351 Modified?
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351 Modified?
I always believed a 351M was a 351 Michigan. Is there such a thing as a factory 351 Modified? Modified in what way?
Last summer, I bought an old '75 half-ton 4x4 for chump change. I stripped it for parts. The truck was a true pitty, it was used as a snow plow. Rust holes everywhere and every panel was dented or weak. It had a 351 engine in it. One fellow bought the tailgate from the truck and looked around at its remains and was interested in a 351 engine, however as soon as he saw it, he said the engine is a 351 modified and wasn't iinterested in that.
I did ask him how he could tell, and how is it modified. No explaination was given. I'm still puzzled by this modified nametag. I know the 351 could be built as a 400 and vice-versa. Is that what he meant?
Tyl
Last summer, I bought an old '75 half-ton 4x4 for chump change. I stripped it for parts. The truck was a true pitty, it was used as a snow plow. Rust holes everywhere and every panel was dented or weak. It had a 351 engine in it. One fellow bought the tailgate from the truck and looked around at its remains and was interested in a 351 engine, however as soon as he saw it, he said the engine is a 351 modified and wasn't iinterested in that.
I did ask him how he could tell, and how is it modified. No explaination was given. I'm still puzzled by this modified nametag. I know the 351 could be built as a 400 and vice-versa. Is that what he meant?
Tyl
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tylstruck,
The meaning of the "M" after the 351 seems to be up for debate, but many use modified since Ford destroked the 400 engine to make the 351M. The block seems to have been cast in the Cleveland, Michigan, and Dearborn factories. Since Ford made three different 351 engines they all have a letter designation after them; M, C, or W.
Here is a link to a great site for information on the 351M/400 engines.
http://home.earthlink.net/~bubbaf250/index.html
Hope this helps,
Jeff
The meaning of the "M" after the 351 seems to be up for debate, but many use modified since Ford destroked the 400 engine to make the 351M. The block seems to have been cast in the Cleveland, Michigan, and Dearborn factories. Since Ford made three different 351 engines they all have a letter designation after them; M, C, or W.
Here is a link to a great site for information on the 351M/400 engines.
http://home.earthlink.net/~bubbaf250/index.html
Hope this helps,
Jeff
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Austin, TX
"Modified" is just another common interpretation of the M behind 351. Modified is what I hear the most, but I also hear a lot of people say Michigan, like you do. I've even heard "Midland." I think Modified is the most common one because the 351M is a modified 400 in that it uses a different pistons and a different crank to destroke the same block to 351 cubic inches. Either way, you guys were looking at the same motor.
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From: Cle elum, Wa.
According to the book "Ford Performance", all 335 series engines were built at Ford's No. 2 engine plant in Cleveland. After the 351C was discontinued in 1973 the plant in Windsor, Ontario couldn't build enough engines to keep up with demand. So Ford took the 400 and de-stroked it down to 3.5 inches, (the 400 has a 4 inch stroke) and ended up with the 351 modified. And unless someone pulled the original engine and put in a 351M, your truck has an FE engine, either a 360 or 390. The first 400 didn't come from the factory until late in the 1976 model year. The first 351M didn't show up until 1978. An easy way to identify an FE engine is to look at one of the cylinder banks. If the front two spark plugs point to the rear and the rear two plugs point forward it is an FE. If they all point in the same direction it may well be a 351M or a 400.
MSEE
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,386
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From: Austin, TX
Originally Posted by CE-f250
According to the book "Ford Performance", all 335 series engines were built at Ford's No. 2 engine plant in Cleveland. After the 351C was discontinued in 1973 the plant in Windsor, Ontario couldn't build enough engines to keep up with demand. So Ford took the 400 and de-stroked it down to 3.5 inches, (the 400 has a 4 inch stroke) and ended up with the 351 modified. And unless someone pulled the original engine and put in a 351M, your truck has an FE engine, either a 360 or 390. The first 400 didn't come from the factory until late in the 1976 model year. The first 351M didn't show up until 1978. An easy way to identify an FE engine is to look at one of the cylinder banks. If the front two spark plugs point to the rear and the rear two plugs point forward it is an FE. If they all point in the same direction it may well be a 351M or a 400.
Last edited by fmc400; Dec 15, 2007 at 03:40 AM.
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hi fmc400, paul here,
i am one of those guys who call that block a midland, i also know that the debate is endless and when i first joined i saw a couple of rules on the site about the fact the site was tired of the debate so i did not get into it, but you know what, i have never been afraid to admit it when i am WRONG, just for the record, it is becoming apparent to me that it is a modified, not a midland, i like to try to be correct, and i appreciate your post and your info, i really do thanks, can paul say modified (grin) later,me md
i am one of those guys who call that block a midland, i also know that the debate is endless and when i first joined i saw a couple of rules on the site about the fact the site was tired of the debate so i did not get into it, but you know what, i have never been afraid to admit it when i am WRONG, just for the record, it is becoming apparent to me that it is a modified, not a midland, i like to try to be correct, and i appreciate your post and your info, i really do thanks, can paul say modified (grin) later,me md
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From: Sin City, USA
Originally Posted by CE-f250
According to the book "Ford Performance", all 335 series engines were built at Ford's No. 2 engine plant in Cleveland. After the 351C was discontinued in 1973 the plant in Windsor, Ontario couldn't build enough engines to keep up with demand. So Ford took the 400 and de-stroked it down to 3.5 inches, (the 400 has a 4 inch stroke) and ended up with the 351 modified. And unless someone pulled the original engine and put in a 351M, your truck has an FE engine, either a 360 or 390. The first 400 didn't come from the factory until late in the 1976 model year. The first 351M didn't show up until 1978. An easy way to identify an FE engine is to look at one of the cylinder banks. If the front two spark plugs point to the rear and the rear two plugs point forward it is an FE. If they all point in the same direction it may well be a 351M or a 400.
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That can't be right that Ford managed to destroke a 360/390 block to a 351 modified. If so, only one thing can prove that, I'll copy the block's id number and decode it to a ? I don't have the engine, it is at a friend's salvage yard which I will go to and find the block's number. The truck is burried in snow with no fenders or inner fenders attached, so it'll be easy for me to check. Where would the id number be on the block? Does anyone know the block id for a 360/390?
Tyl
Tyl
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From: Austin, TX
Originally Posted by tylstruck
That can't be right that Ford managed to destroke a 360/390 block to a 351 modified. If so, only one thing can prove that, I'll copy the block's id number and decode it to a ? I don't have the engine, it is at a friend's salvage yard which I will go to and find the block's number. The truck is burried in snow with no fenders or inner fenders attached, so it'll be easy for me to check. Where would the id number be on the block? Does anyone know the block id for a 360/390?
Tyl
Tyl
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