351W Heads

I am looking at a set of 351W heads for my 302 build and I was wondering if I needed anything besides head bolt bushings to swap them onto my 302 block. I had seen something about different intake gaskets, but I am not sure.

Thanks,
Ford Guy

 

i always used the same head gaskets when i had the 351w heads on my 302.

 

Thanks for your input. I figured I could do that but I just needed to make sure.

 

I never tried 302 head gaskets on the one I was running. I was just told to buy 351W head gaskets so I did. The one I was running was built some 20 years ago. I still have it but I've got to redo the entire car soon (Katrina casualty). Oh yeah, I didn't use bushings back then. My block was tapped out for the larger head bolts and I just used the 351W bolts. The bushings may work as good though...never tried them. I think you can even buy (ARP?) head bolts that fit. They weren't available when my engine was built.
Good luck!

 

Fel-Pro has a listing for this application. I think is MS-90116-1 but it has been a long time since I ran this configuration. ARP offers stepped bolts that are designed for this swap. What year heads are you looking at?

 

They are the good D0OE heads with bigger valves.

 

I have a set of those in the corner of the garage.

 

Just use the stock 289/302 bolts with the step washers they use for aluminum heads. These work fine.

 

Step washers are the easiest way to go.
They say (fwiw) that enlarging the holes in the block for 351 bolts weakens the block.
Also, use the Felpro gaskets for early Windsors.
That will give you a port opening in the gasket to match the heads.
The ports are larger on that head than other SBFs.

 

Some of the 351 heads have an "L" shaped water passage where the intake bolts up. If you have those heads then you need to use the 351W intake gaskets to match the water ports or it will leak. If they aren't "L" shaped then you can use your 302 gaskets unless the ports are bigger than the hole in the gasket. The ports on my 351 heads are a lot bigger than the ports on the 289 it is replacing. Even the exhaust ports are bigger. The ports measure 1 1/8" x 1 7/16" for the exhaust - that is huge compared to the 289.

 

what does the 351 heads do for the 302??I have a donated 351w and c-4 was going to tear down and stroke out motor but might check the heads for my 302?? rpm performer intake.mild cam,600 holley,6901 headers,c-4

 

The 69 -74 heads had larger ports and valves than the 302 heads. After 77, they used the same head for both. Wasn't till the iron GT40 head came out along with the 351W Lightning truck that this situation was corrected. But that was only in the Lightning.