Strictly looking at the HP ratings and performance of the engines that came from the factory (not talking built up stuff) in the early '70s (really 70 to 72ish) the Cleveland was the higher performing one (ever see a factory Windsor in a 70-71 Torino Cobra? I didn't think so). In '72 the 4V Cleveland was the highest HP engine offered by Ford. However, with todays tech, they can be built to be pretty much equal. The C block is pretty well know to not be safe to bore over 0.030" without sonic checking, and blocks are getting pretty hard to find. Interesting note, all C blocks were cast to accept 4 bolts mains, the 2 bolt blocks just didn't have the outer bolt holes drilled. W's are usually easier to swap into most cars (costs about $1000 for the swap parts to put a C in a Fox) and are not as wide as the C. Also, there are a lot more choices on parts when building the W. Obviously I like the C but I also have a W in the shed. They are both good engines, I just like the mystique that seems to follow the Cleveland on the street. And NO, they are not big blocks!
God, I got long winded on that one
