351 in a 90 LX

[rexkilzkat]

i have done lots of work on several early model stangs but never jacked with a newer one. also havent built a project car in about 17 years.... a friend of mine just gave me a 1990 lx with a blown 4 banger in it.... i was just wondering how hard it would be to MOD it to a 351W or a 351M or even if one of these motors would fit with out chassie mods ? ..... i know to some this will sound like childs play but please help with out to much ragging on me ......LOL
ride the white pony
rex

[Ieatcamaros]

The modified will fit but don't even consider it. The windsor is a much better choice. It has way more benefits. You need a dual sump oil pan, for one. Ford Racing has one that comes with a pickup tube and dipstick tube for about $125. You also need new headers that are specific for a 351w in a fox stang. You need a new distributor too. If you are going carbed and don't want to spend the dough on msd, get one from the parts store for a late 70's ford car with 351 in it. The ford elite is one that comes to mind. Of course if you get the right motor complete, you would get this anyway. Get motor mounts for a convertible fox mustang. Convertible mounts are cheaper and give a little more hood clearance. Also, if you are going efi, you might want to factor in buying a new cowl hood. I remeber someone on this board a few years back put a efi 351 under the stock hood, but I don't remember exactly how he did it. Do a search on this board for more information. I can't remember everything right off the top of my head. The main question is carbureted or fuel injected? And then 5 speed or auto? IMO, carbureted 5 speed is the way to go. Maybe that's because that's how mine is setup. LOL. One more thing, since it is a 4 banger, you will need a double hump crossmember too. If you can't find one in the junkyard or ebay, summit and jegs have them.

[rexkilzkat]

thanks for the input bro!

[~The Jester~]

Yeah, what he said!

This IS the place to be for help on a project like that. Great bunch-o-guys running around here....

[Falcons Talon]

Good God...I just finished my 351 conversion...Ask me quick while it is fresh in my mind...

[Falcons Talon]

No chassis mods...get the HRP Solid Heavy Duty Drop Mounts. You can retain the stock hood. I did the swap to retain the S-belt, so I needed an a/c p/s swap bracket. Also, the Oil Pan swap kit, and if you're going Long Tube headers, the BBK 351 Swap headers.

[~The Jester~]

I have a set of Hooker Super Comp's for that swap! Willin to make a KILLER deal on 'em!

Decided to build a new motor, but sticking with a (a-hem...) "302" block. <WEG>

[Ieatcamaros]

You only need that a/c-ps swap bracket if you are going to retain the a/c and use the serpentine belt. If you want to use the serpentine belt, the stock alternator and belt tensioner bracket will work and the stock p/s bracket will work too. You will want to reverse your belt tensioner if you plan to run the serpentine belt with the water pump, p/s, alternator, and crank. It is easy and can be done in 30 minutes the first time.

[82 GT]

Don't forget you will need an 8.8 rearend out of a 5.0 LX or GT. The one you have now is an open differential 7.5

[rexkilzkat]

lol thanks guys i am going to have to save all these posts for when i get started .... the wife says i have to finish several other projects befor i start the ride..... abould half way through with the wood floors now lol

[eddielugnutz]

I just did the swap, needed cowl hood, Summit.com has all you need, or Jegs.com, Real easy swap with EFI, well worth the hassle, I'm laying down about 300rwhp with stock heads, After the aftermarket heads and more weight reduction and suspension mods, I hope to shame a few more imports.

[Falcons Talon]

Originally Posted by eddielugnutz

I just did the swap, needed cowl hood, Summit.com has all you need, or Jegs.com, Real easy swap with EFI, well worth the hassle, I'm laying down about 300rwhp with stock heads, After the aftermarket heads and more weight reduction and suspension mods, I hope to shame a few more imports.

Did you use the solid drop mounts?

http://secure.50resto.com/product1.c...Product_ID=162

[eddielugnutz]

No, regular . I bought the hood because I thought a 351 wouldn't fit a stock hood and I wanted a cowl hood anyway.

[eddielugnutz]

Oy yeah, and forget 300 RWHP, I still have stock heads, so way under that, maybe 250-270 RWHP being generous, it feels great off the line, but it's hard to judge, I don't live near a track, I should get it dynoed after heads. it feels faster than my Z, so maybe high 13's at best. It's a project so no rush.

[68Falcon]

I did the swap almost a year now. I have a pretty much stock 69 351W. I thought it would go 13.50. My first pass out was 12.99@105. It has went a best of 12.74@ only 101. The low MPH is probably do to the small cam and stock untouched heads. I get 1.66 60ft and 8.0's@84 in the 1/8. This is on a 100% stock 4 cylinder suspension. It has a lot of power down low. That's what I built the motor for. The tear up the streets. It's my daily driver. I love driving this thing everyday.

[eddielugnutz]

Wow man, I'm happy for you, 12.7? Do you have a lot of weight reduction? What's your track weight? I have a nearly stock 351 with a stock cam, just bolt on's and EFI, I had to leave it stock because I didn't know what the hell i'm doing! Can you, or someone answer a few questions for me? I currently have a stock truck intake with all the stock hardware on it from a truck. I thought it made more horsepower, but I found out that it only makes 240hp and it is actually slower than my stock 5.0 with work done. It felt quicker than my Z28 at first (14 seconds), but really not by a long shot, I think it was all my excitment in the swap that got me cocky. OK, here's my questions, I'm a newbie, so please don't make fun of me:

I heard that all 351W motors have the same firing order as the 5.0HO 1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Is this true, and , is a 302 and 351W cam interchangeable? I ask because I have a B303 cam for my old 5.0, can I just use it in my 351W?

Also, are 351W and 302 heads interchangeable? I know a 302 has a bore and stroke of 4.00 by 3.00", and a 351W has a bore/stroke of 4.00 by 3.50", so the stock heads from my 351 should fit on my 302 right?

What is a 351M? I'm sorry I don't know what the M stands for. and are 351 windsor and 351M parts interchangeable?


Thanks for the help.

I thought I was all bad ass with my 351 swap, man was I wrong, I have a lot of work ahead of me, luckily I have all the time in the world this winter to build a decent motor for the spring, no rush.

[68Falcon]

My car weights 3200 with me in it.

[82 GT]

The firing order are thge same.
Your B cam won't work in your 351w unless you convert it to a roller block like the 86-95 5.0 engines.
They will interchange if both blocks are non-roller blocks(pre-86)
In other words, they must both be "roller" blocks to interchange.
The heads will interchange but not wothout modifications to your 302 block. It must be drill out to accept the 1/2 bolts that are used on the 351w. The 302 heads use 7/16 bolts.

I'll let somone else explain the "M" motor cause I gotta go!
Hope this helps

[eddielugnutz]

Thank you very much for the information, after I asked these questions in this post I decided to just write a whole new post with the same questions so it get's everyone's attention,and it did, I got all my questions answered, the 351M is a destroked 400 with a big block trans pattern, I learn something new everyday.

I also asked these questions so that people who are planning to do this swap get most of the answers to those frequently asked 351 swap questions. I hope to become a pro at mustangs, hopefully one day be able to tell others how to build and swap mustangs like you guys do.

[~The Jester~]

ARP makes a kit to put 351 heads on a 302. Either studs, or bolts, come with little "mexican hats" that fit into the 1/2" hole in the head to center the 7/16" bolt.