Cleaning up a 351w

[1969]

I picked up a 1996 351w last week and I am in the process of doing a refresh on it before it goes into my Bronco. I am keeping it simple.

Seals
Paint
Timing set
Oil pump
Explorer front dress

Looking at the oil pan and valve covers, should I media blast them bare before painting them with the Eastwood engine paint?

 

[Shimmy]

definitely prep them as best as ya can. seems like paint in these areas never last. looks great!

 

[tasker]

CHAIN? i would...it's right there. Going injected? if not you will need the fuel pump eccentric as well

 

[rjrobin2002]

I would put a set of junkyard 5.0 explorer gt40 heads on it, 1996 preferred, but 97-200] work well if you get headers that are good for the 97-2000 spark plug angle. They flow 20% better than those and have smaller chamber bumping compression a point.

Prolly give you a 40hp bump and can use your stock pushrods.

 

[1969]

definitely prep them as best as ya can. seems like paint in these areas never last. looks great!

Any suggestions on media blasting them?

CHAIN? i would...it's right there. Going injected? if not you will need the fuel pump eccentric as well

I will be doing that for sure. Yes going to run the Pro Flo 4.

I would put a set of junkyard 5.0 explorer gt40 heads on it, 1996 preferred, but 97-200] work well if you get headers that are good for the 97-2000 spark plug angle. They flow 20% better than those and have smaller chamber bumping compression a point.

Prolly give you a 40hp bump and can use your stock pushrods.

I’ve thought about this but I’ve spent three years working on my Bronco and just want to keep what I’ve got and get it running for now.

 

[jeffncs]

Suggestion - flip it over and check out a main bearing or 2. Look for weird wear. May save you a lot of headache down the line.

While you’re swapping the head gaskets, look at cylinder walls and piston heads closely. How is the cylinder ridge?

If you’re anywhere around Raleigh, I can blast that oil pan and anything else for you

 

[Timmy390]

I would put a set of junkyard 5.0 explorer gt40 heads on it, 1996 preferred, but 97-200] work well if you get headers that are good for the 97-2000 spark plug angle. They flow 20% better than those and have smaller chamber bumping compression a point.

Prolly give you a 40hp bump and can use your stock pushrods.

I went with P's on my 96 w. Yes bad plug angles but they make hp so

Tim

 

[Timmy390]

That W come from a van? The super long dip stick looks van to me. So does the oil pan.

I ask because I had a hell of a time with the stock E7's. One had an internal crack. Machine shop said it was the second one they had seen from a van with that issue.

Just watch for bubbles in the recovery tank. That was my clue

Tim

 

[1969]

That W come from a van? The super long dip stick looks van to me. So does the oil pan.

I ask because I had a hell of a time with the stock E7's. One had an internal crack. Machine shop said it was the second one they had seen from a van with that issue.

Just watch for bubbles in the recovery tank. That was my clue

Tim

Good eye! Yes, it came from a van.

 

[rjrobin2002]

Good eye! Yes, it came from a van.

So did mine....

 

[rjrobin2002]

I measured my bores on my 96 351 out of a van and only had like .001 wear, did a 4" ball hone and some high performance rings on the stock pistons.

 

[Timmy390]

I measured my bores on my 96 351 out of a van and only had like .001 wear, did a 4" ball hone and some high performance rings on the stock pistons.

My van was super low wear too. I went .020 over.....didn't really need to but I wanted new cam bearings and when at the machine shop......

Tim

 

[.94 OR]

You guys are going to cost me some money...

 

[Broncobowsher]

As best I can see the inside of that engine looks, do not take the heads off.
Pop a few bearing caps off and check the bearings (free)
If you pull the heads, start swapping parts, you are going to end up doing a full performance build. That is not a clean up and reseal. Stay on target.

 

[SteveL]

As for paint, i've had good luck with engine primer and paint from the local ap store.

 

[bronco italiano]

Did you by chance perform a leakdown?

 

[tasker]

Van club member here too! The pic of the valley is pretty much what it looked like when i pulled the intake off, clean as a whistle. before and after all cleaned up...it can be done!

 

[1969]

I didn’t do a leak down test. I was able to get a cold compression of +-130 psi on each cylinder as well as ~30 psi of oil pressure before I took it apart. Figured that was good enough enough to clean it up and chuck it in the Bronco.

 

[bigmuddy]

Does the van oil pan fit with the D44 or will it hit when the axle comes up on compression?

 

[1969]

Does the van oil pan fit with the D44 or will it hit when the axle comes up on compression?

From my research it hits, depending on your suspension.