dieselfuel_13

I have a complete 1970 351C with a 2bbl carbon itthat I want to rebuild (all the parts on it are stock). My dad and I are going to do it ourselves and are not in any rush to do so. Like most people we are on a budget and need to conserve where we can.

I'm looking for some suggestions about what parts I should keep stock, and parts I should replace to get some serious horsepower? I would like to get 400+ hp when it's all said and done (I believe stock hp #'s was around 300). Anybody have a parts list that will get me where I want to be power and performance wise and keep it under $2000.

Thanks

dodgestang

Here is the cleveland engine build forum
http://www.network54.com/Forum/263038/

It is an adjunct of the larger 335 (cleveland) forum. The link contains engine combinations from mild to wild and most/many have the HP and/or drag times achieved from those combinations so it is an excellent resource to determine the basic for a good build from.

dieselfuel_13

Thanks, I appreciate it!

The stang II

Good luck not spending over 2 grand...

urban_cowboy

I have done a lot of research on 351 engine builds for both the Clevelands and Windsors. IMHO, you will spend more than $2000 on just heads to reach your 400hp mark. I would budget more like $8-10K if you want to break the 400hp mark, more if you want a bulletproof build. If you are on a serious budget, I would plan on tackling this in phases to keep you running. Start with machining and rotating assembly. Then get you a cam. Finally get heads, intake, and carb. When you do this last step, you will probably want to do exhaust. Good luck and have fun.

67mustang302

Yeah, when all is said and done you're gonna spend way more than 2k to get 400hp out of a small block, whether it's a 302, or a 351C. Best way to ensure good power and reliability, is just spend the money on good parts, get a nice set of heads like CHI's, some lightweight forged pistons, roller cam conversion, good intake/carb, maybe some good floating pin rods if you don't mind spending the extra cash. That'll put you at 450-500hp relatively easily and it'll be very reliable and drive really nicely. You could get 400hp with stock heads and a flat tappet cam, but it'll have less drivability than a setup with better heads and a roller cam, plus there may be detonation issues running pump fuel with iron heads and the compression you'd need for a flat tappet cam to make that kind of power.

You have to seriously consider how much power you want, and how much you're willing to spend to get there. As the saying goes, you gotta pay to play. If you want something with power and relability, you're going to have to spend some decent change to get there.

wrenchturner75

4oo horsepower from a cleveland is totally feasable, but not with 2grand, friend of mine has a 71 like me pushing 405 dyno proven horsepower with a cleveland, yes we did all the assembly ourselves. ahh yes components, stock crank and rods, yes i said stock! rods were bushed for full floating pins, forged pistons, 4 barrel heads, cleaned up intake and exhaust ports, little pocket work. here is where power comes from on a cleveland, roller camshaft, roller lifters, roller rockers. old torker intake along with a street avenger 770 cfm carb. yes the cam is a bit steep close to 550 lift but is streetable, you dont need a steel crank and all kinds of expensive hardware to run it on the street, bottom ends on clevelands are really pretty stout, just need some minor oiling mods. ive ridden in this car and seen the 6200 rpm shifts, and felt the power. and that was 2years ago and hes still pounding on it today, so dont buy into the gotta have a steel crank and rods bs, he spent roughly 4500 on building the motor, from top to bottom.

JBradley500

your going to have a harder time making 400 hp with the 2bbl heads but they will make it drive alot nicer around town.

+1 on the chi's by the way...i love those things.

rmodel65

go to books a million etc get how to rebuild your small block for for max performance, a stock 351 basically with a cam,headers,intake and carb etc was 405 hp with 9:1 compression in the build up one big thing is make sure to replace all the valves with one piece valves and new retainers the stock 2 piece valves like to come apart