I apologize in advance for the long post...

I am doing a frame-up on a '69 Bronco and am getting close to the motor build. I am currently torn as to what direction I should go.

Initially, I was just going to do a 351W swap. But, I have 2 400s sitting in my garage, and have done alot of reading on fitting a 400 into an Early Bronco. A few guys have done it and are very happy with having such a torque monster in their rigs (the 400s they have are NOT stock).

I was dead sure that I was going to go with the 400 for a while....until i started looking at EFI. It isn't cheap to put multi-port EFI on a 400. So then, I started looking back at the 351W.

Since you guys are the 351W experts, I figured that I would pose this question to you. How would you build this engine? Here is what I want:

1. Strong torque numbers down low in the RPM range.
2. EFI. I would prefer to not have to have too much "custom tuning" done, if possible. I have thought about going with a stroked 351 to compete with the 400 torque numbers, but if I do that, it seems that I will definitely be taking the engine to the dyno tuners in order to get it to run properly with EFI. I would like to be running peak torque numbers in the high 300s to low 400s. If it isn't possible to do this without doing some custom tuning, so be it. I just don't know what the 351W is capable of (I have only really researched the 400 so far).
3. It must use a car-style intake (the truck intakes are just too tall to fit into the Early Bronco without completely decimating the hoods - even with a 3" body lift.
4. I want the engine to last a good, long time. I don't want to build something that is going to run great, but only for 50K miles.

The only restriction that you have is to keep the budget in the $4500 - $5000 range. I currently do not have a 351W in my possession, so the original engine purchase/rebuild must be included in the budget.

Given that info., what components would you pick - from air cleaner down to the headers?

Let me know if you need any more information.

Thanks!

 

If you can get your head around tuning yourself with a Tweecer or some such, do the stroker based on a 351 roller block. Use either a new cast rotating assembly, or have one of your 400 cranks machined for the 351 block. Find a GT40 intake and heads, and buy a mustang A9L/A9P computer and engine harness... painless makes a good kit to retrofit non-efi vehicles I believe. With an RV style cam(Comp Cams 35-349-8 or 35-308-8), 24lb-30lb injectors, that sucker will make 400+ lb/ft torque easily from idle up, even with 9:1 compression. A 351 will get very close to 380-390lb/ft with 9:1 compression and the E7 heads, 10:1 would probably put it over 400lb/ft, and it will run on an untouched mustang computer with stock injectors, but it won't make near the HP the 408 would with better heads and intake, and the TQ peak will be a little higher up.

 

The stock 94-97 roller 351 would be perfect for what you want. Only thing I'd add is 1.7 roller rockers and port out the exhaust side of the E7 heads.

 

build the 400 and put the 351w fuel injection on it. I saw a company link on here that has a link. Its a very interesting idea. Something that i would check into if i were you.

 

Here is the link I was refering to.
http://www.flatlanderracing.com/pmespacers-17b.html