Poor Mans Overhaul!!

[galen1970b]

Ok! Been a while since I've posted here!! I've got an idea about a budget 351w swap ...and I dont think its gonna suck. Heres the backstory, I'm stationed in Japan for at least another 2 years I'm home on leave due to a family emergency, but will have some free time(emergencys is over..), but I make freuquent trips to visit my 2nd wife. My truck is driven often enough while I'm gone. The 302 thats in it, has low compression, burns oil and tons of blowby, and im pretty sure a couple of worn lobes on the cam....poor thing needs to be pulled/overhauled, that motor hauled my family towing a trailer 5500 miles across the U.S, with 35s and 4.56s gears crusiing at 3300 rpms.....i jsut kept putting oil in it. Needles to say, Its a family heirloom now so I'm gonna take care of it before it becomes unsavable.

Currently my rig is configured like this: 302, perfomerrpm intake, stock heads, termintor EFI, its pre 1980s so 28oz fly wheel and aftermarket dampner(less than 10000 miles on them. BCs shorty headers, explorer serpentine w/AC, Hydroboost, flowcooler water pump. 1" Body lift. NP435

My plan is to grab a 351w from a local u-pull it. do a quick overhaul and drop it in while swapping over the flywheel clutch and accesories. Now granted, I know alot depends up the condition of the motor, but when I crack it apart and take alook at the heads, and bearings, and it doesnt look too bad, I'll re-ring it, new bearings, seals and gaskets. The motor will cost me about 200 bucks, plus the cost of rings and bearings. I know Ill need to source an intake manifold and a 351w TFI dizzy. The motor is coming off a late 80s early 90s bronco thats fuel injected. (not tfi).
The goal is to drop a servicable motor on the cheap that will last a couple years before I pull it and do a proper build.

Thoughts?, Anything I seem to be missing?

 

[Timmy390]

OK, I wouldn't do anything but pour some engine restore in the now engine and same a few bucks here and there for the next two years and build a proper engine. I limped my old 302 for a couple years before making the 351W leap.

JMO but I would go for a roller block (94 and newer) and not mess with that flat tappet block. Roller will have a nice cam in an you should be able to reuse the cam, lifters and whole valve train.

Stick or auto? If auto the block may not have the provision cast into it for mounting the clutch Z bar. WH has a fix for that. I used it and it works great.

Tim

 

[galen1970b]

I get that, my motors getting beyond limping though, im afraid any more an i risk a spun bearing, its already starting to knock.

 

[Master Chief]

Why not look for an inexpensive running 302. Pull yours, swap over the intake, ect. drop it in and then plan your "2 year down the road" build.

Roger

FLY NAVY!

 

[galen1970b]

I thought about that too..the 351w im lookin at is already pretty much removed, just the motor mounts holding it on. Plus, I had plans for a 351w anyway and this one is cheap and easy to get.

 

[Master Chief]

Get that 351 and put it on a stand. It will be there when you rotate back to the States. Plus you can pocket a lot of COLA while in Japan and take your time to do the build.

I drove mine for 12 years before I overhauled it. Glad that I waited because the more I got into it, the more crap I found needing repair. In other words, don't rush it, you will be happy that you waited.

 

[Rustytruck]

Do you have a body lift or a cut hood?

 

[galen1970b]

1" body lift, heard itd be a tight squeeze without a 2" but doable.

 

[Timmy390]

You just need the right combo of parts to fit under the hood I'm told. I have a 1 inch BL and had to cut my hood when I went EFI (GT40 upper and lower with Explorer T-body).

The scoop looks cool.......

Tim

 

[Rustytruck]

1" body lift, heard itd be a tight squeeze without a 2" but doable.

it all in choosing the right intake that's low enough. Its going to be easier with your choice of fuel injection.

 

[Crawdad]

I had an old 70s Torino 351w in my old 76. I put an Edy RV cam n lifters, Edy 500 4-Barrel, and new Edy upper intake. She was a bucket full of yellow jackets on 33s! She purred like a kitten and had plenty of pull. IMO it was a great combination and very affordable.

 

[blubuckaroo]

I'm in ok with a ring job. I've done it several times successfully myself.

I would never take a used with unknown internals and install it into my car. No matter what the seller claimed for age and mileage. It's too much work for the risk.
I like to disassemble it, re-gasket and re-ring/bearing it before using it.

Just make sure the cylinder taper is within specs, and the bearing journals are smooth. Anytime you just look at the cylinder ridge, it and give it your blessing, you're asking for trouble. You'll need to measure things.

Also, you'll want to freshen up the heads by at least having the valves reground.

 

[galen1970b]

Looks like I lucked out!, The 351 in the 95 Bronco was a Roller block...F4TE-6015-AA-14, pulled the heads and still has fresh cross hatching. I'm gonna finish tearing it down tommorow.