351W to FE conversion

[edd]

Hi guys, what would be involved to change a contempory with a 351W to an FE motor.
Thanks.
Ed

[Fred Hamilton]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ +$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
Been there done that. The big block is great but the 351W was alot more fun to drive, easier to maintain, parts are everywhere.
I did my sway on a Superformance, and I needed everything from the Tranny forward.
Total cost depending on you motor can be in the 12 to 15K range. You will not get it back when and if you ever sell. What you will get is the satisfaction of driving a cobra with a BB in it.
Fred

[mickmate]

I have the motor mounts available or if you wanted to make your own we spent about 2 days getting the lump into position and about 2 hours to make and tack the mounts in place. Motor height is pretty key, it should be as close as possible to the hood and it will be right level with oil pan, frame rails. Centre line of crank is 1/2" towards passenger side.

[Excaliber]

12 to 15K sounds pretty high, I could do it myself for a lot less. But then again, I do most of my own work so maybe thats not a good reference point. Go with a 390, mild cam, it will be great on the street and provide plenty of satisfaction knowing you got a real FE under the hood.

[edd]

Thanks, the reason I'm asking, a friend of mine has a 427 that i can get for half of what it's worth. There is a contempory on ebay for $29,500, does anyone know the history of this car, and is that a reasonable price. I'm new to all of this, and so far you guys have been very helpful.
Ed

[edd]

Me again, the car on ebay is item #110519504772. Bear with me, I'm a computer dope.

[Excaliber]

Edd, in THIS case I really feel your better off just keeping the car the way it is. This looks like a very nice ride and the 351 Clevland engine is "different" enough, an interesting engine, I'd leave it alone. IF it were a Windsor then you could make a stronger case for replacing it. But even then, for THIS car, for THIS price, I'd just drive it as is.

If you can get the side oiler at a decent price I'd buy it anyway! In fact, I'm in the market myself for another 427, side or top oiler in my case. Either way I could go, but a side oiler at a nice price would be awesome! If you can store the motor, take your time and think about it, then decide NOT to install the FE, theres a good chance you could sell it and get your money back.

[mickmate]

Looks like a nice CCX an FE under the hood would be a good finishing touch for it.

[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.

[Dwight]

EDD

why not buy a Cobra with an FE installed? Your on the road today, everything works, cost less.


Mike Lane has a 428 stroked to 461 Keith Craft motor in a Hurricane. He would sell it.

Hard top, heater, TKO 500, MT tires, Vintage rims, red with white stripe. Drive it home.

Like Fred said, it cost a lot of money and time to change from a small block to an FE.
Mike paid $13,000 for the motor plus trannie, bellhousing, clutch and hydraulic T.O. & slave.
You will have to buy headers and maybe side pipes. $$$$$$$$$$$
Dwight

[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