Marine 351?

[Randy'65]

A buddy of mine is selling an '84 F-250 4X4 with a 351 in it that he inherited from a recently deceased Uncle. What he's telling me is that it is a 351 that came from a marine application, and his Uncle had to rework it for normal rotation. Additionally, he's not sure if it's a windsor or a cleveland. From the pictures I've seen, it looks like a windsor but I can't be sure. I'm not sure what year it is.

Anyway, the truck is in bad shape body and suspension wise, so I don't think he will be able to sell it whole, but the engine runs so I'd be able to hear it. I'm thinking it might make a good engine for my '65 when the time comes to swap. Is this a good engine, or not worth the trouble? If anyone could let me know where to find casting numbers for the block and the heads so I can check them out to see exactly what he has there, it'd be great.

I'm hoping for a roller block 351W with decent heads (but I'm not holding my breath).

 

[Randy'65]

What? Nobody knows anything about 351's?

 

[latamud]

If you can get it cheap then get it. Any 351 is nice to have and not hard to build into a roller. I don't know about marine applications, probably had some extra items on it to keep it sealed better from the water. If its in a truck now its a truck engine. If it can push a truck it will surely push your car.

 

[User Name]

I have heard that marine crate motors are better built than street crates due to in a marine ap they tend to be run at near peak rpm for long periods of time. If im not mistaken in 84 ford offered the 302,351 windsor,460 and diesel so you have a very good chance of finding a windsor unless he removed a 460 and put in a cleveland. If it is a windsor just be sure to change the cam to a car ap and enjoy. JR

 

[PoliceInterceptor]

A marine 351 could be anything depending on year.

A lot of the later ones had GT40 heads. they were rated as hight as 310HP.

 

[Randy'65]

That's why I was asking where I should look for casting numbers and all to see what exactly is there.

 

[PoliceInterceptor]

Casting numbers will be located the same places as any other 351w. I'm not that familiar with windsor ident, but I'm sure there are any number of sources that google would turn up.

Most marine engines have a plate (older) or sticker (newer) afixed to the manifold or valve covers showing the max rated power and the maximum safe RPM. if that is missing and you can identify what color the block was it might help to figure who the marinizer was.

The heads are probably not drilled for smog.

Hope that helps a little.