351M to 351W?

[Boggin]

hey guys. im soon gonna start to take the 351M out my 79 bronco. it needs rear main seal and all gaskets and a new carb and dis cap and wires and plugs and stuff.. and then i heard about swaping the 351windsor into these trucks. and i found this one..

http://www.nlclassifieds.com/classifieds/Automotive/Parts/183329?c=1

and i figured if i could get that for the price of all the gear it would take to fix up my modified engine, and the windsors are small blocks so theyre supposedly better on gas. and the M that i got is good and torqey.. but the HP isnt at its fullest.
what do you guys think i should do? money is at a MINIMUM
thanks

 

[mini274]

windsor their better on gas than a 302 and easier to find parts and fix as half the shit for a 302 will fit them...

 

[fordmike1]

Find a 400 to replace that 351M as it would be the best upgrade for you for the least amount of money. The 351W will require a new trans, motor mounts, redo the exhaust, diffrent brackets that fit the 351w and throttle linkage to name a few things. The 400 is a direct replacement fit from the 351m and the 400 will make more hp and tq then that 351m ever will. If you are looking to this cheap as posible then find the 400 and forget about the 351w.

 

[Boggin]

finding a 400 is not an option.. if i could find any other big block it would be a 460 and that would be hard enough. I think for now, i might keep this modified going for a bit longer

 

[Clay Lorance]

I'd have to say go with the windsor, my dad had a couple of vehicles with the 351 windsor in them when he was younger, and he didn't have any complaints. FWIW

 

[fordmike1]

finding a 400 is not an option.. if i could find any other big block it would be a 460 and that would be hard enough. I think for now, i might keep this modified going for a bit longer

A 400 should be an easy find as they came in lots of 70's fords cars and trucks. By the way the 351m and 400 are not Big Blocks they are kinda inbetween a big and a small block and in a class of their own.

 

[Boggin]

yeah i know but im just referring it to that cause of the same bellhousing and some other parts

 

[fordmike1]

finding a 400 is not an option.. if i could find any other big block it would be a 460 and that would be hard enough. I think for now, i might keep this modified going for a bit longer

Ok maybe not for you. I just looked up newfoundland canada on google and it might be a little harder for youto find a 400. I would look for a crank and pistons at a machine shop around you and turn your 351m into a 400 and go that route...... Good luck with your build which ever way you go......Mike.

 

[baddad457]

Stroke the 351M back into a 400. I have a crank to sell, but after paying the shipping you probably wouldn't want it.

 

[Mafusa]

try sdpc2000.com you can find an entire rebuild kit for about 600 bucks with new pistons rings,cam crank and all your gaskets, would be cheaper than finding a used motor that may or may not have issues.

 

[Mafusa]

if it were me personaly I would do away with the 351 all together and go with 1 of 3 engines the 300 6,360, or the 390.