Which 351w block should I look for?
 

Okay, I am in the searching stages for a 351w block. I want to build a 393 stroker out of it, with roller cam and lifters. It will be topped off with TFS heads, pistons, cam. What type of car, or truck would make the best donor. What should I stay away from?Is there a source for rebuilt bare blocks anywhere? ( I dont want to spend over a grand just for the bare block) Input is appreciated from anyone who has gone thru this before.

why not just get a FRPP 351 bare block??

is that the ford racing block for about $1,100? if not, where is it available?

get and svo 4 bolt block

If you cant afford an SVo block then the 69 351 block is sopposedly one of the strongest.

The conventional wisdom as far as i know it has always been that the blocks after late 70's had to thin a cylinder walls to be any good for hi po applications ... I had a 83 block sonic checked about two months ago and the shop said it was the first 351W block newer than 79 he'd checked ... it came out according to him, substantially thicker than any 351W block he'd ever done. So much for conventional wisdom ?? The other beef people have with later blocks is that they are much lower in nickel content, which makes them more prone to cracking.
After seeing the thin wall myth blown out of the water, now i seriously question the nickel content theory ?? I'd love to see an actual test done to put that question to rest one way or the other ... I'm begining to wonder if it was all started by some guy who had a garage full of real old 351 blocks ? :)

i dont think anyone has answered the question- What years did roller cams come in 351's? is it just the older lightning motors? i want to know too!

I'm not sure, i believe it was mid 80's .... mine was cast in late 83 and its flat tappet.
Oh and as far as not answering the question. Many times in hot rodding there is no black or white answer ... you take all the information that everyone posts and you draw your own conclusions as to what fits your application best.

any year 351w block can be converted to a roller cam, especially wirth todays new technology. as far a a stroker motor, all the manufacutures (strokers) recommend 69 (ideal) or late 60's block as 4 reasons mentioned above. Just a little scavenging will net u a 69 351 w block if u need one, or call any major stroker company like coastal high perf or anyother big firm.

i believe it was 88 when they came in the trucks and into the police CV. i did a 90 F250 and it had a roller cam in it.

as for thicker blocks, who cares unless your are going to build some serious power, then i would get the SVO block. if you are planning to race it and spray it then spend the extra money and get the SVO block. just my opinion.

If you are not going to put a power adder on it, then get the shortblock form Ford Racing. If you want to keep the power under 800 then go for the sportsman block, it is a lot cheaper then the 4 bolt main R block.

If you had two blocks sittin in front of you ... one you could cut .080 and have plenty of meat left over and the other you cut .030 and the cylinders are like tin foil, it wouldn't matter to you which one you picked up ???
The block i picked up cost me $50.00 and i got a set of rods, pistons, an uncut crankshaft and a timing chain cover and water pump thrown in for good measure. How much is an SVO block ??

I use the FRPP 351 sportsman block. Works for me.