what can $3,000 do to a 351c

[x73mach1x]

ok so i have 3,000 bucks to spend on my 351c... im rebuilding it this year and i would like to know what upgrades should i do to it with a 3,000 budget no labor just parts... also what kind of horse power do you think i could get

 

[gzminiz]

if you looking to push as much hp as you can from it i would consider stroking it first. that should run $1500-2000 for a kit. Then i would probably consider new heads, intake manifold and carb.

 

[Hack]

What heads do you have now? I would start with heads if you currently have the US 2V OC heads. I like CHI personally. If you buy heads it's going to be tough to slip under the $3,000 limit, though.

Other stuff you want no matter your goals:
one-piece valves
double roller timing chain
Standard volume Melling oil pump and drive shaft
Do you need exhaust or do you have a good setup there?


Do you want to fit everything under the factory hood?

 

[69 Rustang]

What are you starting with? That makes a difference to me as I had a 2V Cleveland with a Edelbrock manifold and some pieces already purchased for my build that dicated what I had to do next. If I could start over, I would consider aluminum heads that are now available. Here is a good way to drop a big chunk of change: http://www.edelbrock.com/automotive_new/misc/spotlight/sl.shtml They are $909 each head assembled--compare to what I spent on Aussie heads. Aussie Cleveland heads are relatively inexpensive and yield decent performance--I bought mine for $300 including new valves. Bought new springs to match my cam, new retainers, & keepers. I port matched them and cleaned up the bowls, then had them assembled with new guides and seats. Cost when done was about $750 total for all the stuff including buying the heads. Could have put that towards some aluminum heads to save a ton of weight, but that wasn't an option when I started this two years ago. A set of 4 barrel heads probably would be in the same ballpark--combine that with a stroker kit, intake, and a nice cam and you at your budget limit, may have enough left over for some headers, but not ceramic coated. Headers with ceramic coating can be done for as little as $350 up to $500. Then there are roller rockers and other stuff, it all adds up. Look at what you are starting with (and are keeping, such as heads/intake) and how you are going to use it. Then start building the budget of how to spend. I could easily blow $3,000 on parts...my wife and budget just won't let me

 

[302 coupe]

You could probably fill the oil pan with $3000 worth of nickels.

 

[x73mach1x]

yeah im running stock 4v exhaust isnt a problem cause i have some money for that... but yeah everything i want needs to be able to fit under the hood..... well i have a problem because im limited myself to 3 grand because i wanted to spend 2 grand on getting the rest of the car ready like replacing suspension and new breakes as well as some body work... but if i but 5 grand into the engine what do you think i could get out of a stock 351c...... what kind of cam should i get for it??? or should i just stay stock???? also is .30 over on the block a good way to go???

 

[bnickel]

i would try to stay with standard bore if at all possible, if not than the .030 is about the limit you can go on a 351c. personally i would spend the money on a decent set of aussie heads or if you have the closed chamber 4 bbl heads those are the next best. i'd do a hydraulic roller cam swap but keep it on the smallish side especially if you do a stroker and want a decent street car, if you want something more than a good street motor then the skies the limit, especially if you have the 4v heads.

 

[Hack]

yeah im running stock 4v exhaust isnt a problem cause i have some money for that... but yeah everything i want needs to be able to fit under the hood..... well i have a problem because im limited myself to 3 grand because i wanted to spend 2 grand on getting the rest of the car ready like replacing suspension and new breakes as well as some body work... but if i but 5 grand into the engine what do you think i could get out of a stock 351c...... what kind of cam should i get for it??? or should i just stay stock???? also is .30 over on the block a good way to go???

Do you know which heads you have? We really need to know this in order to go to the next step. Let us know if you need a hand figuring out what heads you have.

You want to bore the block as little as possible, but generally if the block must be bored you'll want to start by figuring out what pistons you need with your combo. Then order the pistons. When they come in, your machinist can fit the cylinders to the pistons.

 

[x73mach1x]

how do identify my heads??? since this is my first restro.. i dont really know a lot of things???

 

[bnickel]

in one corner of the heads you'll find either a 2 or a 4. the 2 means 2v heads and the 4 means 4v. i have no idea how to tell the diff between a closed chamber 4v and an open chamber 4v head externally. i'm sure there probably is a way but i couldn't you what it is

 

[ddonaca351]

---Well IMHO with stock 4bbl heads:

SCAT stroker kit, rods/pistons/pins/crank $1600 from several sources on the net....

New edelbrock intake (perf rpm) port matched

Holley 750-780 vac sec carb

Lunati bracketmaster 2 cam

Headers

MPG head service stinger port plates for the exhaust

---With 2bbl heads:
Edelbrock perf rpm heads and intake

Lunati bracketmaster 2 cam

Same carb and headers.

Both should come in between 3-4 grand. Both probably about 400hp the first cuz of the inches, the second cuz of the heads....

Good luck,
Dave-