VigCS

So ive decided to do a 351 swap to breathe lots of cubes...I just have a few queations on identifying a motor.

The best local junkyard (crazy rays) near me has just about everything but they dont inventory their stuff so i need to know how to identify a 351W. I really want a motor designed for a roller cam and fuel injection (my stang is a daily driver).

I plan on rebuilding it and then bore/stroke it. Any advice and pics are appreciated. This will be a long term project so im not in a hurry, but id like to get my hands on a motor as soon as i can to start tearing it apart for a rebuild.

mrbigshot

if you want a factory roller they were made from 94-95-96 in f-series pickups and e series vans. 94 and 95 lightnings have a roler block but are flat tappet cams. look near the starter for the marking of F4TE, that signifys the motor is a roller. you can get an older non roller block and tap 2 holes for the retainer but you need a custom reduced base circle cam or buy a retrofit cam and rollers for around $400. make shure you get the flexplate for the 351w if you have an auto or the flywheel if you have a manual as the 5.0's are not balanced the same as a 351w (28oz). if you are going to use the 351w stock change in your cam as the truck cams are lifeless especially in lighter vehicles.

you need
flexplate/ flywheel
distribuiter for an efi (comes with motor)
gt40 lower intake or aftermarket
correct dbl hump oil pan
351w factory fuel rail
351w headers

rwh129

Not sure what year your looking for but from 1969 thru 1974 they will say 351W on the sticker on the valve covers.

vristang

The best way I have found to distinguish between a 302 and 351w in a yard is by the width of the lower intake manifold. I don't remember the actuall dimensions of either one though, as I don't measure it anymore. Once you have looked at a few you will be able to see the difference.

Just get out a tape and measure a known 302 and a known 351w.

If you are building the 351w from a bare block, then you may as well look for the older (69-74) blocks. They are stronger.
If you want to just drop the motor in place and go, then searching out a roller block can be worthwile.

Just my thoughts.

check the 351w section. There is a sticky with swap facts and other info you will need for the build.

jason

VigCS

thanks guys. There is no clear model designation on a 351w? I'm not planning a huge performance build as this car is my daily driver...just somethibg to get me in the mid-high 12s. Thus, I want to keep EFI and use a roller block.

vristang

I have never found a clear part number to look for. You could check the vin number, but this only works on the assumption that the vehicle in the yard still has the stock engine in it.

The best I can recommend is a measuring tape.
After a while you will see the difference without the tape.

jason

robsol

the best way to tell the difference between a 302 and 351w is by the distance from the top of the water pump to the top of the block a 302 block is the same hight as the water pump a 351 is about a inch taller from the top of the water pump to the top of the block

Slow5o

where the distributor goes into the block on a 351 there will be about an inch or so of block before the intake as the block sits higher compared to the shaft of the distributor as the 5.0 is flush with the intake and block meet

Slow5o

here is a picture of a 351 block u can see that i circled the distributor location u can see the extra inch or so behind a 5.0 wont have that

wigs

^^^^^ similar is true with the water ports on the front... the gasket surface around these water ports on a 302 are very close to the deck and a 351w has a little over an inch due to the taller deck height.