351 build ideas? what heads?

[70torino429]

just looking to get some ideas of what you guys think would be good parts/ combos for my 351 efi build. im leaning towards some iron heads. something like the windsor srs with 2.02/1.60 valves or some refurbished gt40 heads? what do you guys think? whats a good cam? i was thinking of a crane 444221 which has a int/exh lift of .533/.544 or something similar. ill be using a mustang mass air ecm so that rules out carb specific cams. just looking for ideas.


fwiw, ideally id like to be over 300hp near 350ish hp and 400tq.

[RunUoveR]

i think you could easily achieve those goals with GT40s

for reliable street cars and not purpose built drag/show cars i have a high prefrece to keep with iron heads. they just seem to live a longer life and can tolorate more abuse without warping and letting go of the head gasket

[Pirate]

http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthread.php?t=21929

There ya' go.

[70torino429]

i agree with the reliabilty aspect, ive seen a few people who daily drove a car with aluminum heads and werent too happy after a few years. and they deffinately seem easier to warp. my blown up cadillac motor had aluminum heads and the other day i was looking over the engine and saw a good size crack in them and thats only a 300hp car.

but back on topic.
would you consider the windsor srs to be a better option if i have the cash? the flowcharts seem to show that the windsor srs flow a tad bit more than gt 40s (so id assume they have a little more potential), actually really similar to the gt40x and gt40 y heads. id like to have a head that would flow enough to let me make more improvements to the engine if i decided to do so, as im sure you know once you go fast you want to go faster.

[mrltd]

untouched gt40s on my 5.0 make 270hp/300ftlbs...


If you are using mass air, then carb specific cams are fine. Speed density would be another story.

[Pesty351]

fwiw, ideally id like to be over 300hp near 350ish hp and 400tq.

At the crank or wheels?

[70torino429]

350hp 400tq at the crank would be ideal and probably more easily attainable

[Pesty351]

You can copy my motor it's sitting around those #'s at the crank. Yet is reliable and streetable enough for dd use.

http://www.grandmarq.net/vb/showthread.php?t=23505

[70torino429]

your motor does look decent. only thing is i want to keep it efi. im going to try to do it for less than 5 grand for the driveline so utilizing alot of used parts is going to help. ill get some aftermarket forged pistons and do a basic rebuild on the bottom end with upgraded hardware so all that stuff will have to be new as well as the cam and other nickle and dime stuff.

i suppose 30# injectors would be adequate and allow for future improvement but maybe 24#s would be more appropriate? anyone with advice on that feel free to chime in.

i still dunno if im going to use gt40 heads or the windsor sr heads with the 2.02/1.60 valves.

[Heretic]

I'm going to be running a Lightning engine, w/stock GT40 heads and intakes on it. Crane 1.7 Rockers and a TFS stage 1 cam are the only mods, and I am using an A9P computer with 24# injectors and appropriate MAF to run it.

Let's not forget that the 240 horse 340FT-LB Lightning 351 originally used 19# injectors when stock; as they are good to roughly 320 horsepower before you need to go larger. A decent Mustang mass-air ECM will allow you to change MAF and injectors down the road if need be, so you can run 24's now and upgrade later rather easily.

[Pesty351]

I have less than 1500 in the whole motor. I built my whole car for less then 3 g's. EFI is over rated and over complicated.

[Brown_Muscle]

If you decide to go with the GT-40 heads hit me up, i have a set for sale

[70torino429]

ill keep you in mind, ill have to read some on the lightning site to see what those guys are doing and what theyre getting for power since most of them are using gt40 headed 351s

[70torino429]

I'm going to be running a Lightning engine, w/stock GT40 heads and intakes on it. Crane 1.7 Rockers and a TFS stage 1 cam are the only mods, and I am using an A9P computer with 24# injectors and appropriate MAF to run it.

Let's not forget that the 240 horse 340FT-LB Lightning 351 originally used 19# injectors when stock; as they are good to roughly 320 horsepower before you need to go larger. A decent Mustang mass-air ECM will allow you to change MAF and injectors down the road if need be, so you can run 24's now and upgrade later rather easily.

hows the hood clearance with the 351 lightning intake? ive been looking at used ones for sale and although they are pretty expensive they are cheaper then buying a trickflow intake from summit and probably perform just as good. any pics of your assembled intake by any chance? where do you expect to be powerwise with your combo?

[1987cp]

i agree with the reliabilty aspect, ive seen a few people who daily drove a car with aluminum heads and werent too happy after a few years. and they deffinately seem easier to warp. my blown up cadillac motor had aluminum heads and the other day i was looking over the engine and saw a good size crack in them and thats only a 300hp car.

Pirate claims that warpage issues are primarily a problem with a 302-based engine and not with a 351. Something to do with the difference in deck height. A 351W and a Northstar are not the same engine!

Soooo .... that'd leave AFR 165s as an excellent option. I'm thinking of doing that or something similar for my 351 if I decide not to port my extra set of Explorer heads.