I have a 1976 351W from a Torino that has the dipstick built into the timing cover. I'm looking to put a Fox swap oil pan on and it'll likely have the dipstick tube built into that also. I don't think I need two, lol. Can the timing cover from a newer 351W bolt onto the 1976 block? It'll be for functional and asthetic reasons (though I'll have to live with the air pump boss). Also, any other "snags" a Fox swap oil pan might cause me? It's going into a '87 Tbird.

 

So far as I know the only difference is early covers had the seal installed on the inside and later ones from the outside - i.e. you don't have to pull the cover to change the seal. Now if 1976 counts as early, I don't know. But it should work no worries.

 

Well, as time went by, this never happened. Instead I have a 1962 Fairlane that I would like to put the 351W into. The timing cover is still a question, as I found a pair of 352FE block letter valve covers from a '62 Galaxie. With the adapters available, I can put these vc's on which will allow clearance for roller rockers, and still give it a pseudo period correct look. Only catch is, they don't have oil fill and pcv provisions. However, the original 221 cid engine's timing cover had the oil fill provision/draft tube. So would the early 221 timing cover fit this '76 351W? I think it should, but would like to know from the experts.

 

Well that's an interesting proposition. I have a 1964 Fairlane with a 1969 351W in it that is pretty well stock.
I also have an old 221 in the basement that I was considering taking the front dress from (timing cover, pulleys, etc.) to put on a late roller 351 engine for that car.

The 221 timing cover will bolt right on to the 351 block but will need to use the early water pump, which may or may not locate the water pump pulley in the same plane as the (351) crankshaft pulley. These early water pumps have a threaded hole for the lower generator bracket in the same place as the later alternator hole so that works out. The damper and crankshaft pulley were redesigned in the mid '60s so later pulleys don't work with early dampers and vice versa.
There are several different stock spacings of harmonic balancers for 302/351, and perhaps different offset pulleys as well. The 351 should use a 351 or 302 damper, and if the engine from which it came had the timing marks on its timing cover in a different location from those on the 221, then you will have to remark them. Probably the best way would be with "timing tape" around the damper.
Other variations of the 351 parts are three bolt vs. four bolt crankshaft dampers/pulleys and later blocks deleting the threaded hole for the clutch equalizer bar or automatic transmission linkage at the rear left of the cylinder block.
Some mid 1960s small block Fords have a PCV valve system plumbed into the old stink tube boss at the rear of the intake manifold, so you might be able to modify your 351 intake manifold to accept that setup.

 

Thanks for clarifying, and adding some helpful info. I have a 221 that has sat for many years, and thought the same thing...add the whole front assembly on. Add to that: paint the 351W block black, add the old VC's and air cleaner painted '62 era blue, remove any excess smog crap, and hopefully, only the true Ford faithful would recognize it as being unoriginal. The trick would be when asked about it, to tell the truth, and not pretend it's original...just working with what I got.

 

The sleeper kind of look is great. I think the correct 1962 engine color wasn't black though.

One difficulty with the 351 swap is that stock exhaust manifolds won't work, you need custom headers to fit as the engine bay is very tight. Early Mustang headers can be made to work by cutting out two tubes on each side and rerouting them to clear the Fairlane shock towers. There might be headers available nowadays for this swap, but they won't be cheap.

 

Crites makes them, but they have the front tube run down in front of the towers. I plan on cutting the towers and using different headers....this car is getting a rect. tube frame with provisions to move the suspension between solid axle, and stock So it can go from gasser to stock on any given weekend.