Hello I'm new to the Ford maverick way of life I got mine about three years ago, and have been working on it ever since. Recently I met someone with a 351 Windsor that is willing to give to me for my old 64 baha bug, but theres one thing bugging me it's a Marine engine. Can I put this into my Maverick? And if so what modifications would I have to do to make it work? My engine is the 250 inline 6, and it's been haveing performance issues recently so I'm looking to swap it out.
Don’t do it, make sure to stay away from marine engines. The water passages on those things are normally full of rust and not worth it. Way easier to just find a 96 explorer for $500 and snag the motor.
I'm in agreement with William and if you are not a experienced swapper, don't even think about it.. The 51 is a tight fit at best, PLUS headers, motor mounts, cooling system items, front accessories, flexplate, probably oil pan, etc etc will drive you nuts.
Depends on whether it's been run in salt water. Fresh water motor, nothing's going to rust any more than a car engine. One thing though is make sure it's not a reverse rotation engine, the crank and camshaft is different than an automotive application.
Even fresh water ones are a mistake. I have seen what they can do to the engines and it is bad. But you are right to watch for rotation!
I got a freshwater 302 with 351 heads for free and it had never seen salt a day in its life. Opened it up and there was scale all inside every channel and was horrible. Showed it to my builder and he said if I made him do that engine he would kill me lol.
It is not reverse rotation and it also has never been used it's still in the crate the guy was going to use it was a spare, but he loves the 351 Cleveland he has in it. I'm not extremely experienced but I have swapped engine's before in mustang's, old GMC trucks, and in a triumph TR3. Even if it wont work for me I can always sell the 351 for more than the guy is selling it to me for right?
If it is new then go for it! It will be tight on the shock towers with out cutting them back but it will fit. You will have to run the stock manifolds unless you want to pay big bucks for the special headers. Make sure to put in some good spark plugs because you will have a heck of a time changing them with that engine.
I would trim the shock towers back first before putting it in. That's the first thing I did with my 77 Comet after pulling the J'yard 5.0 out of it. That and converting it to manual brakes and steering. I had plenty of practice with a big block 67 Stang in the 80's dealing with shock tower clearances, enough to know I did not want to go through that again.
I wouldn't do it without cutting back the spring towers. I know a guy who has a 351w in his Maverick (not his first either). His towers are cut back. You don't have to run headers. The 351 is an inch taller than a 302.
