Thread: 351 Questions

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I have a 1954 Courier (sedan delivery) that I would like to put a small block Ford engine in. I know nothing about Ford engines.It will be street driven with some drag strip time and maybe a few laps around a road course. May install a turbo or two or a super charger. I can fabricate my own intake and exhaust manifolds. Engine will be fuel injected with tunable computer so I can put in a street tune and a race tune on race gas and maybe alcohol injection. My question is what are the strongest blocks. Years please and what vehicles did they come in. Casting numbers to look for? What are the best heads to use? Thanks for any replys in advance.

With all that racing, supercharger, turbo and everything, better just go aftermarket block....the Factory blocks do like to split, plus the aftermarket blocks are 4 bolt mains and a better oiling system....

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

With all that racing, supercharger, turbo and everything, better just go aftermarket block....the Factory blocks do like to split, plus the aftermarket blocks are 4 bolt mains and a better oiling system....

Let me add to that - see pages 100-101 and/or do a search for "351" : Ford Racing Performance Parts - [2010 Catalog] . It's a .pdf so it does take a few seconds to load. You can also go to the World Engines site: World Products / Bill Mitchell Hardcore Racing products, High Performance and Racing Engines, Short Blocks, Engine Blocks, Cylinder Heads, Intake Manifolds, and Parts for Street, Strip, or Circle Track

To many dollars need to be spent on an OEM block to build anything but a mild street engine out of one (been there, spent it)

just buy a dart block and be done with it .do not wast money on one of them off shore boat anchors i did one for a guy took more work = time = money

Thanks for the info. Points well taken. What would be the best heads to use for a mild street engine?

Don

IMO you can't beat something like the Edelbrock Performer RPM aluminum heads. Not a lot of money and they breathe pretty well out of the box.

Don

Originally Posted by Don 68

Thanks for the info. Points well taken. What would be the best heads to use for a mild street engine?

Don

Find some Explorer GT40P. Not the best, but readily available unless you want to go with aluminum, then there are dozens of different versions. You have to give us specifics then we can narrow it down. I have the GT40P on my 5.0 and they work well, but the 351W is 49ci bigger so there will be valve restrictions and a pretty good compression increase.

Draw up a work sheet of what you want to do as far as money and what your exact plan is for the car. A sedan delivery in 1952-4 design is not a road course car without much chassis work.

We'll work with you, but not shot gun approach