[FAIRLANE DUDE]

I'm thinking of using a good running 351 w out of a 85 ford ltd. I really need to know if this thing is going to be a dog in my 63 fairlane or if I should look for something alittle older. I am going to add headers and a 4 bbl intake and carb to whatever engine I use.

[nitro junkie]

351w is a pretty stout motors, I would also install a double roller timing chain just to save the truble of doing it after its already in your car,with a 4bbl,intake,and headers I think it will be a good motor for your car,but remember one thing your car is tad on ther heavy side
so dont expect to do weelys of any thing
another motor you might consider is a 390 my dad
has one in his truck its stock as a rock with a 2bbl carb,points distributor,manifolds,and 2" exhaust.and that thing runs like a scalded dog
off the line and on the freeway,and thats saying a lot being that its a 1969 full size truck

[Chucks,57]

Im' a Ford man at hart thow Iv belt a lot of chevys over the years, The 351W is a good motor the thing is you got to make a Ford brith and to prove that,is wy nascar makes ford run restritor plats on there motors.With a 4v carb and headers and a cam it will run but if you wont it to go!!! open up the heads so it can breth and run 390, gears or do like he said bild a mild 390 if you can try to find one from the med 60s like out of a 64 or 65 or out of a med 60s ford truck they have a beffer crank in them.

[NAIRB]

Lots of potential in that 351. Compact size, and lots of history.

[FAIRLANE DUDE]

Thank you for your reply, but a 63 fairlane is the small thunderbolt sized car and you can not fit a 390 in that engine bay without cutting the shock towers which in my mind is an obscene idea.

[nitro junkie]

ok well then go with the 351w thats a killer engine carb,intake,distributor,coil,timing chain, and headers youll burn those tires into 3rd <img src="graemlins/mwink.gif" border="0" alt="[mwink]" />

[Chucks,57]

The 63 and 64 Fairlane are the same and if they can put a 427, in a 64 you can put a 390 in a 63 with out cuting the shock towers but you will have to cut 4 holes in each wheel houseing to r&r you plugs and you can run headers with that set up. <img src="graemlins/mwink.gif" border="0" alt="[mwink]" />

[mustang66maniac]

I think you will be satisfied with the 351. I think normally if you were to keep the stock intake setup, it would be a real dog. But since you're changing it to a 4v, it should get up and go.

[tm454]

DUDE: That sounds like a good way to begine building up your 351W. Like nitro junkie siggested a new timing chain is a great idea. It's just me but I'd install a new oil pump to save any later oil pressure trouble to be on the safe side. Since the engine isn't installed yet a new pan front and rear seal and gaskets and maybe valve cover gaskets should be in order.


Todd

Ford engines do have front and rear seals like a sbc engine don't they?

[dmorris1200]

Do yourself a big favor and put a good cam in her and a double roller timing chain. The right cam will really help that 4-barrel open up.

[Chucks,57]

There is a 64 Fairlane on E-Bay right now with a 512cuin, motor in it. and thake a look under the hood they dident cut a thing. <img src="graemlins/drool.gif" border="0" alt="[drool]" />

[FAIRLANE DUDE]

I just thought that you should know that I looked at the e-bay 64 fairlane with the 512 in it because I was sure that there was no way of putting in a big block in a 63-64 fairlane. I took a look at the e-bay spec sheet for thst car and it says shock tower modifications on it. I really don't want to cut up the shock towers on my car!

[Chucks,57]

Sorry about that I dident' reed the teck sheet just looked a the photos but in 1964 Ford bilt 64 Fairlanes' with 427s, in them to run in Super Stock class and they had to be factor speck the last time I even saw one up close was 25 years ago I thught for shore they diden cut the towers in them but the 64 on E-Bay is not a real Thunder Bolt the 64 Thunder Boults where 2dr,post not hard tops. Agen Sorry for that info,Chucks57,, :o

[Lightspeed]

i learned to drive in an 84 longbed 4X4 F150 that was 351W powered. the truck motor may be different, but for what its worth the motor was plenty stout, even with 200k miles on the clock.

[onebadmerc]

FAIRLANE DUDE I would go witht he 351 for a few reasons. #1 the 351 weight is about 200 pounds lighter than a 390. #2 a 390 won't fit without shock tower modifications, the 63-64 Thunderbolts with 427's in them had Galaxy front ends. #3 parts for a 351 will cost a whole lot less than 390 parts. I am not trying to down the 390 FE engines because I have one in a pickup myself, but a 351 Windsor will make almost the same amount of power as a 390,and with some really good heads they will make way more HP and torque than a 390 without the weight. If you are not satisfied with a stock displacement 351 Windsor you can stroke it all the way to 427 cubes. BTW I think that 351 Windsor will take some coxing to get it into you engine bay, it will be tight and forget about headers. You might take a look at stroking a 302 into a 347, even less weight, about same power potential as a 351, and headers will fit.