351?

I am running a stock Ford Lightning motor with those stock dished pistons in my station wagon. My car is a street car and the torque is nice! On the highway passing is a breeze. I just step on it in top gear and it pulls. The camshaft is stock mustang HO. Cobra roller rockers actuate the stock gt40 valves. The intake is stock Ford Lightning. Accufab 75mm, Pro flow or Pro M something calibrated for the 24lb/hr injectors. Just this basic setup is awesome for me. I have plans for a built up higher compression 351W, but I want to keep street drivability which for me means stock mustang cam. In my opinion the 351 is the way to go. There is no real weight penalty. I just picked up a 94 convertible and I am planning the 351 swap in my head. I did all of the work myself. TFI 351 distributor (steel gear for roller cam), oil pan, brackets, intake, headers, balancer, flywheel or flexplate, widen between injector rails, and yesterday I finally lowered the swaybar after it had rubbed most of the drain plug away from my conversion oil pan. If you look up Daddywagon on the interwebs you will see what I’ve done. It is a bit of a hack job but I am thinking about driving it 140 miles each way to the All Ford Nationals in Carlisle, Pa this weekend.
 
Lol...yeah I realized that a short time after my build, went to do the first oil change and the front plug was pushed up and back.
Same solution, just spaced down the sway bar.
I actually used the sway bar mounts that originally came with the station wagon! When I converted to fox mustang suspension, of course I used the fox mustang sway bar and mounts. I am glad that I kept the old sway bar.
 
I actually used the sway bar mounts that originally came with the station wagon! When I converted to fox mustang suspension, of course I used the fox mustang sway bar and mounts. I am glad that I kept the old sway bar.
I’m thinking of going with the 85 for a few reasons? I know it’s good because it runs, and I get the whole truck for only $300 more than the other blocks sold separate. So I can part out the truck and make some money back. Any cons to the 85 block you know of?
 
Yes... link bar lifters aren't cheap though...about 400 a set. I had a kit with spider brace and regular style lifters from ford racing....was cheaper and will work fine for a mild build.
 
I'd only do a 351 if you really plan on going all out on the long block.
No point in a 351 that makes 302 power.

Given a choice, a dart 347 (363 maybe) or a 351, i'd take the 347.
Yeah you are going to give up some money on the dart block itself, but some of that will pay for itself in not needed 351 swap parts.
 
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I'd only do a 351 if you really plan on going all out on the long block.
No point in a 351 that makes 302 power.

Given a choice, a dart 347 (363 maybe) or a 351, i'd take the 347.
Yeah you are going to give up some money on the dart block itself, but some of that will pay for itself in not needed 351 swap parts.
If I get the 351 I plan on doing a all out build, all new parts
 
Yes... link bar lifters aren't cheap though...about 400 a set. I had a kit with spider brace and regular style lifters from ford racing....was cheaper and will work fine for a mild build.
Does the spider brace come with the kits usually, and how much power you think that block can hold, after proper machine work
 
The 351 blocks are known for holding 700+ hp. The spider brace comes with the kit. This is similar to the kit i had from ford racing. The block will need to be drilled and tapped for the mounting bolts for the spider brace. The brace holds the keepers on the roller lifters to keep them from spinning. So you'll need this kit, roller lifters, and get measured for push rod length.

Screenshot_20190531-120500_Chrome.webp
 
The 351 blocks are known for holding 700+ hp. The spider brace comes with the kit. This is similar to the kit i had from ford racing. The block will need to be drilled and tapped for the mounting bolts for the spider brace. The brace holds the keepers on the roller lifters to keep them from spinning. So you'll need this kit, roller lifters, and get measured for push rod length.

Screenshot_20190531-120500_Chrome.jpg
What’s your option on the 351 compared to a 302 bored to a 347, would probably bore the 351 to a 393 if that’s the route I go
 
Actually does anyone know where to find a good build thread, I search many time and all the ones I find are 20 posts tops, and don’t actually get into the build itself
 
Actually does anyone know where to find a good build thread, I search many time and all the ones I find are 20 posts tops, and don’t actually get into the build itself
Well I have a build thread on my own car that’s 200 plus pages . My car is a dart block 347

The car I’m referring to with Windsor is a stock 357 79 block , solid roller cam , ported Vic jr heads , spider intake with elbow , 76 mm turbo and a power glide .