351 build ideas? what heads?

[70torino429]

im assuming im going to have to learn how to use a tweecer if i want to be able to tune this myself everytime i change something on the motor. maybe someone can shed some light on that, since i know theres a big learning curve that goes with it.

heretic, what kind of tuning are you going to be doing on your motor for the larger injectors?

btw. i think ill stick with iron heads, theyre cheaper and alot of people seem to be happy with them.

[Heretic]

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?

I did a test fit on my old 351 before I removed it and I was able to close the hood. Peeking in with a flashlight revealed probably less that 1/2" of clearence. I took some pics, but I just got my valve covers back from the powdercoaters yesterday so I will assemble everything and get some nice glamour shots tonight lol.

Tests on the NLOC have shown the GT40 intakes to be really good, stock to stock. The tubular upper can't really be ported, so once you get into that realm the aftermarket ones shine. But the tubular GT40 is one of the greatest looking intakes. Evar.

im assuming im going to have to learn how to use a tweecer if i want to be able to tune this myself everytime i change something on the motor. maybe someone can shed some light on that, since i know theres a big learning curve that goes with it.

heretic, what kind of tuning are you going to be doing on your motor for the larger injectors?

btw. i think ill stick with iron heads, theyre cheaper and alot of people seem to be happy with them.

I have a TwEECer and a FAST dual wideband. I have an old school Pro-M meter calibrated for the 24's. I used the tuning software and changed the displacement from 302 to 351, and will start to fuck with fuel curves and such after I get it running. I am using an A9P.

[70torino429]

that sounds pretty good, im going to have to learn some of this tweecer and wideband stuff but i hear it isnt that difficult once you figure out what all the numbers mean. i was planning on using that same mustang computer. i like the tubular intake, and will get one if i come across one for sale. i kind of like the cam and rockers youve chosen, although i might go for something with a little more lift.

i like the whole engine your building and im probably doing something just like it but maybe with slightly more cam and heads.

what kind of power numbers are you expecting? id like to have 300hp and 350+tq on mine.

would love to see the glamour shots lol.

[Heretic]

Theoretically 330HP and 440LB of torque, according to Desktop Dyno. I researched every number possible for the cam and heads.

I am skeptical, however, as to the accuracy of DD. I don't care if it's only going to output the stock Lightning power, anything is better that the stock motor with it's failing VV carb....

[gadget73]

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.

Personally I find carbs far more complicated and confusing than EFI. Its just a matter of what one is comfortable with. As for money, its just a number. Spending more or less doesn't mean much, other than how good your accounting is and how cheap you got stuff. I don't honestly know for sure whats in my car, I guesstimate 10 grand but thats probably +/- a couple thou. It still looks like crap though so nobody believes me. Annoyingly if I sent it to Maaco for a $300 paint job, they'd believe me.

Interesting tidbit with the tweecer. If you have one, there is no reason to run an aftermarket calibrated meter. You can just get any old meter with a known transfer function (the Lightning one is a popular option, so is a Mark VIII unit) and use the tweecer to input the meter's transfer function, and the injector size.

[70torino429]

talk about a torque monster lol. i agree, either way youll be way above the crown vic carbed 351, even the stock ford truck efi 351 is better than that. i like what youve got planned. my car has the lopo 302 so its slow as hell right now, and doesnt run that great to begin with.

in the future id like to add a small supercharger, since alot of the lightning guys on NLOC sell them off pretty cheap. this pic below makes me drool.

[Heretic]

Interesting tidbit with the tweecer. If you have one, there is no reason to run an aftermarket calibrated meter. You can just get any old meter with a known transfer function (the Lightning one is a popular option, so is a Mark VIII unit) and use the tweecer to input the meter's transfer function, and the injector size.

I got the 24# injectors and MAF as a set, for a very good price, otherwise this route would have been taken.

[gadget73]

Thats fine, was just making mention of it for informational purposes. Either route works, as long as you have the right mix of parts.

[70torino429]

i think i might go with gt40 heads to save cash, is it true ill need special headers?

[87gtVIC]

I believe that is only on the gt40 P heads.

[1987cp]

Absolutely. Regular F1ZE or F3ZE "non-P" heads can use any off-the-shelf 5.0 header you like. I imagine Scottmang would strongly encourage contacting Thumper for options on porting those things. I'll probably end up talking to BHP instead just because they're within about an hour's drive for me.

I still think that's too neat about Explorer heads getting 1/2" bolt holes.

[70torino429]

Absolutely. Regular F1ZE or F3ZE "non-P" heads can use any off-the-shelf 5.0 header you like. I imagine Scottmang would strongly encourage contacting Thumper for options on porting those things. I'll probably end up talking to BHP instead just because they're within about an hour's drive for me.

I still think that's too neat about Explorer heads getting 1/2" bolt holes.

yea that makes things a whole lot easier with them already being drilled out. im thinking of doing something like heretic has planned with gt40 heads something like the tfs stage 1 cam and some 1.7 roller rockers and then save the money to get a nice vortech supercharger if i feel the need for more power which would get near or over 400hp depending on the size of the kit. id have to use forged pistons though to be safe but i might just buy those while i have the engine apart.

[Heretic]

Glamour shots, as requested lol. The car is still pretty far taken apart, I have the core support back in and should have the fender on this weekend, along with those intakes actually gasketed properly and installed.

[70torino429]

Glamour shots, as requested lol. The car is still pretty far taken apart, I have the core support back in and should have the fender on this weekend, along with those intakes actually gasketed properly and installed.

lookin very good, looks like its making good progress.

just out of curiousity what kind of bottom end are you running?

[Heretic]

lookin very good, looks like its making good progress.

just out of curiousity what kind of bottom end are you running?

Stock Lightning, which has hypereutectic [spelling?] pistons.