351 Windsor too tall for hood

[C-Dubb]

Hello All, I recently purchased a 1973 Bronco that has a 351 Windsor installed. The previous owner cut the hood so that it would close, but there is about 6 or 7 inches sticking out above the hood. I have heard that I could change intakes to get it lower, but does anyone know about how much lower that would take me? Would I still need a body lift and/or hood scoop? Thanks in advance for any input.

 

[Timmy390]

EFI or carb? Guessing EFI.......the "truck" EFI upper is very tail and will not fit. You have 2 options. Use the stock truck lower with BC adapter and Mustang upper or Lightning lower (known as a GT40 lower) and the Explorer upper. There is also a Lighting upper and a cobra stang upper that will fit the Lighting lower. There is a marine version of the lighting lower. It's cast iron but works. I'm running one....

If carb yeah just change the intake and go to low profile air cleaner.

Tim

 

[jckkys]

The only combination I know of that will allow a 351W to fit under a stock or un-butchered hood and no body lift is a carburetor on a 'Ford intake. This includes both 2 and 4 barrels. The truck EFI intake won't even work with 302s. It's simply made for a whole different body type. The OE Bronco air cleaner is the best choice. The hood's cross brace is avoided, when convectional round air cleaners have to fit under the brace smothering the top of the carburetor. So the misguided effort to increase air flow does just the opposite.

 

[C-Dubb]

EFI or carb? Guessing EFI.......the "truck" EFI upper is very tail and will not fit. You have 2 options. Use the stock truck lower with BC adapter and Mustang upper or Lightning lower (known as a GT40 lower) and the Explorer upper. There is also a Lighting upper and a cobra stang upper that will fit the Lighting lower. There is a marine version of the lighting lower. It's cast iron but works. I'm running one....

If carb yeah just change the intake and go to low profile air cleaner.

Tim

Totally forgot to mention that it is indeed fuel injected. With the options that you identified, do I have a chance to run a hood with no scoop and no body lift?

 

[rjlougee]

The short answer is "no". Without a lot of work.

You could lower the engine frame horns for the motor mounts to give you clearance, but you'd still need the lower GT-40 intake and GT-40 or Explorer upper.

Or a body lift and scooped hood...
Joe

 

[Timmy390]

Totally forgot to mention that it is indeed fuel injected. With the options that you identified, do I have a chance to run a hood with no scoop and no body lift?

I'm told it can be done with the right combo of parts and a 1 inch or more BL.

I had to scoop because I found my combo to be to tail and my hood wasn't a keeper anyway. I run a 96 roller 351W with GT40 lower intake (marine cast iron version) with Explorer upper intake. My T-body is off a 97 Explorer (I run the whole 97 explorer intake mass air sensor hoses everything). I do have a 1 inch BL

I'm told my issue is the 97 T-body is bigger than say the 96 year model or even the stangs. Because it's bigger the TPS is the issue with clearance. I had all the parts and to them on the cheap so I scooped and went on with it.

Tim

 

[Broncobowsher]

I also have to ask, what fuel injection? The factory Ford truck intake, not a chance of it clearing. But the throttle body style can be done. The car style Ford EFI (GT40/Lightning) can be done with some body lift.

Pictures answer a LOT of questions around here. This site is generally real good at looking at pictures of a Bronco and telling you way more about it than you ever thought about.

 

[Rustytruck]

You also would need stock type motor mounts as the aftermarket extreme motor mounts are about 3/4" taller.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I think someone needs to really check the extreme mounts someday. The amount of height they gain keeps growing. I have seen "same as fresh stock rubber", quarter inch. 3/8", and now people are saying 3/4". It is starting to sound like "the fish was 'this' big" stories.

 

[C-Dubb]

Here's a few pictures of what I’m working with.

 

[cs_88]

You might need one of these.

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/hrd-3168/overview/

 

[Broncobowsher]

Here's a few pictures of what I’m working with.

WOW! That is going to be used for years to come when someone wants to use a truck EFI.

Yes, there are ways to get a stock hood to close. Just not with that intake.

 

[Timmy390]

Appears to be the truck upper.........

Tim

 

[Timmy390]

On the positive side, you got EFI so all you really need are the correct parts to get that hood closed.

Now they bad, the Lightning lower is $$$. Expect to pay $500 and up. I lucked up on a marine version for $350.

IF it's a stock 351 and you don't plan to twist it too much, the BC adapter and mustang upper is the least $$$ https://bcbroncos.com/shop/fuel/efi/11-82010-efi-manifold-adapter-351302-for-early-bronco/

Should be able to use everything else you have......Far as I know anyway......

Tim

 

[jckkys]

When looking at junk yard engines it was obvious to me that truck EFI intakes could never work in an EB, but the previous owner had to prove it. I'd leave it. It's kind of a conversation starter. Just say it's a flux capacitor.

 

[Broncobowsher]

At least you have mass air. You can change things up a fair bit and it will still run good. Even if the intake flows a bit differently than stock.

 

[C-Dubb]

Out of all the options available, which one will get me the lowest or do they all work out to be about the same?

 

[bmc69]

Here's a few pictures of what I’m working with.

Wow...OK. That's a first for me. Everyone else until now took "no it won't even come close to fitting" as the answer to "can I used the truck 5.8 EFI engine in an early Bronco?"

LOL....

 

[Tiko433]

I’m thinking a body lift and a scoop and your good to go

 

[Justafordguy]

I’m thinking a body lift and a scoop and your good to go

That's what I would do, I already have a body lift and a scoop and like the look. ;D

If you don't like the look of a scoop, the BCB adapter and a Mustang upper is your cheapest option.