351W to FE conversion

[767Jockey]

Originally Posted by edd

Thanks for pointing out that is a 351c, I saw 351 and just assumed. Sometimes my eyes go faster than what my brain can process.

Edd,
My Contemporary is the conversion that Mickmate is talking about. I bought it for a very reasonable price ad tore it down to the framerails, completely restoring it. Every bolt and bushing in the car, every little piece of it, is new. One of the things I did was to remove the 351 Cleveland (an awesome engine, I might add) and had Nick (Mickmate, actually Nick Acton, Acton Customs) make up a set of exact duplicate FE mounts. We swung the engine between the framerails, positioned it exactly where it has to go, checking all axis', and welded the frame mounts in place. All in all not too bad a job when you have a guy like Nick on hand who really knows what he's doing and has all the proper tools, electronic angle finders, etc. to get everything perfectly spot on. I have every belief that the engine in my Contemporary is likely placed even more accurately than a factory original after all the work and care that Nick put in.

I'm also a big fan of Clevelands, there is no other small block like them. They're really small big blocks, with those wonderful canted valve heads. Personally, if you're not an originality nut like I am (it's the ONLY reason I replaced the Cleveland) I would buy the car and leave the Cleveland. For fairly short money and a real easy build, you can EASILY pull 600+ HP out of a modern Cleveland with aftermarket Aussie aluminum heads. Don't even bother with the Edelbrocks, they're boat anchors compared to the CHI's and AFD heads out of Australia.

If you want to talk PM me your phone number and I will also send you mine, we will likely play phone tag once or twice but we'll eventually talk.
Doug