dez6485

Hello everyone, I am new here, and 0new to mustangs. I have always wanted to know how to work on/build cars, tear into engines, etc.

After some research I have decided that I want to go for a 351w in a 67 or 68 coupe.

A couple years ago I never would have thought to do this, but after messing around and building a chopper I have no fear of just diving right in. There are some "complete" 351w's for sale near me relatively cheap, but I do have some questions before I pick one up.

Through my reading, I am confused as to what I should be looking for. I have read some things that say the 69-74 is best, but I've also read other things saying that they are pretty much the same block through the mid eighties (- think?).

My goal is to build a nice street rod, something with plenty of power for a weekend cruiser, maybe see a dragstrip for the hell of it every now and then, but mostly street use. I'd like hp/tq numbers mid 400's, although that's not necessary right off the bat- low/mid 300's is definitely necessary though. That being said, if I planned on going straight to aftermarket heads, such as the 205cc AFR, would it really matter what year engine, or no?

Basic plans are to build the engine as money allows (aka probably slllooowwwly), and save up money to find the right car to drop it in- which for me would be a 67 or 68 coupe. I gather that I would have to do some suspension and rear end upgrading to handle the engine...

I would really appreciate an answer on which years I should stick with, given my plans. To add to that question, if I wasn't going to be going to the aftermarket heads initially, would I be best finding a 69-74 engine?

Thanks!

67mustang302

408 stroker, TEA ported heads, custom cam and all the other crap for it and you should have an easy 500-550hp at the crank. Just make sure the rest of the car can take it...transmission, chassis reinforcement, suspension etc.

htwheelz67

Any 351w will do for that power level, If I were you I would find a 94up truck/van F4TE roller cammed 351w, that way your setup for a hyd roller cam already, more power and no problems with breaking in the cam or cam lobes going flat, heads arent quite as good as the 69-70 but its easy to do a mild port match on the exhaust maybe add some 194 160 valves and bowl clean up. Hyd roller lifters if in good shape are reusable but new stock style a relativly inexpensive. You can use early model front dress (timing cover,wp,pulleys and accesories) or keep the serpentine setup. Theres plenty of hyd roller cams that will work with the 8.8.1 compression even the stock 5.0 HO cam works well in a 351w and you can run reg unleaded. You will find many 5.8 roller engs still in good condition, the shortblock I picked up had 180,000 miles on it yet the cyl walls had barely any wear at all, thanks to OD trannys now a days.