351m questions

[bloodyspirit058]

alrighty, well after talking with my dad my grams old car does have a 351m 400 in it... now i'm really curious cause i hear they weren't the best. my question is why does everyone say the suck so much? was it jsut because the weren't as good as the windsor or cleaveland? or was it pleged by other problems? do the modifieds use the same rotating assemblies as the windsors? I'm mostly curious cause i can get the engine completely free and i don't have ne money to buy a differn't one but i don't really want to put money into the engine if i have to find all specialised stuff and than have it break on me... if its really not as bad as i keep hearing i thought it would be kinda cool to keep the engine alive since i've ridden in that car since i was like 2.... so let me know what you think and or know and ill go from there...

[rchevelle71]

tough to get performance parts for, mostly used in late 70's ford trucks, has a 460 bolt pattern on the back.

[Otlaw80]

its been a while since i've done anything with a 351M. I will double check tonight after work but this is what i kind of remember. As rchevelle said, its hard to find parts for. I beleive it was basically a destroked 400. 400 block with351 crank. Can produce lots of torque with little HP(why they were used in trucks) The truck/BB bolt pattern for trans could be an issue to. not sure if you can get an adaptor and even if you could i don't know how good(performance wise) you could build a truck trans.

[bloodyspirit058]

i was kinda thinking on giving this a shot, but after the research i've done on a 351w and building up that, than reading about a 351m here, i've decided i probably won't be pursuing this build...

if/when i get an engine ill keep you guys updated on its journey

[Otlaw80]

im by no means telling u to not do it. as a matter of fact I prob would just for the sake that its free. and it would be unique. biggest thing to look into would be fuel delivery if u plan on going fuel injection. just gotta ask yourself if your willing to put the money into the engine. u never know, u might find a windsor down the road but you'll have money into the 351m already.

[bloodyspirit058]

Quote: Originally Posted by Otlaw80 u never know, u might find a windsor down the road but you'll have money into the 351m already.

thats why i don't want to start, specially since the windsor has such a huge aftermarket selection. ill just have to wait and find one.

[rchevelle71]

If you were going to do an "M", you might as well do a 460 at that point, pretty sure the mounts and all are the same, heck maybe even the headers.