351 longevity
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Post Fiend
Joined: Oct 2003
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From: utica il
351 longevity
alright, as my user name implies, i'm into big blocks. i've never had a sbf ever. i found a truck for sale that is cheap and seems to be in decent mechanical shape, but being that i have no experience with sbf's i was just wondering what the life expectancy is for a 351w. truck has 171,000 on it. i don't have anymore info than that. haven't called the guy yet. thanks in advance
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Kentucky
That is a loaded question. It really depends on how the previous owners treated their rides. My newly acquired '92 F350 w/5.8L engine runs well, no smoke, leaks a little oil but overall runs very well. This is my third modern 5.8L engine. The last two were 5.8L Lightning engines. All of them are very well built and should last for many miles given good treatment and maintenance.
New User
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Frederick, MD
rla2005 hit the nail on the head with previous owners... Just bought a 1994 F150 4x4 with 205,000 on it by one owner, no major work to speak of. The way I see it, if one guy can get his vehicle to that mileage and not replace major parts, trannys, engine or beat the body and interior to death...he was nice to it for the most part.
How old is this truck you're lookin at? Miles per year plays a role with me. I wouldn't have bought my last truck from myself with the totals I put on it...340K in 6 years. It was still a solid motor, but all the other little items add up with that amount of daily mileage.
How old is this truck you're lookin at? Miles per year plays a role with me. I wouldn't have bought my last truck from myself with the totals I put on it...340K in 6 years. It was still a solid motor, but all the other little items add up with that amount of daily mileage.
Posting Guru
Joined: Feb 2002
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From: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
A 351 can be a very long-lived motor, but it's no 300 I-6. If the truck is a steal of a deal, you can put some money away to do a rebuild or replace.
If you're not into engine swapping, do some due diligence on the motor. I'd recommend having the owner do a compression check on all 8 by a third party or do it yourself. Check it for external leaks. Pull the dipstick and look at the oil. Look at the trans oil too. If it checks out good then pull some oil and have an oil analysis done at a fleet diesel truck shop. Most places will charge you about $15 to have it done, but it'll tell you exactly what's floating around in the oil, and that will tell you exactly what state of decay the pistons, block, bearings, cam and lifters are in.
171k sounds like a long life already for a 351, but I know there's guys out there that have more than that on 'em and depend on them for daily drivers. Just spend a little time and energy checking on it so you know exactly what you're getting in to.
Hopefully it tests clean and you get a good deal on it!
-TK
If you're not into engine swapping, do some due diligence on the motor. I'd recommend having the owner do a compression check on all 8 by a third party or do it yourself. Check it for external leaks. Pull the dipstick and look at the oil. Look at the trans oil too. If it checks out good then pull some oil and have an oil analysis done at a fleet diesel truck shop. Most places will charge you about $15 to have it done, but it'll tell you exactly what's floating around in the oil, and that will tell you exactly what state of decay the pistons, block, bearings, cam and lifters are in.
171k sounds like a long life already for a 351, but I know there's guys out there that have more than that on 'em and depend on them for daily drivers. Just spend a little time and energy checking on it so you know exactly what you're getting in to.
Hopefully it tests clean and you get a good deal on it!
-TK
New User
Joined: Apr 2010
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From: Frederick, MD
Seems ok to me...but look for other typ signs of abuse. Steering, brakes, suspension, body...
Mine looks "ok" in all the above areas, so I bought it for $800. The motor is the same, and it runs like a tank. Tranny??? That's a different issue, time will tell.
Mine looks "ok" in all the above areas, so I bought it for $800. The motor is the same, and it runs like a tank. Tranny??? That's a different issue, time will tell.
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Post Fiend
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From: utica il
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2010
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I bought my 96 f150 w/351 and e40d for $600 w/181000 miles on it. It now has 186000 miles and is running great. I made sure to change all the fluids immediately and had to change the oil pump because of a clogged up screen but other than that it runs great! Can't complain at all for the price. Was worried about the knock but after install of oil pump and running rotella 15w40 in it I don't hear a sound. Can't even hear it running except for the flowmaster exhaust and duals!
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Posting Guru
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From: Wyoming
The engine I just pulled out of mine had a good amount of miles on it, and even worse.. The wear! Prior ownership had used it up pretty good, then I bought it and really put the screws to it in the towing I did and harsh cold weather issues. It still runs better then most anything I have around. Very reliable, dependable, consistant results, and didnt need a ton of maintanance to keep it going.. Just oil, plugs, cap-rotor, wires! My last haul was over 1000miles with it, hauling an 8-horse, with 9 squeezed into it. I also had all my shop equipment loaded too.. I did the proper maintenance! It just didnt have the power I needed, but it kept going anyways!
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Post Fiend
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From: utica il
conanski, i know you know these trucks pretty good. what tranny's were for what years? this is a u.s. truck, i don't know if that makes a difference. and by what you said are you telling me that aod's weren't offered in trucks? just to clear things up, truck is a 1990 2x4 f250 351 auto. i have no experience with smallblocks. so i feel kinda dumb on this
Posting Guru
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From: southwest michigan
just thought I'd add my experience. My dad bought his 95 351 f150 in 95 with 25 miles. Drove it till around 180k or so, then sold it to me. It got havolin 10w40 at 5k miles for every change. He drove it every day and drove it pretty hard.
I got it and did the same oil changes but drove it like a bat out of hell. it had an extremely mild leak from the rear main seal but burned nothing. I crashed that truck in April 2007 with 240k on the clock. It still ran like a beast. I went through several rear ends in that truck and other misc parts. But that engine never missed a beat.
EDIT: I'll have to ask my uncle if he's torn it down yet or not. I'm curious as to how it looks after that many miles.
I got it and did the same oil changes but drove it like a bat out of hell. it had an extremely mild leak from the rear main seal but burned nothing. I crashed that truck in April 2007 with 240k on the clock. It still ran like a beast. I went through several rear ends in that truck and other misc parts. But that engine never missed a beat.
EDIT: I'll have to ask my uncle if he's torn it down yet or not. I'm curious as to how it looks after that many miles.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2008
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From: McKenzie River
It depends entirely on the previous owners habits............Some people can destroy any vehicle in 50,000 miles, others can put on 350,000 miles without a problem........You will fall somewhere in between with yours, IMO, the 351w is one of Fords more durable engines.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Kentucky
conanski, i know you know these trucks pretty good. what tranny's were for what years? this is a u.s. truck, i don't know if that makes a difference. and by what you said are you telling me that aod's weren't offered in trucks? just to clear things up, truck is a 1990 2x4 f250 351 auto. i have no experience with smallblocks. so i feel kinda dumb on this
What Conanski was alluding to was the truck 5.8L engine never had the AOD. They went from the C6 to the E4OD. The 5.0L was also available with the C6, AOD, E4OD, AODE/4R70W. At least that is my view on the history and Paul's comment.
FTE Legend
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From: Ottawa, Ontario
This article may help clear up your question: Ford Transmission Spotter's Guide .: Articles
What Conanski was alluding to was the truck 5.8L engine never had the AOD. They went from the C6 to the E4OD. The 5.0L was also available with the C6, AOD, E4OD, AODE/4R70W. At least that is my view on the history and Paul's comment.
What Conanski was alluding to was the truck 5.8L engine never had the AOD. They went from the C6 to the E4OD. The 5.0L was also available with the C6, AOD, E4OD, AODE/4R70W. At least that is my view on the history and Paul's comment.