When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
guy i work with told me that there was a period where the 351W came with a roller cam, does anyone know the time period that these engines were made from?
From what I determined during my search for one of these engines, they might also be found in any truck or van (except Lightnings) from 1994 up, even some late 1993 vehicles. The Lightnings have the roller compatible block, but a flat tappet cam installed. The identifying feature of a roller compatible block is an F4TE prefix in the cylinder block casting number. Unfortunately this casting number is on the underside of the block, obscured by the starter motor (thanks, Henry).
Using a mirror sometimes will allow viewing this number in situ in a vehicle.
I have a 1991 F-250 5.8L with a F4TE block and the machine shop assured me that it was a roller campatible block but I stuck with flat tappits and a 35-255-5 cam.
Originally Posted by Beanscoot
From what I determined during my search for one of these engines, they might also be found in any truck or van (except Lightnings) from 1994 up, even some late 1993 vehicles. The Lightnings have the roller compatible block, but a flat tappet cam installed. The identifying feature of a roller compatible block is an F4TE prefix in the cylinder block casting number. Unfortunately this casting number is on the underside of the block, obscured by the starter motor (thanks, Henry).
Using a mirror sometimes will allow viewing this number in situ in a vehicle.
The starter doesn't hide the casting numbers. The late models have the smaller high torque mini starter. I crawled up under my 95 E150 van and could clearly see the numbers with a drop light.
When I found my F4TE block in an F150 4 x 4 chassis, I could just barely see the number by looking from the side (the front sheet metal had been removed). Perhaps there was other stuff obscuring the view from below, I don't recall now. It could also have been to low as the wheels were removed as well.
This vehicle also had the gear reduction small starter, unfortunately it's for an automatic not a standard, and the solenoid was busted because Ford, along with everyone else, uses steel nuts on its copper electrical terminals, which seize. A tip - replace with brass.