351W Swap Project
10-24-2011, 08:08 PM
#1
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Location: Florida
Posts: 1,701
351W Swap Project
Ok so first off this is not a HOW DO I DO THIS???? thread, I have a 351W in my garage and the information I've collected over time from the forums. My goal for the build is a simple 300 hp and torque on the motor for a starter.
Now down to the project at hand. The 351 came out of a early 70's (I believe 72-74) Ford LTD (STILL RUNNING AND DRIVING) that being the case I'm assuming the motor is a good candidate for a rebuild. As soon as I can find a motor stand I'm going to rip it down and take it to the machine shop. This is going to be a budget build with a more power build later down the road from now, probably after I pay off my motorcycle. Factory specs on this motor are a decent enough 270ish torque with a pitiful 160 hp, That just will not do.
My plans are to have the heads shaved to get the compression ratio from a 8:1 to around a 10.5:1 if I can, swap for a better cam, better intake and a 4 barrel carb vs the POS 2 barrel on it now.
Now some questions, I have been told the bell housing for my T-5 will fit onto the 351W, is this true? (I'm aware of the limitations of the t-5 and I'm on top of that part, don't worry)
Second, I was planning on getting the K member from a 95GT to bolt in the motor to my car, will my suspension bolt into that k member? If I understand correctly the only difference in the K members from 94-04 is the motor mounts, correct?
Lastly for now, is some suggestions, Since I'm going carburetor, I'm going to need some sort of ignition box to fire it all off, What are your opinions on a good unit?
I'm also up for suggestions on a cam, I believe the motor is a hydraulic flat tappet, but I'm not 100% sure about that. I don't have a problem adjusting the lash so that's not my concern. My question is will such a plethora of cams out there how much is to much for a primarily street driven car? (in other words what would you call a good cam for it?)
I've also been looking at Zoom products flywheel for the motor, anyone have a review of zoom flywheels?
I will definitely have other query's later on but for now this is all i can think of, also to get a wider range of responses i have posted this in more than one section.
Now down to the project at hand. The 351 came out of a early 70's (I believe 72-74) Ford LTD (STILL RUNNING AND DRIVING) that being the case I'm assuming the motor is a good candidate for a rebuild. As soon as I can find a motor stand I'm going to rip it down and take it to the machine shop. This is going to be a budget build with a more power build later down the road from now, probably after I pay off my motorcycle. Factory specs on this motor are a decent enough 270ish torque with a pitiful 160 hp, That just will not do.
My plans are to have the heads shaved to get the compression ratio from a 8:1 to around a 10.5:1 if I can, swap for a better cam, better intake and a 4 barrel carb vs the POS 2 barrel on it now.
Now some questions, I have been told the bell housing for my T-5 will fit onto the 351W, is this true? (I'm aware of the limitations of the t-5 and I'm on top of that part, don't worry)
Second, I was planning on getting the K member from a 95GT to bolt in the motor to my car, will my suspension bolt into that k member? If I understand correctly the only difference in the K members from 94-04 is the motor mounts, correct?
Lastly for now, is some suggestions, Since I'm going carburetor, I'm going to need some sort of ignition box to fire it all off, What are your opinions on a good unit?
I'm also up for suggestions on a cam, I believe the motor is a hydraulic flat tappet, but I'm not 100% sure about that. I don't have a problem adjusting the lash so that's not my concern. My question is will such a plethora of cams out there how much is to much for a primarily street driven car? (in other words what would you call a good cam for it?)
I've also been looking at Zoom products flywheel for the motor, anyone have a review of zoom flywheels?
I will definitely have other query's later on but for now this is all i can think of, also to get a wider range of responses i have posted this in more than one section.
10-25-2011, 10:30 AM
#2
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Posts: n/a
is this for your '00 v6???
at first i was like 160hp in a 351??!!! then i realized ford switched to net power ratings in 72, before that it was rated at 260, which i believe would be at the flywheel?
next, im pretty sure the t-5 bellhousing would fit your 351w, you just need a flywheel with a 28oz balancer instead of the 50oz that is used with the t5
for a almost daily driven street performance car i would suggest this:
http://www.compperformancegroupstore...Code=FTCAMSMAG
at first i was like 160hp in a 351??!!! then i realized ford switched to net power ratings in 72, before that it was rated at 260, which i believe would be at the flywheel?
next, im pretty sure the t-5 bellhousing would fit your 351w, you just need a flywheel with a 28oz balancer instead of the 50oz that is used with the t5
for a almost daily driven street performance car i would suggest this:
http://www.compperformancegroupstore...Code=FTCAMSMAG
10-26-2011, 08:12 PM
#3
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,701
That cam looks good, will I also have to change to a different valve springs? what about this cam? http://www.summitracing.com/parts/CCA-CL35-238-3/ it seems very similar just a lower starting point for the operating range and a little bit more conservative on the intake. You think that 1300 rpm would be pushing it a little for a daily driver?
I found out some more interesting information I didn't expect. that motor didn't start life in the LTD, it came from the "engineering department" according to the engine build number and the label had the year code at D8 so 1978 which is 6 years after the car was made. The other interesting fact is that someone at some point added a roller cam. It also seems to be fairly recently judging from the amount of wear on the rocker it self. Here's the code from the label if anyone can decode the whole thing: D8AE-9C485-NA
I found out some more interesting information I didn't expect. that motor didn't start life in the LTD, it came from the "engineering department" according to the engine build number and the label had the year code at D8 so 1978 which is 6 years after the car was made. The other interesting fact is that someone at some point added a roller cam. It also seems to be fairly recently judging from the amount of wear on the rocker it self. Here's the code from the label if anyone can decode the whole thing: D8AE-9C485-NA
Last edited by neo8222; 10-26-2011 at 08:30 PM.
10-27-2011, 08:35 PM
#4
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Florida
Posts: 1,701
Got more good news, got the motor on a stand today and started yanking things off it, got one of the heads off and turns out the motor has already been bored out and sleeved, and practically no wear on the either. Pistons look good from the top, I'll have to wait till I have the heads cleaned to find the part number and measure the valves so I can find out what I have with them. Only issue so far is the lifters are mushroomed so I'm going to have to push them through the engine and drop them out of the bottom end. So far it seems like a quality rebuild was done before I got the motor. Tomorrow I hope to crack the oil pan off then I will really find out what I got. My friend got picture of it so I'll get him to send them and I will post them.
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