351 Windsor HELP!!

[87DeuceVic]

I have a question about the 351 Windsor Box Vics. First of all, was the 351 in the police Vics a "heavy duty" 351 as Ford calls it or was it something different. And also was it only the police package Vics that had the 351 or was it an option for any Vic. I am considering making my future non-existent Vic it a 351 clone of a police package. I am just planning on droppin in a basic 351 that you would find in the police Vics, and keeping it in stock condition for future value reasons. Thats one plan I have for my non-existent Vic. The other is to keep the 302 and make it an all out screaming loud BEAST of a stroked hot-rod with open headers. What do you think I should do? Thats why I am wondering. THANX!!

[mrltd]

Basic pathetic ass 351W. Why not just buy a PI? You are gonna need a bunch of somewhat rare stuff to make it a true clone.

you could get PI's with a 5.0.

Early civi boxes had the 351W as an option.

[87DeuceVic]

Why not just buy a PI?

Because I can't find many in my price range. I am just a kid turning 16 soon. Don't have a lot of cash or resources. I would love to buy one if I can just find one that is around $2000 and in good shape. But right now I have NO MONEY so thats that. :cry:

[mrltd]

You'll spend way more making a clone. And non-pi slick tops are pretty rare to find anyway.

I figured by the open headers and sig that you were young...

[gadget73]

The 351 police motor made all of 180 horsepower in stock form. Its really not anything special to go through the effort of tracking down the parts to make it a true clone. You also get to deal with lots of wiring changes to use the variable venturi carb and MCU stuff. A 351 is a worthwhile swap if you're going for power, but probably a waste of time if its a bone stock Vic police 351. 302 parts are easier to find and usually cheaper, tons and tons of boxes with 5.0 parts on them. Finding all the stuff to make an exact replica 351 car will cost you a lot more than just buying a 351 car to start with.

Also, you do realize these cars have no resale value, right ?

[87DeuceVic]

Also, you do realize these cars have no resale value, right ?

Thats what they said and thought back in the day with the old station wagons and family sedans in the 50's and 60's......now a days we call these classics and muscle cars and in original form they are worth BIG CASH! And this day and age with the decline of V8's in the near future the value should raise pretty good. You never know what the future holds.

[mrltd]

Yeah, so either buy a civi and keep it nice and stock, or get a PI and restore it.

[nitroracer]

If you can't find a box you like for under $2k you haven't looked hard enough. These babies are cheap and plentiful.

[DuceAnAHalf]

You'll spend way more making a clone. And non-pi slick tops are pretty rare to find anyway.

I figured by the open headers and sig that you were young...

they are kinda rare arent they. i guess i should not have gutted a stripped base model slick top.

[gadget73]

Thats what they said and thought back in the day with the old station wagons and family sedans in the 50's and 60's......now a days we call these classics and muscle cars and in original form they are worth BIG CASH! And this day and age with the decline of V8's in the near future the value should raise pretty good. You never know what the future holds.

True, but I do know it would be worth a lot more if it was a real police model vs a clone. You'd probably be better off hot rodding one vs faking a police model in terms of future resale value. Currently its a moot point, they're all borderline scrap metal right now.

[1987cp]

to Panther rodding! In the future, anyway.

What you might consider if you have the resources and mechanical aptitude, is to get a not-particularly-desirable Vic of some sort or other, such as an '83-'85 5.0 CFI model, and build up a mild but stout 351 for it, carb it, and add the bare minimum of equipment necessary to meet inspection requirements in your state. (I bounce back and forth between Indiana and Michigan and don't have to worry about that!) Obviously, a carb'd model will make things easier, but they're a little harder to find. Any way you cut it, after the swap you should have a basic, dead-reliable car that'll be fun to drive, and then you can go crazy with cloning, other modes, or scaring up another project in the future. Running cars can often be had for fairly cheap, and nonrunning cars for less if you have the time, tools, and talent (oh, and the money and parental understanding - my mom initially forbade me to work on cars when I first started driving) to mess with them. If you don't have to drive very far on a regular basis, something along the lines of my '79 wagon could be a way to start - I got it cheap, and while it had a few issues, it ran and drove for 8 months until I got around to dropping a healthier engine in it (in this case, a year-old rebuild from my other car, which in turn was sidelined due to non-mechanical issues). A few more months of saving up, and I put in a fresh tranny, and have since been able to trust it on several-hour highway cruises and generally had pretty near zero real problems with it except when the 28-year-old starter finally decided to call it quits a little over a week ago.

[87DeuceVic]

If you can't find a box you like for under $2k you haven't looked hard enough. These babies are cheap and plentiful.

I have found a box-body just not a police interceptor. I REALLY WANT A COUPE! That is my dream Vic. I found one that is only $1200 but I have no money right now (too young to get a decent paying job) and it is like 6 hours away from me in RI. But the thing is cleeean. Low miles, no rust, interior is MINT. I begged my parents to pay and said I'd pay them back eventually but no luck....

There goes another clean coupe Vic......I'm always on Autotrader or eBay looking at Vics so I have seen my share of clean Coupes posted only to watch them get sold to some guy that won't apreciate what he has.

Oh well, I am turnin 16 in July and I am getting a job after that so soon I will be the proud owner of a box Vic!

[xxslow50xx]

i got my pi for $1000 no one in california wants these things i bought an 86 cv for $200

[Mercracer]

I am just planning on droppin in a basic 351 that you would find in the police Vics, and keeping it in stock condition for future value reasons. .....

Forget about any Vic for "future value reasons". Your car will nave no less value if you have a 500HP 351 or if it is an original enemic 351 unless the car is a pristine original example or a perfectly restored example. Most all of the cars you will find are high mileage drivers, so mod them to your heart's desire.

[torquelover]

Most likely your car's parts will be worth more the than whole car after building it up, if you want to take the time to tear it down and part it out. I got my box for $600 way back in the day. People offer up much more nowadays for it. BTW, I think you'll be dissapointed with the stock 351 VV set up. The motor needs major intake/exhaust/compression changes to wake up. Once you get your new car home, let us know what you landed, and we will help you out. Happy hunting.