351 Cleveland

69PonyRider · 09-05-2001, 01:00 AM

Hey guys,
I recently bought a 69 mustang and it already had the 351 Cleveland, or so he said. This is my first car and i dont know much about engines so i was wondering if there was any way of checking to know if this was really a Cleveland. Also, i wanted to know if this is a good engine...what are some advantages/disadvantages, and how it compares to other engines, i.e. 351W.
Thanx you guys.

------------------
351 Cleveland engine, 4-barrel Holley carb, Edelbrock alum intake, MSD ign, 2 chmbr flowmaster, C-6 tranny, on a 69 coupe ...........UNDER CONSTRUCTION

[This message has been edited by 69PonyRider (edited 09-05-2001).]

thunderbolt · 09-05-2001, 09:14 PM

Don't know if you know, but the 351C was not originally avialable in 69. Became an option shortly after 70 production started. None the less, it was a popular swap from what I am told. How to tell a 351C from a 351W. 351C heads will have 8 bolts in the valve covers instead of 6. (It is possible to put 351C heads on a 351W, this modification is generally known as a clevor) The neck of the thermostat housing comes out the top of the block and points straight up for the 351C while the 351W has a housing that comes out the front of the block. After you see a few it gets easy to tell them apart.
There is certinally nothing wrong with the 351C. During the 70's and early 80's they were the hot ticket in small block proformance with high flowing heads. However, the advent of fuel injection and computer aided design turned the 351W into a great proformer. Today you can make good power with either combo. Reliabiliy probably goes to the 351W but it isn't a really big deal. The biggest problem I see with the 351C is that aftermarket proformance parts are now more prevelant for the 351W. Now before someone jumps me on this, edelbrock and others offer more for the W, FMS has more W stuff, and when was the last time you saw readily available alum. heads and fuel injection for a 351C. But they are fun and of course all the old timers will ask you which engine you have and hope to hear 351C.

66 Racer · 09-06-2001, 06:21 PM

Sup Man,

So your starting to hit the boards now huh? Hope you get that new radiator soon.

By the way, I dont know how, but i had a feeling this would be you posting.

l8er man

------------------
Under Construction 66 Coupe
-289 V8 - 600cfm Holley -Tri-Y Headers - Flowmaster 2.5 dual exaust, Centerforce Dual Friction

[This message has been edited by 66 Racer (edited 09-06-2001).]

09-05-2001, 01:00 AM	#1
69PonyRider Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Hawthorne, CA Posts: 9	351 Cleveland Hey guys, I recently bought a 69 mustang and it already had the 351 Cleveland, or so he said. This is my first car and i dont know much about engines so i was wondering if there was any way of checking to know if this was really a Cleveland. Also, i wanted to know if this is a good engine...what are some advantages/disadvantages, and how it compares to other engines, i.e. 351W. Thanx you guys. ------------------ 351 Cleveland engine, 4-barrel Holley carb, Edelbrock alum intake, MSD ign, 2 chmbr flowmaster, C-6 tranny, on a 69 coupe ...........UNDER CONSTRUCTION [This message has been edited by 69PonyRider (edited 09-05-2001).]

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09-05-2001, 09:14 PM	#2
thunderbolt Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Houston, TX, USA Posts: 380	Don't know if you know, but the 351C was not originally avialable in 69. Became an option shortly after 70 production started. None the less, it was a popular swap from what I am told. How to tell a 351C from a 351W. 351C heads will have 8 bolts in the valve covers instead of 6. (It is possible to put 351C heads on a 351W, this modification is generally known as a clevor) The neck of the thermostat housing comes out the top of the block and points straight up for the 351C while the 351W has a housing that comes out the front of the block. After you see a few it gets easy to tell them apart. There is certinally nothing wrong with the 351C. During the 70's and early 80's they were the hot ticket in small block proformance with high flowing heads. However, the advent of fuel injection and computer aided design turned the 351W into a great proformer. Today you can make good power with either combo. Reliabiliy probably goes to the 351W but it isn't a really big deal. The biggest problem I see with the 351C is that aftermarket proformance parts are now more prevelant for the 351W. Now before someone jumps me on this, edelbrock and others offer more for the W, FMS has more W stuff, and when was the last time you saw readily available alum. heads and fuel injection for a 351C. But they are fun and of course all the old timers will ask you which engine you have and hope to hear 351C.

09-06-2001, 06:21 PM	#3
66 Racer Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: West Covina, CA Posts: 77	Sup Man, So your starting to hit the boards now huh? Hope you get that new radiator soon. By the way, I dont know how, but i had a feeling this would be you posting. l8er man ------------------ Under Construction 66 Coupe -289 V8 - 600cfm Holley -Tri-Y Headers - Flowmaster 2.5 dual exaust, Centerforce Dual Friction [This message has been edited by 66 Racer (edited 09-06-2001).]