OK guys, I'm going to have to rebuild the 351W during the restomod process in my 65 Fastback. I'm debating on wether to do a standard rebuild or a light mod during the rebuild (i.e. Cam, Carb - budget mod rebuild).

The restomod will be a slow process as I'm expecting it to take about 3-4 years (time and money). I would like to get it in driving condition as fast as possible though. Right know the car is in pieces (thanks to my brother-in-law). He started a restore and took the car apart and then stopped. So I'm the lucky guy that gets to try and find all the pieces. [:@]

I was thinking about a carb and cam and then later doing other mods to the engine for performance. What would you guys recommend? What parts would you use? Is there something more usefull for performance than a cam and carb?

Any help would be great.

Thanks,
pwhit

 

That all depends on how deep your pockets are and how much HP you want from the engine. Some aluminum heads, aluminum intake manifold, headers, and dual exhaust will be power adding additives to your carb and cam.

 

Yep, figure up a budget and decide how fast you want it to be. Then its not quite so vague and we can come up with a solution to the problem..

Welcome, since I havent said it anywhere else!

 

Thanks for the replies and sorry for the vague description of what I'm looking for.

I'm going to get the engine rebuilt for about $1000. It's already got a Edelbrock carb on it (not sure what size it is). Is there anything else I could do for the engine in say the $400 - $600 range that would drasticly increase the power in both hp and tq?

If not I may just leave the carb and let them rebuild it with no mods until I can get the basics in the resto done and then, after I drive it awhile start to build the engine over again. I just don't want to make things too difficult the 2nd time around.

I'm planning on installing duel exhaust during the resto and was just wondering about the engine.

As for what numbers I'm looking for I really don't have a clue. I've tried to do some searches online for factory specs on the 351 but can not come up with anything that would tell me what to expect from a factory setup. If you guys know where I can find the info it would be great.

I hope this helps and does not confuse you even more.

Thanks,
pwhit

 

Machine work alone will cost almost $1000 to rebuild it, if its done right. My thinking is do it right the first time. If you want to make some power with it, and maybe spray some nitrous to it later, Forged pistons are mandatory. Also I recomend balancing the reciprocating assembly, it adds longevity to the engine. That usually runs $200 give or take. Gring the crank if it needs it and bore the cylinders adding new pistons if the bore is out of round.

If you arent getting any machine work done, just putting rings and bearings in with a new oil pump, I wouldnt pay anyone else to do that. Its not to tough to do it yourself if you have a garage to work in.

I would add a cam/valvesprings and headers, apparently it already has a 4 barrel carb. 300-350hp is not too difficult with the 351W. If you go to summit or jegs websites, look for a cam with 220-224 duration at .050. if you are going to buy some headers, if you are planning on running stock manifolds pick one that has 210-220 duation @ .050. If there is a kit offered that has springs, locks, retianers, etc, I would recomend you buy it. Matched parts are alot better.

Im doing what i consider a basic rebuild on a 351 Cleveland, so far the engine parts were $1200 and the machine work was $1080. That is new forged pistons, cam kit (comp cams XE274 with everything needed), oil pump, gaskets, bearings, rings, and a set of ceramic coated headers. The headers are expensive and I wanted them because I plan on selling the car when its done. machine work was clean the block, check for cracks in the heads, block, and crank, bore the block .030, turn the crank .010 mains and .030 rods. The rod journals were bad so they needed to go more. Check the deck and line bore, new guides and valves in the heads, grind the valves and seats, new seals, and install cam bearings and soft plugs.

That gives you a like new engine, and its the bare bones limit to what I do when I rework one. Usually its the last time I have to do it, because my race engines get alot more...

 

if your interested ive got some 351w parts in the classified section. there is a cam there that i bought last summer and never used (bought a 408 rotating assembly and it was too small for it)

"new (has been sitting since july) speed pro camshaft: 110, dur. 218/230 @.05, lift .458/.483, with new hyd. flat tappet lifters. $150/bo "

 

OK guys I've been doing more searching.

Let me know what you think about this setup and if you would suggest any other manufacturers.

351W
600 cfm Edelbrock Carb (I thinks it's 600)
Edelbrock Performer RPM Intake Manifold
Stock Heads (Ported - what would this cost and are new parts required after they are ported?)
210-220 duation @ .050 Cam (manuf.?) or very similar
Stock Exhaust Manifold
2-1/2" Duel Exhaust
C4 tranny

What do you think?
How much HP and TQ do you think I can get out of this?

Thanks,
pwhit

 

Sounds like a decent set up too me, I had a 1969 mach 1 with a 351 windsor in it, and i had a similar set up to start with. I added a set of World products Roush heads to my car, it really opened it up, I also added a roller rocker set up too. The set up you have listed will be a peppy motor, but i would recommend goin with some headers and some HEI ignition. Heads really open a 351Windsor up. At your current set up, i would say as a rough estimate you might be around 300 horse, maybe less, and similar torque. Also what area are you in i have a spare 351W in storage that has been built to be about 400 horse.

 

I'm trying to stay around a $1500 budget and get the most out of it as I can right now. I will do more mods later but I want to have some decent power to start with. I have been looking at headers but they just seem so expensive, I guess it depends on how much it costs to port out the stock header. I was also thinking about an new ignition but was not sure. How much would an ignation help out?

Thanks,
pwhit

oh by the way I'm outside of Charlotte, NC

 

Well the stock exhaust manifolds are prolly really restrictive, so if u do engine work, its gonna choke ur motor down some. I would guess that HEI ignition would give you around 10 horse tops, but it is also more reliable than the old fashion points. A system would prolly run between $300-$400. And the HEI would be compatible with bigger HP down the road. But i hear you on the budget part. I built my mach 1 up one paycheck at a time. I am in Indiana so the parts wont work. The only thing about headers is though, once u have your dual exhaust run to your stock manifolds, when it comes time to put headers in your lookin at another trip to the exhaust shop. The guy who did the machine work on my Windsor said the stock heads where the biggest downfall for the motor. I was really happy with the performance of the World Heads on my Mach. With the set up u were goin for, the motor should run decent, it prolly won't hold its own in the racing crowd, but it would prolly do a nasty burnout here and there!