New member, need engine tips

Hey everyone, I just joined the forum and need some help deciding what kind of engine to put into my 1972 mercury comet, currently it has a 351w but the sad part is it is seized. Trying to find out what will give me the most bang for my buck, I hope to hear back from some of you and fallow your builds!

 

Welcome from Northern California!

 

from Northeast Pennsylvania

 

How much "buck" do you have? The more "buck"....the more "bang".

 

to the site!!!!!

 

Well currently I don't really have much to spend, I need to pay off some schooling and other things so I'm looking a little down the road. Id like to keep it a 351 but I don't know enough to choose between a Cleveland or Windsor(any advice is greatly appreciated) what would be the benefit of one or the other? From what I've seen a 302 would be a cheaper option but what would the difference be in a rough price between a 302 or 351? Is it worth the difference in price to go with a 351? I'm only 18 so bare with me please, I'd love to learn from all of you and keep my comet in good condition for many years to come. I never plan on selling the car only making in nicer as the years go by. I appreciate all tips and advice from all of you and appreciate your time!

 

Thank you!

 

to the board....

 

from Stone Mountain, Ga.

Opinions will vary greatly, but I vote for replacing the motor with a fresh 302.

 

:Handshake

302...

 

O.K....that helps some.

Next question: Do you ever plan to really drag race this car (at a drag strip), is this going to just be a summer weekend cruiser that spends it 's winter's inside a garage, or will it be a daily driver?

 

If you have a nice exhaust system fitted to that 351 that's what I'd put back, if needs attention anyway I'd probably go with the 302... Few seem to remember exhaust mods are necessary when swapping between 302 & 351...

 

From sunny California.
My vote would depend on how someone put the 351 in the car, did they notch the spring towers on the inside?, does it have stock exhaust manifolds?
Usually when you put a 351w..............I assume it is a Windsor and not a Cleveland (the Cleveland is wider than a Windsor)..................the fit is very tight. If the motor has been transplanted and all of the work is good I'd stay with the 351w.
I would take the motor/trans out of the car, disassemble the motor and find out why it sized.........If you have to replace the motor the difference in price from a 302 and 351w is very little, and you get an extra 50 cubic inches over the 302...........which means more HP and TQ. As they say, there is no substitute for cubic inches, and 50 cubic inches more than a 302 is a lot!
How about taking some pictures of the engine bay with motor and maybe some of underneath the car?
The Ford 351w valve cover is held down with 6 bolts, the 351c has 8 bolts...........easy and fast way to tell the difference. Also, if they have the stock fuel pump, one will be attached to the left side of the block and the other will be attached to the left side of timing cover.

 

Welcome from northern California! And yes pictures please

 

Hey guys sorry it took so long, been recovering from the flood around Colorado. My car had a river flowing on both sides of it so it got some water inside and some mud but it fared pretty well for what it went through. Had to take out the seats to dry an take out the carpet and clean all the mud out from it. It looks better than it did so thats a plus. I was looking at the engine and the towers are not notched ( how hard is it to do that yourself? ) and I wasn't able to tell about the exhaust. I'm thinking about replacing it tho due to hole on it so how much would a good solid exhaust run me?