351W Guys

[sniper_101]

351W vs 302, worth the extra weight and fabrication? Anyone run the exhaust over the steering and outside the frame rails? Can still run a modded heater box with a 351w, correct?

It's going in a RCSB lowered truck with a T5.

 

[RonD]

There is "no replacement for displacement", thats the bottom line

But...........302/5.0l does have alot of HP upgrades available that are not all that expensive.
And as you know space in the Ranger engine bay is limited and going with a wider engine can end up costing more in fabricating parts and time moving things around.

I would look at horse power goals then see what the costs will be going both ways.
EFI or carb

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

If you are going north of 400hp the 351W has a much stronger block and has a lot of money worth of a stroker kit already built into it.

 

[stillwater]

What kind of headaches does shoving a 351W into a '98 bring about?

I know they are a tighter engine bay to fit, anybody here done this?

 

[stillwater]

I have found that the headers (if any were available for this swap lol) won't fit, but are there stock 351W manifolds that will? (truck or car, in particular?...)

Not planning on a highly modified build or anything. Just want to shove a big torque motor between the frame rails (I do know it will fit in there.)

Running a Holley, mild Edelbrock intake and will somehow fit the radiator in there. (I can fabricate something, hopefully.) I know a 302 would be much simpler, but I want the torque of the 351W. Can't afford the 347 stroker kit for a 302. No computer needed here either.

Am sticking with the 5 speed and larger rearend. Will likely do a brake and front spring swap of some degree up front.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I know one guy that ran 289 manifolds eons ago. Another guy on here is modding tri-y's to fit. I have a post a few pages back and one guy was running 88400's on his older truck.

For that new of truck I would be looking how to get the 5.0 Explorer radiator to fit. The Ex's accessories can also fit (351W balancer will require a $100 adapter) to get you the shortest OEM beltdrive system available. I don't think 351W's are longer than a 5.0 (double check that) so in theory you could run the Explorer clutch fan if desired.

I too have pondered the 351W but honestly I have not found the 302 that lacking in torque for a small truck. She is quite content to clean four 31" mud tires in snow at 1200 rpm. Kicks the rear out on demand on gravel, pulls pretty decent for a 30yo engine... just one of those "while I am there" things that crossed my mind while thinking about building a fresh engine.