in the 400hp/400trq range on pump gas no less. if you can find a bare block your looken at about 2k to build with one of the many complete kits on the web. or you can buy a complete motor from a few companys on the web that sells stroker. CHP is one for instance , there is a guy on here that just installed a 393 or 408 in his truck from them. what you also need to think about is are you going Carbed or EFI?

 

i am pushing towards carb.

when you say complete kits are you refering to the strocker kits?

 

I'd say go carb...much easier and cheaper...

Yeah, they sell stroker kits or complete stroker shortblocks or even long blocks.


Ford sells a 392ci crate motor setup for carb with 430hp.

 

What is the difference in a 351 Cleveland and the 351Windsor?


I have heard that it is more performeance parts for a Windsor vs a Cleveland. And they are cheaper. Is this true?



Thanks
-Brandon-

 

Yes. The 351W is going to give you the most availability of parts and power.

 

can i get any 351W block or do i need on certain type?


What is the best to use.

I know that some of the newer f-150s had the 351W option (i think) could i find one of those in a junkyard and use that block and maybe the crank and rods?



-Brandon-

 

My 393 has a block from the 70s. There are different 351 block castings but they're pretty much the same. The only major difference is ones that are roller and ones that are not (roller lifters). Even still, that doesn't really matter, you can do whatever with either one. Mine is a non-roller block but I still have roller lifters.

Any 351 block would work fine, unless you're looking at making serious power and wish to go aftermarket 351 blocks (dart, FMS sportsman, etc).

 

I want some good horse power but i am not going to be racing or dirinvg this much so i think just to move it from one side of a parkinglot to the other will be enough with a stock block.


What year could i look for with the roller lifters and the non roller lifters.

 

96 has roller lifters, but earlier 351's are roller compatible from the factory. I actually prefer a 302 over a 351, any day of the week. A 302 produces less internal friction, due to the smaller crankshaft main journal size. A 302 will rev better then a 351 for that reason, among others. A 302/347 stroker produces similar horsepower as a 351/393 engine, but spins up quicker, and higher rpm's to boot. I personally dislike any 351W I've ever had, including the one I have in my 96 Bronco. Quite the dog in stock form, but very reliable. There are some die hard people on this site who will try to make one think that a 302 has no business in a truck, but the millions of other Ford truck owners who love their 302 can't be wrong. Besides all that, it's cheaper to build a 302, since the parts are less expensive. Look it up in your Summitt catalog. I've never built a stroked 351, but have raced against several with stroked 302's. I have yet to lose, or have an oil burning problem.

 

I can't disagree with that more. The 351 is a much better motor hands down. The 302 only has a 3" stroke...it doesn't have the torque a 351 or 393 has. The 351 can go out to a 427. The 302 comfortably goes to a 331. The 347s arn't very durable engines. Both motors use the same heads and share a few other parts. I've driven a few 302s and a few 351s....the 351s are way better for power then a 302. Whatever 351 you drove must of been screwy. That 302 won't put down anywhere near the torque my 393 will....and u need that torque in a heavy truck. You havn't experienced enough to come to the right conclusions. The 302 is great in a light car like a mustang...great power to weight ratio...but the 351 has a much stronger block, better stroking capability, and can make great power. You can make a 351 rev whatever you want, hang out on a mustang forum...lots of people running 351s at about 600-700 horses.

 

GT, I DO know of what I speak. I've been driving Fords since I was a little kid, when I sat on my Mom's lap in a 1966 Falcon on the way to my Grandparents house. The first 351W was in a 69 Galaxie, and it was only a 4 year old car. I owned a 69 Mustang Mach One with a 351W, which was also a dog. NOTHING compared to a 351C. I've owned several other 351's too, but the point is moot. The shorter stroke is another factor to help a 302 outrev a 351. Being a moderator doesn't mean that you have experience over me. I've been building engines for over 30 years. How long have you? I don't need an engine builder to help me out. Three of the vehicles I have now are powered by engines built by me, including a boat with 2 Chevy 383 strokers. I've built over a dozen 347 strokers, and only one had any durability problems. Too much boost and 600+ hp will do that though, to a stock 302 block. As far as torque goes, proper gearing and horsepower make up for any torque advantage the 351 may have over the 302. Anybody who has ridden in or bought any of my vehicles have never complained, but HAVE given many compliments on the power output of my engines. I've towed a 7000 plus pound boat many miles with a 302, as well as a heavy camping trailer, and a horse trailer loaded down. I've built an 88 Bronco with a lift kit and 38's that would nearly leap off the ground, it had so much torque. I pulled a loaded down 20' tandem axle utility trailer down the beach at Padre Island, loaded down with camping gear and fire wood, in soft sugar sand. I had enough gear and provisions for 4 people to stay 2 weeks, and never had a single problem doing so. I still managed 14 mpg on the way there AND on the way back. Towing the load never changed the mileage. It was one bad Bronco. Go ahead and say whatever you like about the 302. I could list many more amazing feats a 302 can do, but it would be useless to a closed mind. FYI, I HAVE hung out at Mustang forums. You've probably read articles written by me.

 

No one was bashing 302's heck I just built a new one for my mustang. But the simple truth is that the 351w is a better platform to start from for almost any purpose.

 

Since when does ANYTHING I've said have ANYTHING to do with me being a moderator? Absolutely nothing.

You're testy...I'll let you be.

The 302 is a great motor, don't get me wrong, but it certainly is not capable of what the 351 can do.

 

and im sure that your bronco running 38's had at least a 513 gear ratio. even a 300-6 could do what you describe in that same rig. im sure the gears helped exagerate the torque you were really putting down. and with out a dyno sheet i dont think there is room to talk. a 393 can rev just as fast as a 302 with the right internals. problem is a 302 block cant handle a whole lot with out major reinforcments like a girdle on the crank and those cross girdles for the lifter valleys to help keep the block from twisting. both motors have there places, the 302 was put in more trucks then a 5.8 but thats because they popped those motors out like crazy so they had to go some place. saleen put a 5.8 in one of there cars and it is very very rare and fast as hell hands down. they saw the potential