Hey guys, I'm new to the Bronco scene and even newer to this forum. From what I've seen, you guys are great. I've already fixed a few things on my Bronco from reading other posts!

Ok, down to business. I have an 89 bronco 4x4 w/351. I have an oil leak that I finally traced to the front of the motor, but I CAN'T see exactly what it is. Looking from the driver's fender, just behind the oil filter towards the front of the truck is a wire on an unknown part in the block. I'm guessing that this part is screw in because I screwed it tight last night. BUT the problem isn't that part. When I have the engine running and look at that part, I can see oil dripping down onto it from just above.

So, anyone know what is above that part? Looking from the bumper, it is just behind the distributor and towards the ground. Could it be the head gasket? Or are there other posibilities? I was trying to find a picture or diagram of the 351 cleaveland, but could not find it.

The other problem is oil pressure seems to bottom out, the "engine" light comes on and the rpm's drop to almost 500! Pop her in N or Park and the oil press goes up, rpm's back up to 750-1000 and light goes off! ??? Any ideas? Doesn't do it all the time. Only done it 2x since I've had it...2 weeks.

Please help!

 

There is a good chance that it is the valve cover gaskets. They drip down and run all over the place. This is a common area for these motors to leak.

 

Did someone put a Cleveland in it? Cleveland wasn't used after 1974 because of emissions issues. Should be a Windsor. Do a search for FelPro gaskets some guy on here said the are $22 and are metal and rubber instead of cork.

 

I'm sure he has a Windsor, he just thinks it's a Cleveland. Too bad, the Clevelands were MUCH better.

 

I have had 3 mustangs with Clevelands (actually all 3 still in dad's garage) They are nice but too much hassle to put in a newer Bronco. I am trying to find a 78-79 Bronco and use one in it.

 

Since the 302 and 351's are nearly identical in construction, the leak is most likely the valve cover gaskets but your oil pressure situation could be (in addition to the lost oil) that little part that you screwed back into the block the other day. Oil pressure sending units shoudl stay firmly in the block. if it worked it way loose and was vibrating around, it may have gone bad on you. They aren't too expensive and since you had to run the old one back into the block once, you may want to swap it just to be certain before you go looking at bigger engine problems for the cause.

 

Thanks for the replies.

According to the guy at Ford it IS a Cleaveland. I don't know how to visually see the difference. I gave him my vin code and he said it was a 5.8L 351 Cleaveland. I don't know... if anyone knows how to check, let me know.

As for the oil pressure problem, I will have to see how it does on the way home from work. That is when it did it yesterday.

The leak seems to be between the valve covers! That lead me to believe it was a different problem. I'll have to try to look harder.

PS- What can I do about my motor trying to drop RPM's to almost 500rpm? When I start it up it's a little over 1200rpm then drops after a few seconds to around 1000. After shifting out of N or P, it drops to around 750 and sometimes lower!! ?? Timing? or related to oil pressure? I haven't checked the plugs yet...that's tomorrow.

Thanks again everyone..

 

The Cleveland family engines are easily identified. The water outlet sits vertically on the top of the block. The distributor leans slightly to the passenger side. The cylinder heads are large, thick in the direction between intake and exhaust flanges. The valve cover mating surface is fairly rectangular, with 8 attaching bolts. The timing chain is contained within a cavity in the block. The cover is a flat plate behind the water pump.

 

well my distributor sits in the front and is straight up and down, and is just behind the air intake tubes.

SO...I guess I DO have a Windsor motor...I stand corrected.

Thanks!

Anyone know where to find diagrams or pictures of a Windsor motor online?

JIM

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 21-Nov-02 AT 03:40 PM (EST)]Don't know about the Windsor diagram but the engine starting and running high is normal. The drop should only be to about 650-700 when it warms up for a few minutes. then in gear it should come up so that the idle ramains at about 650-700 in gear with a load on the engine. If its dropping too far or far enough to kill it when the engine is put in gear, it could just be tuning problems or filthy throttle and intake.

EEC-IV and the computer control engine idle. Check your base timing if nothing else it could be off and causing out-of-parameter idling.

 

mweeps- I am installing a 351c into my 84 F-250- it is almost a drop in installation. They use 351W motor mounts, and I am trying to re-engineer a 5.8l EFI manifold to use on it later. Also, most of the serp. belt mounts can be modified to use with this engine. The only really difficult part would be getting a reverse- rotation water pump.

Jared