[Excaliber]

The "basic" 351W was in the early days NOT considered a "worthy" engine. Low compression and VERY mild cam made it more of an "smog control" application than anything else. These motors CAN be made to perform very well indeed, but in their close to stock form they are far LESS worthy than a good 302.

You cannot assume a "bigger" motor is "better" than it's smaller cousin. It is well known a carefully built Chevy 327 will out run a "decent" 396 for instance. Another example, the K code 289 was WAY better than even the GT-350 302 of 1968 (which was about 250 hp ONLY).

I'm guessing a basically stock 351W is LESS than 250 horse AND takes longer to "spin up" due to the longer stroke. And "spin up time to rpm" is a big deal in drag racing!

As I recall when they were first introduced, nobody wanted a 351W, the 351C was the engine of choice in those days. It's not like the 351W got "better" as the years went by, it got worse. Few "up-grade" parts were available back then. That, over the years, has changed and these motors HAVE to have to up-grade parts!

Ernie