DeTomaso Mailing List: July 97, Message #413
     



From: JDeRyke@aol.com

Subject: Re: 351C - reply

Date: Mon, 21 Jul 1997 14:28:40 -0400 (EDT)



A few thoughts: Jr Wilson says the obsolete SVO A3 aluminum heads with port

sizes in between an iron -4V and a -2V, really come alive with the larger

displacement. His was a 426 built on a Cleavor sprintcar aluminum block. All

that's really needed re intake manifolds is a plate spacer on each side, but

if you go with the SVOs, no intake fits except an SVO- I found on mine that

they physically moved the ports. Heck- you'll have maybe $8000 in the

big-inch short block by the time you get done; what's another $2000 for heads

& intake? One more thought- Ford says there were casting problems with the

early 400 blocks. The blocks tends to crack above the tappet bosses. The 400

crank isn't a drop-in for the 351W, either- the rod journals are super-wide,

causing oiling problems with nearly all rods, and the mains, while they fit

the Windsor block, are the enormous 3" big block ones. I wouldn't rev such an

engine over 6000 for very long.  To put this crank into a 351C, the mains

must be turned to Cleveland size. J DeRyke



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