351C vs 302

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Oct 27, 2006 | 01:57 PM

skymonkey

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351C vs 302

I have a 1970 ford f100, currently the 302 is in the truck. I am curious as to which engine would be better to build up and put in my truck. The 351C was given to me for free. It needs to be rebuilt and Im not very knoweldgable with engines at all I've helped with is the 302 which was rebuilt about 4 years ago and was never ran to much but never with a 351C. The only reason i asked about the 351C is because it came with so many goodies. For example the guy gave me headers, an elderbrock intake, and the collecters with dual glass packs. I have a C4 trans and I believe that both will bolt up to the trans. So witch is the best bang for my buck and witch would be the easiest project to put in?

Oct 27, 2006 | 06:07 PM

califasbob

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From: Benbrook, Texas

Not a bad problem to have. As far as the headers fitting, I'm not aware of any motor swap headers made for that application...odds are they won't. Both motors will bolt up to the transmission and motor mounts, and they'll both fit into the engine bay. With the C, a motor Ford never put into trucks on this continent, you're going to have to do some engineering and scrounging to get goodies to make it work. If the truck was originally a 302 truck and you're not terribly experienced I think I'd stick with the 302. The C would pack more wallup, though.

Good luck, Bob

Oct 27, 2006 | 09:46 PM

roger dowty

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From: western montana

the c definitely has more potential...thats the wya I'd go no questions asked- have fun building it!!

If you want a hotrod you can get a cleveland to do anything you want.

Oct 28, 2006 | 06:03 AM

danlee

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From: Delaware

Is it a 2V or 4V 351C motor. Look on the corners of the heads for a 2 or a 4. The 2V Cleveland is a good motor, but the 4V Cleveland can be a horsepower monster.

Nov 3, 2006 | 01:43 PM

Tinman55

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From: Phoenix, AZ

If it's a 4V block, it won't bolt up to the C4 trans... it'll have the C6 pattern... just do some comparitvie measuring to check.

I'm a big fan of the Cleveland over any 302 (okay, Boss 302's don't count!) but I'd probably save the headache of re-engineering lots of other little **** to make the Cleveland work and just keep the 302 it's got there now.

Put the Cleveland in something light and have some real fun!

Nov 3, 2006 | 01:53 PM

danlee

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From: Delaware

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinman55

If it's a 4V block, it won't bolt up to the C4 trans... it'll have the C6 pattern... just do some comparitvie measuring to check.

The 4V Cleveland has the same motor and tranny mounts as a Windsor. It will mate to a C4. They used C6s with some Clevelands, but they were 'baby' C6s with the small block bell pattern.

Nov 3, 2006 | 01:58 PM

monsterbaby

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From: iowa

And even the 2V 351C had C6s behind them in the heavier cars, like danlee said they all had the same bolt pattern and the cleveland uses the same motor mounts as the 302 so not an issue at all.
But the question of 351C vs 302 is not even a fair comparison even the 2V cleveland will out run the 302 all across the board, and the 4V even with the huge ports that hurt low end still has more torque stock for stock, now if your talking a 302C thats another story all together.