cheap 351C swap?

Hack

15 Year Member
Mar 23, 2004
1,945
13
69
Minneapolis
I'm considering swapping out my 250 I6 for a stock 351C with 2 barrel heads. If I can make myself baby it :rolleyes: will my stock C4 and rear end live for a while? Ideally, I'd like to make it 2 or 3 years (light driving on nice days for about 5 months out of the year). I put maybe 5k miles max per year on it now.

I'd like to eventually do other things, but I need to save up some cash for my Tremec 3550, etc, etc, I don't want to even spend the money for a junkyard toploader to get me by. I don't want to do a clutch conversion yet, not to mention the rear end, etc.

I know that a built C4 can handle a lot, is there anything simple and cheap that I should do? Cheap meaning <<<$100. :p

Also, what do I need to bolt this up? I can think of motor mounts, the C4 bell housing should match, right? I know I need a radiator for sure. Am I way off base, or could this be a pretty simple swap? :shrug:
 
Not very organized here.. I found the FAQ thread. I understand that I need all the brackets and accessories for the engine, planning on stripping a junker (crossing fingers).

I have the parts for a front disc conversion, and I will be doing that in the next couple weeks. So I think my suspension and brakes are at least safe for careful city driving.

I just don't know, do I need parts to convert my C4 so it will even bolt to a 351C? Does a 351C affect the position of the C4 in the car (my personal thought is I wouldn't think so, but what do I know?)? :rolleyes:
 
Haha, Know a guy running low 11's with a c4 and a 351c. I think he might have built his c4 up a little but not much. Im backing my cleveland with a c4 and if it blows its an excuse to drop a toploader in. :D
 
most 351c's were backed with an fmx or c-6 tranny, which use a bigger flexplate the the c-4, so you will need to get the appropriate flexplate. other things you will or might need: throttle linkage, new exhaust, enigine-frame mount brackets, you might have to do some re-wiring for the alternator depending on where the 250 alternator mounts, definatley a new radiator and hoses, engine guage feed wiring harness, probabaly other stuff as well
 
I just blew up my C4 with my 351C, but C4's are dime a dozen so no big deal. As for the 8", you should be fine, nobody seems to give that rearend enough credit, of course its not as good as a 9", but you should be fine as long as you're not doing hard launches with slicks or anything like that.