351 Conversion...

[87_LSC]

Hi Lincolns Online,

I am considering converting my tired old 5.0 to a race built 351 Cleveland I am thinking of building. Is it going to be a hard swap?


thanks!,
wes

[Desert Stallion]

There are swap kits out there, but outside of the 'cool' factor of being able to say that you have a Cleveland underhood, there's a lot more bad than good about this swap.

-Weight: The Cleveland isn't a light motor, especially when compared to the Windsor.

-Cost: You'll need all new accessories, swap oil pan, swap exhaust, custom k-member, and a new transmission, plus all the custom plumbing.

-Aftermarket: There's a much smaller aftermarket for the Cleveland than the Windsor.

-Hood clearance: The Windsor just barely squeaks under the hood of the VII. The Cleveland is a taller motor and will require a raised cowl.

For the cost of a mild Cleveland swap, you could have a forced induction 5.0L stroker making in excess of 500 streetable horsepower, or a solid 351W stroker that would be lighter and make more power than the Cleveland.

[macx]

Aren't Clevelands shorter than a 351?
I know they are taller than a 302.
And I thought C's had the same bellhousing
pattern as W's? So an AOD or 4R70W should fit?

I've squeezed an efi 351W under my stock hood.

Ebrock JUST came out with some sweet looking
alum Cleveland heads and RPM airgap intake.
Midway between 1bbl & 4bbl port sizes, and
modern heart shaped / quench comb chambers.


Also, for efi fans, www.pricemotorsport.com (http://www.pricemotorsport.com)
makes adapters to fit 302W intakes on C's.

Another thought - the C's don't have as good an oiling system as W's. However, Ford makes
a shorter deck (C height) W block. And Ebrock makes a version of those new alum heads that will bolt onto a W block.

That WOULD be a neat and powerful setup!

[ August 12, 2005: Message edited by: macx ]

[ August 12, 2005: Message edited by: macx ]

[ August 12, 2005: Message edited by: macx ]

[Desert Stallion]

Yep, you're right about the bellhousing patterns being the same. It's the 351M/400 that have the different bolt pattern. That being said, to use an AOD or 4R70W you'd need to have a new 164 tooth flexplate made (the Cleveland like the Windsor uses a 28oz imbalance to the 5.0L's 50oz).

[gadget73]

Isn't there some means of fixing the cam oiling problems on the Cleveland that involved enlarging the oil passages up to the cam bearings or something?

[macx]

I know there are fixes for it.

I didn't mean to imply the engine had problems
for all types of use - there were many street
Clevelands that ran fine for years.

Just under high rpm racing were the problems mostly apparent.

I think that some of the oil delivery to the
heads/rockers is restricted with a galley
orifice to force more oil to the mains.

I think a Cleveland would be fine for a nice street motor, even a fairly hot one.

And with a deck height of 9.2 versus 9.5 for the 31W, that little bit shorter block would be of some help getting it under a stock hood.

MWould make a great, powerful street motor with either the Aussie 2bbl C heads, or for sure with these new Ebrock "3v" heads.
With the price motorsport adapters to adapt
a high perf 302 efi intake, it should make
a really nice running street setup.