• Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech

351W Rebuild Questions about rod markings

  • Thread starter Thread starter spierce
  • Start date Start date Sep 17, 2007
S

spierce

Member
Jul 27, 2004
87
0
7
Tucson, AZ
Sep 17, 2007
#1
  • Sep 17, 2007
  • #1
I have a 351W out of a 94 F150. So it's a roller motor.
when I rebuilt the motor I didn't pay attention to the rods like I should have.

I pulled the pisons and rods and lined them up according to the banks they came out of and kept them in order that way.

But when I cleaned everything up and went to put them back in the rods are not marked like 302 rods. the standard 302 rods are marked 1 -8 on the cap and rod. The rods and Caps were marked with letters on the 351. I checked the Haynes and Chiltons manuals and it said nothing about this. So my question is did anyone else have this issue?
and How was I supposed to reassemble the motor? what letter corresponds to what cylinder?

I don't know if I put the 1-4 pistons on the 5-8 bank and vice versa.
there is a little vibration up in the higher RPM's but at idle you can't tell

I do have a rear main leak on it now so I was going to pull the motor and fix it and I debated tearing it down and swapping the pistons.

Anyone have any ideas?
my last resort would to be to take everything down and get them rebalanced at a local machine shop but I didn't want to have to go to that extent.
 

88mouse

New Member
Apr 18, 2007
630
0
0
Mooresville nc
Sep 17, 2007
#2
  • Sep 17, 2007
  • #2
Really it don't matter where they go as long as the notch in the piston is facing the front, and the rod caps are on the right rods. Did you plastigage the rods?
 
S

spierce

Member
Jul 27, 2004
87
0
7
Tucson, AZ
Sep 18, 2007
#3
  • Sep 18, 2007
  • #3
plastigage

yea I checked all the tolerances on the crank to mains, and the crank to rods. everything is good.
The problem I was thinking I was having was a balance problem. I know from the factory all the pistons and rods can be off by quite a bit from one to another. so the factory balance may be off by moving all the pistons to the opposite side.
and I did make sure all the pistons are in the bores the right way and that the caps are installed correctly.
 

88mouse

New Member
Apr 18, 2007
630
0
0
Mooresville nc
Sep 18, 2007
#4
  • Sep 18, 2007
  • #4
spierce said:
yea I checked all the tolerances on the crank to mains, and the crank to rods. everything is good.
The problem I was thinking I was having was a balance problem. I know from the factory all the pistons and rods can be off by quite a bit from one to another. so the factory balance may be off by moving all the pistons to the opposite side.
and I did make sure all the pistons are in the bores the right way and that the caps are installed correctly.
Click to expand...

If the notch on the pistons are to the front and the tolerances where right, there isn't a probablem with the balance of the motor. Maybe the harmonic balancer is bad check it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

SOLD Sold.
  • TTSaleen
  • Jul 1, 2026
  • Engine and Power Adder
Replies
6
Views
294
Engine and Power Adder Jul 2, 2026
Noobz347
Y
Engine 1994 Ford Mustang Gt Rod Knock/Stuck Lifter
  • yaboity
  • Jun 7, 2025
  • 1994 - 1995 Specific Tech
Replies
2
Views
276
1994 - 1995 Specific Tech Jun 8, 2025
AeroCoupe
6
Hey all,I’m putting together a 302 for my 1968 Mustang and wanted to post the combo + some questions to make sure I’m not missing crucial
  • 68_Disgustang
  • Feb 22, 2026
  • 1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk-
Replies
4
Views
908
1965 - 1973 Classic Mustangs -General/Talk- Jun 20, 2026
gray owl
G
Motor given to me and I’d like to rebuild it what do I need to do
  • Creomod
  • Dec 14, 2024
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
6
Views
385
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Dec 16, 2024
AeroCoupe
H
Ongoing Battle With Hydraulic Lifters
  • hailer06
  • Jun 8, 2026
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
Replies
7
Views
297
1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk- Jun 9, 2026
Noobz347
Share:
Bluesky Email Share Link
  • Mustang Forums
  • 1979 - 1995 (Fox, SN95.0, & 2.3L) -General/Talk-
  • Fox 5.0 Mustang Tech
Menu
Log in

Register

  • Forums
  • What's new
  • Media
  • Resources
  • Contact
  • Sponsor
X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?

X

Privacy & Transparency

We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:

  • Personalized ads and content
  • Content measurement and audience insights

Do you accept cookies and these technologies?