351w vs 351c

[DavidinDurango]

Windsor will allow more stroke w/ reliabililty than a Cleveland. (Deck ht.)

As a Pantera owner, I would opt for the Windsor - mostly due to availability of goodies. Having said that I should add that my Cleveland is great (stock stroke) but its not built to a supermotor, either.

Originally Posted by dawger

I’m in the early planning stages of my build and I’m looking for some direction or advice. Due to the uniqueness of these cars I was thinking of rebuilding a 351 –2V Cleveland to either a 393 or 408 stroker that I currently have. However I can do some horse trading and come up another 351 –2V Cleveland that is a 30 over short block that needs to be gone over and reassembled or a 351 –4V that is still unmolested. Should I opt for the 4v motor or the 2v motor to rebuild? I have been researching this site as well as the Pantera site and anything else I can dig up on the Internet about these motors. Will a 2v motor make a better street motor than the 4v? From what my research has turned up a 2v makes better low end torque and a 4v needs spun to get into its torque, limited performance parts due to the 4 year life span, and not as favorable oiling system as the Windsor’s. These are all things you guys and gal (hey little cobra) already knew. That is why my 1968 Mustang with a 351 –4v Cleveland motor has a 3800 stall c6 transmission with 3:55 posi, that runs REALLY well (was told around 425hp?). I also own a 1969 mustang fastback that I converted from an automatic car to a 4sp toploader with a 351 Windsor and a 3:25 limited slip (desktop dyno put it around 400hp and 400 ft.lbs. of torque). I guess my question is do I or should I opt for the 351 – 4v Cleveland or the 351 –2v to stroke to either 393 or 408? Would it worth the investment to stroke it versus a stock 30 over rebuild with performance parts? Since I I’m already there might as well stuff more cubic inches in it. Which leads me to my next issue how much horsepower is REALLY needed since only so much can be used before TRACTION is lost and it becomes unstreetable? I’m looking for a reliable street tolerable motor that runs on pump gas that won’t give me any troubles like the Cleveland I’ve owned for 20 years in the neighbor hood of 425 horsepower range if it ends up more oh well. Enough horespower so I don’t get spanked by some of these rice burners. I’m leaning towards the Cleveland over the Windsor due to the uniqueness of these cars that should deserve a unique motor. Since I can’t afford a 427 S.O. I think a Cleveland would be my next choice. And what is it that makes them have a different exhaust note than the Windsor’s when they are both 351 displacements? When I have the 68 Mustang out most people ask if it’s a Cleveland under the hood????

Sorry for the lengthiness…and thanks for all your input inadvance...

-Dawger