351 C swap

[5.0]

So how big is a 351 Cleveland? Is is the same external size of a 400? Between a 302 and 400?

 

[HOT_ROD_CAR]

hot rod car, are you from michigan? do you live near ann arbor? friends with dominic samiterno?
you running an aod with w3 etched in the top?? i built an aod for a cleve ranger out there about 5 years ago. dom at national built two cleve rangers, one had the dakota rack on it. there have been many from clements to down river i have seen over the years...
i did the c4 in doms personal truck and an aod he was needing to do for a guy near ann arbor. not allot of these things so i am wondering aloud here and hoping for a good report.
302 vs 351 c

No, orginally from Ohio, but live in Illinois now. Sounds like you guys are the experts on this mod! Like you said, the 351C Ranger is kind of rare.

My 1991 Ranger is a super cab, and it was a V6 when I bought it. I rebuilt and installed a 5.0 roller in it at first. It ran good and was quick, but I wanted more power. So, I bought a 351 Cleveland from a friend, did a rebuild and I've been running one ever since. I'm installing a set of closed chamber 4V heads with SS valves, double springs, roller rockers, cam, performance lifters, and a set of Sanderson ceramic-coated headers real soon! I can't wait to drive it!

As you are aware, the internals of the 351C are built like a tank! This engine was built to be pounded on and hold up to it. It is, by far, the toughest SBF I've ever owned.

 

[baddad457]

So how big is a 351 Cleveland? Is is the same external size of a 400? Between a 302 and 400?

About the same width as a 351 Windsor, slightly shorter in height. The 400's deck is nearly 1" taller than the 351C, making it both wider and taller.

 

[baddad457]

When did I ever say that the Cleveland was a bad engine? Could it be your inference that it was ?
Yes I know that the engines that the Ford Nascar teams just replaced with the FR9 were Windsor blocks with Cleveland mains and yates heads are called Clevelands in your world. In the rest of the world they are known as 358ci Windsor engines with Yates cylinder heads. Here is a link to the RoushYates performance parts( http://www.roushyatesparts.com/Used-Racing-Engines-s/532.htmand )and they dont even offer any Cleveland parts . Why is that? Are they just sold out? Its becuse they havent used a Cleveland in Nascar in a long time!!! Only Windsor's.

The only reason the Windsor style block was carried on was that it was still in production, once again, that's a business decision, nothing related to to superiority of the design. And then they were only used after the supply of U.S. & Aussie blocks dried up.

 

[5.0]

About the same width as a 351 Windsor, slightly shorter in height. The 400's deck is nearly 1" taller than the 351C, making it both wider and taller.

Hmm, that's not bad. I don't know anything about the 351C, but fordmike is the first guy I've ever heard say anything bad about them

 

[fordmike1]

Hmm, that's not bad. I don't know anything about the 351C, but fordmike is the first guy I've ever heard say anything bad about them

I have said nothing bad about them. My argument is that there is better choises then the Cleveland for a Ranger V8 conversion.

 

[5.0]

I have said nothing bad about them. My argument is that there is better choises then the Cleveland for a Ranger V8 conversion.

Better choices? Yes.
For free? No.

The OP is working with what he has, similar to how I do, which means we make due with what we have, and he started this thread to find out how to make that happen.


.

 

[tyler's 87 ranger]

there might be better conversions....but this one is FREE

 

[fordmike1]

there might be better conversions....but this one is FREE

There are pluses to getting a free Cleveland if you think wisely about it.

Sale it to Baddad, blowhard hot_rod or some other other Cleveland lover for big money. You can get a 302/5.0 for cheap and have extra money left over to do more to your Ranger like exhaust, rear axle or custom driveshaft to name a few things.

 

[baddad457]

Sale it to Baddad, blowhard hot_rod or some other other Cleveland lover for big money. You can get a 302/5.0 for cheap and have extra money left over to do more to your Ranger like exhaust, rear axle or custom driveshaft to name a few things.

Big money ? No. Contrary to what you believe, Original Cleveland parts are not expensive and do not command high prices that some rare Ford parts do. You can actually pick up good Cleveland parts for less than you'll pay for comparable Windsor parts. And yea, that's really excellant advice.............spend the money you'd normally spend trying to make a Windsor fly on a custom driveshaft ?

 

[fordmike1]

a custom driveshaft ?

As in one that has been shortened to fit the truck with the V8 swap. If it been modifided its not stock its custom.

 

[baddad457]

As in one that has been shortened to fit the truck with the V8 swap. If it been modifided its not stock its custom.

OK, never had to do anything to mine when I first did my swap. The V6 shaft fit fine. Wasn't until the 331 trashed that shaft that I had to resort to a different driveshaft.

 

[COPPERHEAD85]

I like and have respect for all 3 of you guys but can we put this to bed.....please.
If the OP wants a 351C,I say go for it,Its out of the box if you know what I mean.
Kicking each other in the nuts to see which one is still standing is useless and in the end ............everbodys nuts hurt.

 

[fordmike1]

Kicking each other in the nuts to see which one is still standing is useless and in the end ............everbodys nuts hurt.

There is no bad blood between me and baddad as far as I am concerned and its funny the back and forth between me and him . That other jackass (blowhard hot_rod) is a diffrent story though . He is a book reader and dreamer who gets help to build his junk.

 

[fordmike1]

OK, never had to do anything to mine when I first did my swap. The V6 shaft fit fine. Wasn't until the 331 trashed that shaft that I had to resort to a different driveshaft.

Had to shortin mine and there is a few on here that had to do theirs to. I guess it just depends on what trans you are using.