351W Connecting Rods
 

I will be building a 351W stroker to go into my '92 Mustang. It is the Motorsport A385 crank that will accept production 351 rods and 302 pistons. I am hoping to be able to have a machine shop 'refresh' some rods I pick up from a salvage yard engine. Is any one year or model of 351W better to take from? Are truck rods different than passenger car rods? Thanks in advance.

-BS

P.S. I am planning on a salvage yard block also. I have heard that 69-74 are the best years. I am hoping to find a standard bore 71-74 due to the deck height. Any wrong assumptions in here? Thanks.

Can't help you much but to tell you that I've heard that 69-74 351W cylinder heads are supposed to be the best years (69-70 especially). But the block itself didn't change much, so if I was you I'd go for 69-70 heads and a newer block. But thats only if the wreckers will seperate the two.

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1970 Mustang Grande
-351W
-270 deg duration cam
-Holley 750 dbl pumper
-Headman long tube header
-X pipe, walker turbo IIs
-150 HP shot of NOS
-Performer 351W intake
-Stock heades, machined for 1.94/1.60 stainless valves. Mild port job.
- 9.5 : 1 comp

Truck rods are better. They have a football shaped head on their rod bolt. This spreads the load. The car rod bolt head is square and cuts straight across the rod. This load transfers to a cutting action on the rod.
69-70 heads are the best but that doesn't mean their great! By the time you find a pair and have them rebuilt, it is about as expensive as buying new tech aftermarket heads. Good luck

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Check which block the crank says it will fit. The lower deck hieght will give you increased compression, but can also give you valve to piston or head clearance problems. Most of the FMS stuff I have seen for the 351W states it is for the 9.500 deck hieght blocks.

Ronnie