Realistic cost expectations for 351W

[JumboFriendly]

If you had to make a guess concerning how much I'd have to spend, start to finish, to have a 351W built, what would you say? I'm talking buying the engine, having machine work done, assembly, and enough performance parts for around 450 ponies. I know the state of the engine I start with will make a big difference, I'm pretty much looking for a real rough estimate. Thanks, guys!

[Pirate]

If you had to make a guess concerning how much I'd have to spend, start to finish, to have a 351W built, what would you say? I'm talking buying the engine, having machine work done, assembly, and enough performance parts for around 450 ponies. I know the state of the engine I start with will make a big difference, I'm pretty much looking for a real rough estimate. Thanks, guys!

Carbed or EFI? Torque monster, or high-rpm screamer?

If it's EFI, a realistic assessment would be around....oh, $275,000.

I have an evil torque monster 351W engine package in mind that would easily get you 450 hp, use almost a stock roller cam, and 11:1 compression...on pump gas. Interested? I don't want to release details yet, because most 'engine' guys think it's stupid....I have built two. It works, and it can run on 87 octane. However, it has started screaming arguments on at least 5 separate message boards.

Your choice....

[xxslow50xx]

i wanna hear of this 351 build is it a budget build because i need to build two of them tell me more of you plan

[JumboFriendly]

The eventual goal for the car is a weekend street cruiser and occasional strip toy. Probably carb.

[1987cp]

11:1 compression and runs and lives on 87 octane? I must hear of this engine!

[turbo2256b]

Should be easy to do running compression around between 9 to 10 to one.

[1987cp]

Wouldn't that take a pretty fat cam, though?

[torquelover]

My motor build cost well over 3k. Probably over 4k if I total up all the receipts. I already had the motor. This was for machine work, and all new parts. Ignition, coil, heads, intake, carb, manifolds, etc were all ditched in hopes of increased power, efficiancy, and durability. The only thing that has failed has been the stock distro's inductive pick up. Twice. Weird for a magnet to stop being a magnet for no apparent reason. All the labor was done in my garage, by myself and several others. Only the block and crank were retained, everything else was changed (check my sig). Not to turn you away from the 351, but have you thought about getting an early V8 explorer motor? Seems like the best way to go financially.

[turbo2256b]

Basicly the same parts Colin is using for his engine would put a 351 in the 450 range. A 750 carb though. His 600 will prove to be small for his engine. Peak HP RPM would be lower in the 5700 RPM as apposed to his in the 6000 RPM range.

[1987cp]

Oh, interesting. His stuff is semi-radical (compared to mine, anyway), but otherwise pretty basic. Didn't realize he was going nutso with compression, though - I thought he had 9:1 pistons and the chambers were close to stock volume?

[JumboFriendly]

I'm actually trying to talk myself into going a different route. I still need to really try and think it through more, so I'm not going to talk too much about it. I don't know if I'm ready to get myself in that deep yet...

[Pirate]

Here's a quick rundown:
Stock crank
400 Ford connecting rods machined to fit
KB flat top pistons (I believe a KB 271, I can't remember the piston number)
AFR 165 heads, 58 cc...brings it out to 11:1 compression
Stock 5.0 HO cam(preferred) or (optional) Trick Flow cam Stage I, roller cam conversion,
Weiand stealth intake, Edelbrock RPM air gap optional
BG Road Demon 625
good set of long-tube headers

Optional on the heads: cast iron GT40's, with the big combustion chambers, brings it down to 10:1-10.5:1....still runs on pump gas, but you lose 25-30 HP.

With the stock HO cam, produces a hell of a lot of torque, very snappy engine, revs very quickly for a 351w, pulls everywhere, done by 5500 (perfect for an automatic) will pretty much destroy any tires short of slicks. With the Stage I cam, it mellows out a wee bit on bottom end, (still nasty), gives it an extra 500 rpm to play with.

[86VickyLX]

Sounds like a motor made to kill. Sounds awesome.

[Nathan in MI]

Are the 400 Ford rods the "long rod" concept that caused a big war here some time ago?

[turbo2256b]

Smoky Ynick "The longer the rod the better". Also like offset piston pins in the directon the piston rotation wont lock up. Causes some piston slap but dosent hurt.