Newbie question: 351W vs. 351C

[rdorman]

Back in the day the Cleveland was king of Ford small blocks. Arguably king of all small blocks. The windor was the work horse where the cleveland was designed to race. But then Ford desided to pull the plug on all factory backed racing and then the gas crunch hit. No more cleveland (at least in the US). Ford choose the cleveland for the pantera, not the windsor.

The basic head design is superior. Which is why the Nascar windsor heads are of a cleveland type layout, not windsor. Ignore the torque talk. They can be built for broad torque curves. Mine has 90% of peak torque from down around 2000 to well over 5000. They just love to rev so much and come on so strong at the top end I think that this is a common misconception.

Also the oiling issue. Very easily and cheaply remedied.

Have to go with the good looks factor. Hands down a better looking motor.

Tough as hell to. Stock rods good to 7000+, cranks, good luck breaking one no matter how fast you turn it (pro stockers where turning 10,000 on stock (but modified) cranks with rarely ever a failure.) Biggest weekness was the two piece valve and keepers, but you won't be buying those to put in your car! Like the rest of the family they are thin wall castings so there are limits but still a tough as he!! block. Exhaust ports don't live up to the intake ports because of packaging but that can also be changed (only needed if you want to twist some SERIOUS RPM (in which case just buy a new set of aluminum heads).

Heads. The new windsor heads, even the windor style heads, are better than the old Cleveland heads. 30 years of technology. But there are also some trick new heads available for the cleveland. Some seriously nice aluminum heads (AFR?) including some really cool 4 valve heads.

Windsor will definiatly win the value race. But, give me the cleveland.

Rick