I currently have a 200 i6 in my maverick but want to out in a 351w, what all will i need to change out parts wise to do it? Will there be any cosmetic mods needed as well? please pm me if you can help.
You need everything that you need to do a 302 swap. Other than the 351 itself, that is pretty much it. Headers are out there, but are more costly than 302 headers. The 302 exhaust manifolds are supposed to fit with a 351w, but you don't have those either. Your tranny will need at least a bellhousing... Then a flywheel or flexplate made for a 302. Even though you can use a 6 tranny behind an 8 with small changes, it is said not to be a good idea. The 6 cyl trannys are supposed to have weaker internals. To tell the truth, I don't know this myself. I have always started with 302 cars when swapping 351s. Either 351w or 351c will work fine with 302 install parts. You don't have to shave the towers to get them in, but I recommend it. Tuning a 351 without shaved towers is a nightmare. I know. Do a search on 'shaved towers' and you will get alot of info on that mod. Good luck Dave
Btw, welcome! I just noticed you are a new member. I will go through the 302 Mav parts you will need FOR SURE... *302 Mav frame stands (for the engine mounts) I have seen 66-70 Stang stands used too... *302 tranny crossmember if you want exhaust clearance. The 6 cyl part will work, but makes exhaust ground clearance difficult... *302 engine crossmember. Commonly called "belly bar". If you were just swapping to a 302, this wouldn't be a 'must' IMO. But going 351, I would do it personally, for chassis strength. This is a simple part and many folks have made their own in a pinch. *Not a must, but a V8 throttle cable is nice to have. The 6 cyl version will work fine, but is much longer. Not a clean looking, and you must make sure you don't bend it too sharp. *If you have a manual tranny, the I6 equalizer bar will not work, nor will many of the small parts. Gotta use the V8 stuff. *If you have a column shifter, you will probably have to convert to floor shift to get the exhaust in... especially any 351 header. *You will need the 302 brackets for alternator and whatever else. I have had pretty good luck with them transfering to 351s. *Other than the long block, the 351w specific parts you will need (351c as well), are intake, distributor, car type front sump oil pan. 302 pulleys, mounts, starter, bellhousing and external type stuff will transfer to 351s fine. Dave
My experience with the 351W install is that there are only two ways to do it: 1. Custom-made engine swap headers with 1.5" tubes that hug very close to the engine. 2. Shave the shock towers. Factory manifolds will now fit. May still need the custom engine swap headers but probably can use headers made for other similar era Ford cars that normally had the 351W if you want performance exhaust. I tried dropping a 351W in place of the factory 302 on my 75 Maverick and there were absolutely no factory exhaust manifolds that could fit on both sides at the same time. If you try the 302 manifolds while they are installed on the 351W, the engine will get stuck high-up on the shock towers. If you install the motor w/o manifolds, the motor fits but at best, only one manifold will bolt on and be clear of interference (driver's side?). No amount of shaving metal off the manifolds will give you the room you need. I even tried the tiny mid-/late-60s Ford Mustang 289 manifolds which are the smallest I've ever seen and even with metal shaving, I could not get both mounted on the motor and get the motor to fit. I was finally able to solve the problem by purchasing specialty engine swap headers from the following location: Total Performance 44050 N. Groesbeck Hwy Clinton Twp., MI, 48036-1108 Phone# (586) 468-3673 I doubt they offer these anymore as I got mine back around 1990 - 91. It was still necessary to put a dimple in the passenger's side header and heat all the tubes on the driver's side to move the collector away from the C4 transmission in order to install the floor shifter. Power steering had to be deleted because the headers hung down to low to get the slave cylinder to clear them even with the aftermarket extended frame bracket. This then created havoc with arranging the alternator and A/C to drive the mechanical water pump. I had to have the AC compressor bracket custom made and change the location of the alternator to drive the water pump. The drivers side valve cover had to be custom altered by cutting a notch to clear the power brake vacuum booster. After doing all these mods, the fit is so tight that the motor / exhaust heater collides with one of the shock towers when I do a hard launch (makes a knocking / screeching sound). Shaving the shock towers will make it possible to fit factory exhaust manifolds on the 351W. I don't see how a 351C could ever fit in a Maverick without shaving the towers. The block dimensions of the 351W and 351C are about the same in width but the 351C heads do not have the sloped face on the exhaust side like the 351W; this makes the 351C effectively wider so there is even less clearance to fit the exhaust or even reach the spark plugs. My advice is unless you go with shaving the shock towers, only go for the 302 upgrade, not the 351W. It will be easier to sell the car if you have to with the 302 and the install is much easier to do. Mr. Spindlelegs 1975 Ford Maverick 351W, C4 Trans
Shaving the towers does nothing for the exhaust on a Windsor or Cleveland. The exhaust ports are lower in the engine bay than you can shave the towers. All shaved towers do is save your sanity when you try to get your hands in there to change spark plugs. It fits fine. Better than a Windsor for that matter. The swap is still not for the faint of heart. I recommend shaving too, but not for the same reasons. Been there done that...
