• Welcome Visitor! Please take a few seconds and Register for our forum. Even if you don't want to post, you can still 'Like' and react to posts.

351W and 351 Differences????


vDawG

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 28, 2010
Messages
70
City
Truro NS Canada
Vehicle Year
1990
Transmission
Automatic
Looking for info for my v8 swap. I can't find a definite answer but it looks like the M and W use the same blocks but different internals.... the W heads creating more of a valve cover/ heater box clearance issue. Let me know your expert opinions fellas. Thanks!
 
Looking for info for my v8 swap. I can't find a definite answer but it looks like the M and W use the same blocks but different internals.... the W heads creating more of a valve cover/ heater box clearance issue. Let me know your expert opinions fellas. Thanks!

They are different blocks. The 351M is based off a 400M block. It uses a big block (429/460) bell housing bolt pattern.
 
They raised the deck height on a 302 to come up with a 351W.

They raised the deck height on a 351C to get a 400, and then they destroked it to get the 351M.

Not really sure how a 351C and 351W compare sizewise, but the 351M/400 is huge... similar to a 460.

351W is the best of the bigger sized engines to put in a Ranger, they are a lot smaller than the 351M/400 and have a lot more aftermarket support than the old 351C.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Windsor_engine#351W

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Cleveland_engine#351_Cleveland
 
They raised the deck height on a 302 to come up with a 351W.

They raised the deck height on a 351C to get a 400, and then they destroked it to get the 351M.

Not really sure how a 351C and 351W compare sizewise, but the 351M/400 is huge... similar to a 460.

351W is the best of the bigger sized engines to put in a Ranger, they are a lot smaller than the 351M/400 and have a lot more aftermarket support than the old 351C.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Windsor_engine#351W

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Cleveland_engine#351_Cleveland

well said

One easy way to tell the windsor is the valves are in a row like a 302 the cleavland and m blocks the valve covers art a lot wider with canted valves.
 
Check the sticker on the valve cover itself for the emissions. The 351w series is one little snot monster of an engine. (had one in a 77 LTD II back in the day) That engine blew apart 3 transmissions before I went with an FMX series from a 72 merc. (cast iron housing vs alum.)

S-
 
I just came across an interesting fact about the 400.

Remember that the 351M and 400 were designed to bolt up to Fords existing big-block (385 series) transmissions. However in '73 Ford produced a small number of 400 engines with a small-block (Windsor) bellhousing pattern, such as the one shown right. Rumor is this was done for the Panteras in case 351C supply fell short. Casting number is D3AE-B, if you think you've got one.
 
Look for a 96 and up 250 van should be a Roller 351W from the info I gather,Baddad457 can help with the year better than me.
If you want years and part numbers .....he is the man!
 
all the 92up f series and fsb are roller.
 
all the 92up f series and fsb are roller.

I think it was the later ones had E7 heads too which is why they are more desirable.
 
all the 92up f series and fsb are roller.

Not on the 351w. The 351w went to roller blocks in 95 and they are used in E & F series trucks.
Also the 351w's use 6 bolt valve covers and the T-stats are in the intakes and the 351m/400's
use 8 bolt valve covers and the T-stats are in the block. 351c, 351m & 400's are dry intakes which
means that they have no water running thru them and 289, 302 & 351w's intakes are wet.
 
Last edited:
Looking for info for my v8 swap. I can't find a definite answer but it looks like the M and W use the same blocks but different internals.... the W heads creating more of a valve cover/ heater box clearance issue. Let me know your expert opinions fellas. Thanks!

no no no. 351m=400 block. 351m and 400 is huge like a 460. 351w is small block like a 302 or so. 351w would be the way to go in a ranger
 
no no no. 351m=400 block. 351m and 400 is huge like a 460. 351w is small block like a 302 or so. 351w would be the way to go in a ranger

Smallblock by definition.

Same bore spacing as a 260-351W, the extra deck height made them really wide and Ford didn't trust the normal SBF transmission with the 400.
 
A 351M is a truck motor. It doesn't rev very high without mods. If you are looking at buying a complete motor and aren't sure how to tell which it is.
351C's are kinda rare. They only made them from 70-74.
351M's stopped production in 1981.

So if you are looking at any vehicle newer than an 82 it probally has a 351W unless the PO swapped somthing else in. Also a 351W is the only 351 that was offered with EFI if that is what you plan to run a 351W is your only choice. A 351W has the most aftermarket support out of the 3 engines maily because it share alot of parts with the popular 302.
 

Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad

TRS Events

Member & Vendor Upgrades

For a small yearly donation, you can support this forum and receive a 'Supporting Member' banner, or become a 'Supporting Vendor' and promote your products here. Click the banner to find out how.

Recently Featured

Want to see your truck here? Share your photos and details in the forum.

Ranger Adventure Video

TRS Merchandise

Follow TRS On Instagram

TRS Sponsors


Sponsored Ad


Sponsored Ad


Amazon Deals

Sponsored Ad

Back
Top