iam getting ready to do a 351w swap in my 77 maverick i have a 89 351 truck motor with holly systemmax heads comp cam Duration 292/292, Lift .534/.534 roller rockers and a air gap intake 3000 stall with 4.10 any ideas or tips to make this easyer and run for all she is worth i still have to get a oil pan and pick up tube and a new timing cover with the hole for dip stick will any front sump pan work thanks for any imput
351W, will only fit, with stock exhaust manifolds, without notching the shock towers. Even then, it is a S.O.B., to change plugs etc. you will have to notch the towers, to run headers.
I could of swore i've seen plenty of 351 Mavericks with the shock towers left alone. They just have modified headers.
just depends on what your after there.. and how much cash, time, and energy you want to spend on going faster. The 351 will beat the 302 in just about every aspect when it comes to performance potential. I have seen a few 351 cars with headers and un-notched towers.. but you will certainly have to squash, cock, and pull,(yeah.. it's just as bad as it sounds..lol) the radii pretty tight right off the flange to get them stuffed in there.
I had a 351W in my 71. It had a set of headers but they didn't have any identification on them. I had the stock shock towers, but learned a lot of new words trying to change the plugs.
tight fit cut out the shoch towers and the whole front end, weld in a new front clip with coil overs and you'll have room for anything!!!
Well.............................so is this going to be a street car, drag car.......or combo. I had to look up the Holley Systemmax because I'd never heard of them before.................should be an Ok street head but don't flow very much and the valves are a little on the small side..................but I will attach some pictures of mine (and remember mine is a race only car), it has custom stepped headers and the towers have been notch'd. Changing plugs on mine is a real son of gun, but each tube can be taken off seperately and the collector is also easy to take off. I wish that mine had never been notch'd...............I am now unable to run in B/SM classes, but I would suggest if you have enough money to have or build your own headers........... As for the Powerglide, if you are interested in running run I will hesitate a guess that you want drag race the car..................not sure a 2spd is very suitable for the street.................but mine has custom made motor mounts and a heavily mod'd crossmember.............other than that it will fit fine as long as the Powerglide has been mod'd buy cutting off the bellhousing and adding an SFI scattershield/bellhousing. It will need a special flex plate and assume it comes with converter................but if you are going to drive it on the street I'd go with a C4 or AOD that has been mod'd. About the only pan that will fit is the Milodon 8qt........which i have on mine. http://www.summitracing.com/parts/mil-30926 Send me a PM with your email address and I'll send pictures.
the holly heads have 202 valves but they only a 165 cc runner its gonna be a street car with an pass here and there down the track i have owned the car a few years and the 302 is starting to get tired but i never take it on any long trips maybe 40 miles round trip is about the farest i have ever drove it
Do yourself a favor and notch the towers while the engine is out of the car. You will thank yourself when you go to do a plug change and tightening the header bolts. Even with my 331, I notched em first thing. I learned long ago in the 80's owning a big block 67 FB Stang that notched towers are well worth the time and efffort.
I agree, notch them or if you can do it yourself why not cut out the towers, you gain sooooo much room and you can put in big flowing headers. This way, if it is street or strip...dont matter, you will have all kinds of room for bigger engine, and you well know an engine is nothing more than a air pump, if ya restrict the air coming out of the engine, what good is all the stuff ya do to get more air into the engine??? Tony
iam gonna go ahead and notch the shock towers looked at a few picures and it doesnt look like that big of a deal
its easy..i never did it before and after some research i had it done in few hours...so when this engine blows i can build a 408 with nothing to hold me back. it'll be well worth your time even if it takes you a while.