Im not sure if they clear... but if your going to be putting that big of motor in the car, why choke it off w/ small restrictive exhaust?
Just like any other exhaust manifold, only certain ones will fit certain cars. I have used manifolds in a Maverick once, but I forgot what they came off of. I had a couple sets and only the one set fit. If I had to guess, I believe they were 70 Stang manifolds. I am pretty sure the Torino manifolds didn't fit. Now when I say "they fit"... I mean they fit after a lot of work! All versions of 351c manifolds have various bumps, ridges, and knots cast into them for some reason. The manifolds that fit needed to have all the surplus bumps and casting knots ground off before they would fit. Also, they do NOT fit with a manual tranny. The driver's exhaust flange is right where the Z-bar should be. The only way they would fit is possibly with a hydraulic clutch conversion. No stock equalizer bar.
Here is an example: If you look at the top of each port runner, there is a big square 'block' of solid iron. All 4 of those need to be ground off. Then if you look at the side of the log, there is a rib running parallel down the center. On this manifold, only the center of the rib is wide and needing ground down. On the passenger side, this rib is far wider and intrusive, needing more grinding. There are also various other little, solid, and useless bump that need to be ground flat around the manifolds. Here's the passenger side... You can look at it and tell it needs substantially more grinding.
Put a MII in it and you can fit whatever you want As for shaving the towers... Ive seen FE powered mavericks w/ uncut towers before.. Dyno Don did this.
I have installed the 351 w in m/c before by raising the eng up about 3/4 '' I did this by putting a spacer on top of the mm.between the mt and block. this will give you the clearance to get to your plugs. it worked for me.
And a 351W WILL fit w/early stock exhaust manifolds,I had one in a '71.The upper a-arm bolts hit the manifold but they still fit.
When I had my 76 (351w w/ 4spd), I used the factory motor mount brackets flipped backwards. It raises the motor about 3/4" and moves the motor back about the same. I used headers by Flowtech (tight initial bends) for a 302. I also modified the towers by slicing long pie shaped cuts from the top to the bottom of the "rib" of the tower, and then using a little gentle brute force (a BFH) married the metal back together, and welded the pie cuts shut. This process takes alot of time, but it looks almost factory to the untrained eye. It also gives you just enough clearance to install headers. The only issue I had was hood clearance. I had a Carter Comp 625cfm carb that, on the Perf. RPM manifold would not clear the stock hood. To use my method, you will have to invest in a cowl, or, scoop to gain extra clearance. I can post pics if you wish to see it installed. Andysutt, they also did that with the Boss 302 cars in the end of the ford racing program. The towers are actually reworked with 67-8 Mustang tower sheetmetal and minor suspension mods to make up the clearance. I measured the engine compartment on a real Ford racing program car about 3 years ago that I ran across when I was originally looking for another body. The towers are roughly 3-4" wider on the Boss 302 drag spec car. That body should clear an FE. The odd thing is, that the car looks odd with the hood off. It does look factory, but just wider.
