What you gave us was a list of parts, and that's great. It, however, would concern me about buying such an engine that I did not build it myself or had a warranty that indicated that the builder had some confidence in it.

There are all sorts of problems that can occur with poor machine work or poor assembly. If I myself found it to be a bargain, I would buy it, take it apart and mic everything and put it back together. Because of this, it would HAVE to be a bargain.

My $0.02,

 

I see nobody has mentioned the Blue Thunder intake


Here is a link
http://store.survivalmotorsports.com/blue-thunder.html

 

I have the Blue Thunder intake on my other Cleveland, but I haven't ran the engine yet.

 

$3k with an AOD? I spent $2500 on the 2V rebuild that I am using in the Cougar, pretty much the same deal as that engine, but the valve train is all comp cams. So I would agree that is an ok deal. It isnt unusual to get an engine with no warranty, usually those offering warranties are simply offering replacement engines, not something like this. Of all the engines I have done, none of them came with a warranty, mainly because the guys who did the machine work knew they were going in cars that would get run hard more often than not.

Of the first 20 engines, I lost two. One after 7 years of bracket racing and pushing it beyond its design limits by a few hundred rpm on a weekly basis, and the other through no fault of the machinist. The latter was my first engine and I missed one minor thing, and wiped the rod bearings. So be sure to check for the minor things..

If I get an engine from someone, unless I have heard it run or I had a hand in building it, I always pull the pan, main and rod caps and take a look. It doesnt take much and will only cost you a pan gasket at most. You can plastigauge it and check the clearances while its apart, real easy to do. If the bottom end is ok, the rest is gravy. I got my 4V 4 bolt main C that way, and once I straightened out all his screw ups, it has been a great engine. It only cost me bearings, gaskets, oil pump, and I swapped one of my cams and lifters in it. Less than $200 not counting the original cost of the cam and lifters.

Still trying to figure out how they can be more expensive to build a Cleveland street engine that makes good power when you dont need to buy aftermarket heads and you can use almost all of the stock parts. Its not like a set of 4V heads is $1500 like aluminum W heads are. You can make good power with 2V heads, use a good intake, a set of headers, and the right cam and you have a Windsor stomping 2V for cheap.

I guess people who dont have much experience with them will always be biased. I like em both, but I have Clevelands for a reason.

 

I am very happy, pulls strong to 6500. It will go higher but my courage runs out at 6500 due to lack of knowledge about the internals.

 

Hey PRP:
Does the Blue Thunder fit under the NACA hood with a standard air filter housing? Noticed that the intake is a hi-rise, just wondered how much it is higher than stock. I don't have the ram-air hardware, but it's the same hood with scoop holes. Mine currently has a square-boar adapter plate which raises the carb 1" and there's still room to go higher.

 

Yes it does. I have ram air on my car and it fits with the plenum.

 

I guess people who dont have much experience with them will always be biased. I like em both, but I have Clevelands for a reason.[/QUOTE]

finally someone i can agree with clevelands i believe are a much better engine for the money and it cost the same to build them and i believe you can get more out of a cleveland then a windsor any day speaking from experience from owning both engines i now have a 351cj in my 71 and i love it i will never go away from clevelands i swear by them

 

Thanks PRP!
Sounds like the BT intake and maybe a cam would make a great winter project.
I'll probably start a new thread about 351c cams, when the time comes.
Now if I could only find the time... seems like the older I get, the busier I get!!
Family stuff, work stuff, other hobbys, house repair, sleeping, internet surfing, all take too much time! (Rant over)