I am building a 351w and abou to order an engine kit. There is 4 that comes up on summit's website and I am not sure which one to get since mine is a bunch of different year parts
I have
an 83 model 351w block
78 351w crank
78 351w front sump oil pan
1969 351w heads
78 timing cover
The motor is .040 over and the crank is .010/.010
which of these kits would you get. I talked with the summit guy and he said the only difference was the gasket kit
this one is for a 77-83 model
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FEM-CSMHP802-411/Application/?prefilter=1
this is from 83-87
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FEM-CSMHP804-411/Application/?prefilter=1
this one is for 69-74
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FEM-MHP176-411/Application/?prefilter=1
which one of these kits would you get. I believe the only difference is the oil pan gasket but I am not sure. Any help would be appreciated

anybody know. I believe I will need to go with the one from 77-83 but wanted to be sure before I buy

THATS THE ONE I WOULD GO WITH....


BUT NORTHERN AUTO PARTS WILL HAVE A KIT THATS CHEAPER... :huh:

all of northerns kits come with stock pistons so I figured they were cast dished pistons, whereas the summit kit comes with spped pro hypers that are flattop and I have read many good things about those pistons

I've used too many speed pro pistons to not trust them. Cheap and reliable. the main diff in the kits is the gaskets. But mainly for the accessory stuff like EGR and the like. oil pan, intake, valve covers all the same. Choose the kit that has the right gaskets for your accessories. If your using an aftermarket intake and no EGR and using headers any kit should work. Although, the newer model pic looks like it shows a 1 piece rear main. If your block accepts that you should use that kit.

The 1 piece rear seal is one thing I would make sure of. The heads will also have a different intake gasket around the water ports right? Am I right about that guys? It has been a while since I messed with one but I think the early heads have a different shaped water port than later. I also think the intake ports are different sized. Is that something for him to worry about.
You didn't mention it and you probably already know but the imbalance weight of the harmonic balancer and the flex plate/flywheel changed on the 5.0's around 81-82 so if you use any parts off a 302-5.0 keep that in mind. Been a lot of troubles caused by that. The 351w's never changed but people use 302 parts on 351w's a lot and hate to see you get caught up in that
clint

I bought the kit for 77-83 this morning so hopefully it will be ok. I have never heardabout water ports being different