How does your 351M perform?
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Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2001
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From: Nebraska
How does your 351M perform?
We've got a 79 F-150 4x4 work truck with a 351M. My stock 300 with 3.08's will (not by much, but slightly) out accellerate, tow better, and pull the hills better than the 79. Other than being low on power and burning a little oil, it starts every time and runs excellent. I know it needs a carb rebuild, but would that cause such a loss of power? Or are these engines just that low on power anyway?
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[font color="green"]1995 F-150 Supercab XLT 4x4 302 M5OD 8' bed [/font]31x10.50's
[font color="green"]1986 F-150 4x4 300 I6 NP435 [/font]Warn hubs, DeeZee bed caps, '96 XLT bench seat, new paint job
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[font color="green"]1995 F-150 Supercab XLT 4x4 302 M5OD 8' bed [/font]31x10.50's
[font color="green"]1986 F-150 4x4 300 I6 NP435 [/font]Warn hubs, DeeZee bed caps, '96 XLT bench seat, new paint job
Posting Legend
Joined: Sep 2001
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How does your 351M perform?
In stock form they are that low on power. Performance will also depend on gearing and speeds. The 300-6 is a torque engine. You can turn your 351 into a real torque machine with a conversion to a 400 and a good RV cam with rebuild.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2002
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How does your 351M perform?
My brother used to have a 78 250 4x4 with a 351M in it, he didn't do much for it besides headers, intake (make I don't know) and a Holley (model I don't know) and that thing had a lot of power for a "smog" engine. He also had 4.10 gears in it so that helped his acceleration and low end grunt but even so that motor was very impressive, I still preferred my 360 though.
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From: the oil cased palace
How does your 351M perform?
hi
my 351M well out performed my dads 300. there both stock, and same gears, same tranny, 1978's, but mines a 4x4. maybe timming chain, not many people think about that. the 300 is a really good pulling motor for it's size. the 351 at low rpms isn't that great, but if you kicked it down mine really went! both trucks enpty, mine would pull away with ease, but when you hung a load on it, it was a little slugesh.
my 351M well out performed my dads 300. there both stock, and same gears, same tranny, 1978's, but mines a 4x4. maybe timming chain, not many people think about that. the 300 is a really good pulling motor for it's size. the 351 at low rpms isn't that great, but if you kicked it down mine really went! both trucks enpty, mine would pull away with ease, but when you hung a load on it, it was a little slugesh.
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From: clementsport canada
How does your 351M perform?
the 351m in our 77 f-100 was bout like driving a dead horse... the only thing it did good was burn gas.. dropped a 302, aod, and 3:50's in it, now it's a whole new truck.. great work truck now..
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Joined: Sep 2002
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How does your 351M perform?
I had the 351M in a 79 T-Bird and it wasent worth $***. I installed a 400 and its like a whole new ball game. The 400 has been ALOT more powerful and reliable. There great engines.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,364
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From: Eustis FL
How does your 351M perform?
Half a million miles on my 351M and I can't complain! She startes every time, never stumbles or stalls, and everything on it is original... Even the carb hasn't been rebuilt... EVER!
She used to light up the tires with 3.00 gears, but a little tired now. Hard to set timing, so I suspect timing chain stretch. That could be your culprit. If you set your timing to specs with a light, and it pings on even the lightest acceleration, suspect that timing chain. They stretch after a few years, especially the stock chain.
Mark
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=5362&.jpg
Ford started it; Ford will finish it!
She used to light up the tires with 3.00 gears, but a little tired now. Hard to set timing, so I suspect timing chain stretch. That could be your culprit. If you set your timing to specs with a light, and it pings on even the lightest acceleration, suspect that timing chain. They stretch after a few years, especially the stock chain.
Mark
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=5362&.jpg
Ford started it; Ford will finish it!
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Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Eldorado Ca. USA
How does your 351M perform?
Lets just say that there is a 460 living where the 351 used to be. It ran pretty good, RV cam, headers, 4V manifold, however, it was done at 75MPH. (this is with 4.10 gears) The 460 on the other hand OMG!!! It thinks that 75 is slow! I have a 351M in my cougar ('79) and it does OK, as long as I dont expect to go fast quick. My buddy has a '79 F150(351M) with about 200K+ on the clock, and my car will out accelerate it everytime. They both have the same rear end gears as well (2.75:1-highway gears). There are ford phrases that you might want to hear
The 351M/400, you can't wake them up, you can't kill 'em.(well, you can, but it's $$$)
The 460, Passes everything except a gas station
Tony
'77 F250, 4X4 460 transplantee, "Flamer"
'74 F250. 460, "beater" now "1 dead ford"
'73 F250, "midnight auto" now a trailer for the flamer
The 351M/400, you can't wake them up, you can't kill 'em.(well, you can, but it's $$$)
The 460, Passes everything except a gas station
Tony
'77 F250, 4X4 460 transplantee, "Flamer"
'74 F250. 460, "beater" now "1 dead ford"
'73 F250, "midnight auto" now a trailer for the flamer
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,364
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From: Eustis FL
How does your 351M perform?
I have to say something about the gas station.
My F150 regular cab with 351M 2V all original is harder on fuel than my heavier F150 Supercab Trailer Special. The 351M has 3.00 axle, while the 460 has a 3.25 axle. Go figure?
My 351M has been hard on gas since it was new, but she runs like a dream! I guess that is what happens when ya don't touch it! (never needed to)
My 460, on the other hand, is gonna be touched... Oh my, is she gonna be touched! I will squeeze every last bit of hp out of her!
Mark
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=5362&.jpg
Ford started it; Ford will finish it!
My F150 regular cab with 351M 2V all original is harder on fuel than my heavier F150 Supercab Trailer Special. The 351M has 3.00 axle, while the 460 has a 3.25 axle. Go figure?
My 351M has been hard on gas since it was new, but she runs like a dream! I guess that is what happens when ya don't touch it! (never needed to)
My 460, on the other hand, is gonna be touched... Oh my, is she gonna be touched! I will squeeze every last bit of hp out of her!
Mark
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/displaythumbnail.php?&photoid=5362&.jpg
Ford started it; Ford will finish it!
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