351M???

[Mark O'Neal]

Originally posted by webebob


The buildup of the 400 as an inexpensive performance engine is happening in the background. Quietly.

Maybe if it was called a "tall deck cleveland stroker block", more people would be on the bandwagon.

It is no longer front to back than a cleveland. A plus for the Pantera where the pullies of a 460 want to visit the driver.

A stroker crank is now available that makes 434cubes from the stock block. That is 83 more cubes than the clevaland. Or another 100 ftlbs of torque.

And for heads, the heads that Jon Kaase used to WIN the Engine Masters Challenge bolt right on. The worlds best heads won't bolt onto your windsor, but they will a 400.

The perfect engine, probably not. But a "pig"? Hmmm.

Well sure, but we were talking the 351M, the 400 is better, if you stand the intake tract up enough to make it work well.

But I just called two other custom piston makers and asked for their volume on the 351/400M. Both put it in the 1 set a year range.

And I can get the heads on a W if I wanted to...

And we came in sixth, with a broken, off the shelf motor that unlike Johns didn't even detonate from running way too much compression for the gas. Doesn't take anything away from him, or his abilities, because he followed the same rules as the rest and got a better result.

But you have to remember that those motors are only useful for the EngineMasters contest. After that they were all pretty much trash.

I'll grant you that these things are just modified Clevelands, and can find a home in certain applications. But from the perspective of aftermarket parts supplied they rank somewhere behind the AMC 401 with a dogleg head....but a little in front of the nailhead Buick......