351 Windsor Swap

I have done this swap three times and have yet to cut a spring tower. It just takes a light caress on the headers with a ball peen hammer and everything will fit fine. The only substitute for cubic inches is more cubic inches, that is why I now have a 421 Windsor.
Lee "THE MAV" Richart

 

That set up is looking top notch!!! Gotta say it though Drew,I dont know if the air filter assembly will fit under the hood. I tend to think it may but...IDK
As for plug changes...It takes me less time to change the plugs in the Sprint with the 351 and headers (20 minutes) than it does in the blue mav with a 302 and factory exhaust manifolds (1 hour) Cutting the center support off the tower may give you some forgivness with the headers. Mine isnt too far off from original (except for the BFH tattoos) so I would have to say...Plausible...Good luck man!!!

 

Good to hear! What kind of headers are you running, Lee? Any experience with these Summit G9031's I'm working with?

 

Thanks! Yeah, the air cleaner is going to be tight. I might go to a shorter filter but I may not have to. Everything I can measure and guesstimate tells me it should be be right on the hood (where I want it) or it could be a little bit too tall, especially if I have to use spacers on the engine mounts. If that's the case, then I will trim around the lip of the breather unless there's just no way... I think It'll work.

 

So just FYI for future attempts at this... On the brackets, there's a slightly higher power steering bracket on the water pump. Just that piece, the rest is the same. On the alternator, the piece that goes onto the head... Mine is aluminum and has two bolt holes. You just use the lower one and the 302 brackets fit fine. AC... The cast iron mount for the compressor is shorter. Otherwise it's the same. Even the belts fit, on everything! Not a big deal at all.

 

Looks good!

I cut the carb neck of the stang's aircleaner, and re-welded it to set lower to clear the hood. It only got me about 1/4", but it was an important 1/4".

 

Progress! Here's what I did today...













I actually can pull an engine in my garage with the door closed. Never would have thought I could, I don't even know what made me try, but there it is.

The plan as of now: Tomorrow (Tuesday) I will make conservative mods to the engine bay for header clearance. I won't weld anything up though in case I have to cut more. Also will clean it up some. I'll strip all the accessories off the engine so it will be more maneuverable. Then Wednesday I'll test fit. If I have to make any more changes I will, if anything needs to get welded that's when I'll do it. Will prep the engine bay and paint it. Thursday, God willing I will install this thing.

 

I am using Tubular Automotive headers which I got from Autokrafters. I have heard that Crites will work, but have no experience with them. As long as you are not using a tall intake manifold, you should be able to clear the hood. I clear a completely stock hood, but not by much.
Lee

 

Well if you are going to cut and weld anyways, yo umight as well have made a bigger cut. I know it would be noticable then but atleast make it worthwhile to get the big tools out.

Will be interesting to see if that makes enough room or if it looks like it would fit without even doing that.

 

More like this?

 

I was talking about cutting into the tower if you are going to cut at all.

 

It looks like I might not have to. I may be dreaming, but I'm going to give it a shot...

 

If that ends up being enough room to make the 351 fit...I would go back before final install and weld up the seam between the reinforcing plate and the tower to stiffen it up as well as weld the remains of the motor mount structure to the tower where you folded it over.

 

Yep, that is the plan! Just don't want to waste time welding anything until I know I've made all my cuts...