Morning all I`ve got a 63 1/2 galaxie 390 4v car . my question is to build it or a 351w maybe you guys can tell me what i have , ive got the firing order for a 351w but on the intake its stamped 302 all help appreiciated stroker
The 390 is a great engine but can be expensive to build. Sure looks good under the hood of that big car though. Lots of great parts for the 302 or 351 for less money. You either have a 302HO or someone has installed a HO or 351w camshaft in a 302. The intakes will not interchange due to the increased deck height of the 351w.
Thank You I guess my concern was I`ve got the firing order off the intake 13726548 behind the dist. but on the back of the intake some other numbers + 302 an was confused . traded for this truck yrs ago an never messed with it till i found the galaxie
i`ve got the firing order off the intake 13726548 which is a 351 i think but on the back of the intake is 302 . intake an motor are stock
The easiest way to tell if its a 351 is where the distributor goes in there will be a vertical flat edge. A 302 will not have this.... I'd post a pic but I'm on my phone.
I sent you a photo of what the rib on the front of the 351w looks like in your previous post..........................if it looks like that then it is a 351w and you can go ahead on wire it like a 351w..............................I am partical to the FE motors and had a real R code 63-1/2 Ford Galaxie that I raced for a few years. Just like on the 351w or 302, the way to make them come alive is to put aftermarket heads on it....................other than that it isn't any more expensive to build a 390 than a 351w................I've done both and the one thing to keep in mind is that your 63-1/2 is a pretty heavy car (3620 dry) and you will need all the torque you can get out of the motor (more cubic inches means more torque). So, it just depends on what you want to do with the car........if you are restoring it and plan to sell sometime...........it will be worth more with the original motor than a motor that never was offered in the car.............IMHO
When ford came out with the 80s 5.0 version they used the 351W firing order on it. Also many roller cammed 302s use the 351 order. Most Ford guys can tell the difference between a 351 and 302 just by looking at it. The taller deck height is the big giveaway.
Thank You Was leaning toward the 390, just had this other motor sitting here. thank you for your help
I agree. When I see a 351W, it looks like a big block, compared to a 302. It is unmistakable, from first sight. As for which engine to use. I would definately use the 390 4V.
I had a 61 Galaxie w/390 modified, w/457 gears/ 4 sp. toploader and it was a blast to drive. I think they get a bad rapp. If remember correctly, the Galaxie weighed somewhere arnd 3950lbs w/ driver and fluids. If I had the FE block and it was rebuildable; I wud consider rebuilding. If todays parts and technology were available when I had that car, im sure it wud have been a much stronger performer. We were running mid-upper 13's; which was respectable for a steet driven car in the late 1960's. However, I do think the cost will probably be somewhat greater, simply because they are not as popular as the Windsors.
