so i tried putting my 351w in my maverick today and ran into some trouble, the manifolds i have on are already grounded down to fit better, and yet the 351 gets caught on the towers. the steering box also is giving me trouble because the manifold hit it too. my towers are not cut and i do not wanna cut them. i have alot into the 351 already and really want it in the car, is there any tips i can get to make it fit
The crite's headers 351W squashed port design doesn't look all that pretty but flows way more than any OEM manifold ever will. Like Frank already said.. either cut the towers to fit it in.. or at least squash the headers to fit.
You need to shave the towers. The 351 is 1 inch taller and 2 inches wider than the 302, which is already a tight fit. I have a friend who has installed a 351 in a Comet, and now is putting one in a Maverick. The towers were shaved on both.
Even if you cut the towers, the upper control arm bolts to the towers right where the exhaust ports are. That section of tower is still going to be the stock configuration (you can't cut that) unless you go to a different front suspension set-up. Exhaust is going to be fairly awful. Other areas of concern ... added height will most likely put the air cleaner through the hood, and my oil filter was tight to the shock tower, requiring another notch there. I was running a shorter Mopar filter until getting that sorted out. I did my 351W swap in the mid-1990s, when that was the quickest way to gain cubic inches. With stroker kits widely available now, a 302-based motor is easily the way to go now. Your selection of headers will be so much better.
I installed a 351W in my Comet back in the early 90s. It sat between the uncut towers pf my Comet for years. Headers are the key. Forget about stock manifolds. I had a set of headers custom made by J. Bittle America based on their 351w swap headers for an early Mustang. I found changing plugs with the 351W swap to be about the same level of difficulty as with a 302. Heads are a different story, you have to pull the engine to remove the heads. Crites Restorations has 351W swap headers. http://critesperformanceparts.com/ Also Tubular Automotive: http://www.dragonmotorcars.com/TubularAutomotive.html You will find as with all header installations with Maverick/Comet regardless of engine size; do not expect a perfect fit. It is just part of their charm!!!!!!
Even when you cut the towers it is still tight,biggest thing is it helps changing plugs & header fitment is better.Heck,I would even cut them w/ a 302.I talked to Gary again Sat. at Richmond & he said I`ll have to grind my steering box flat,along with grinding the pitman arm & notching the frame on the passenger side to get my 6208 super comps in the car.It is a lot of trial & error to make things fit in the engine bay of these cars,but if you want to go fast that is the sacrifice you make.
The Crites headers will not work with the factory Z-bar clutch linkage. And, you have to cut the shock towers to use them. Tubular Automotive wants $675 for their headers.
You don't have to cut the shock towers. Just set the engine in and use a crowbar between the shock towers and the exhaust manifold to help it settle on the mounts. The driver's size manifold will rub on the steering box. You will have to get creative to get that bolt on. Or, get the Crites swap headers and do it that way. You will have to cut a piece out of each shock tower, but it will be worth the extra effort.
Here is the difference between a 351W with no modification to the shock tower: And chopped towers with Crities headers (this is a 302):
