351W swap?

[Chris]

Was taking a break from diagnosing the wiring issues on my truck today so I decided to spend some time working on my brothers truck. We were tearing apart the 302 to see what needed to be done when we found a very noticable crack on the #5 cylinder and a very rusted cylinder wall beneath the crack. We were discussing bringing it to the machine shop for a sleve or just going back to the junk yard to pull another complete engine. A little while later he was basically given a very well running built 351W and C6 in a Bronco. The 351 was dynoed at just under 400 horse when it was first built 10 years ago. It was a trail truck so it has very low miles since the buld. I understand the headers will be an issue, other than that, what other issues would we run into for the 351 swap? The Bronco is already carb with a Duraspark ignition so all that would make everything very simple. Just havent really found much info on the 351 and Ranger.

[cee21]

The only clearance issue I can think of is with the heater and a/c box. Since the 351 is a little taller and wider, it interferes with it more. And depending on how low the engine sets in there, I may have to be deleted all together. Its been awhile since I researched it, so just going off my fuzzy memory.

[cgrey8]

Adam McLaughlin has an 89-92 era Ranger with a 351w in it. When he first installed it, it had E7TE heads, but later got rebuilt with lower compression dished pistons, AFR185s, and a TFS Stage ? cam. I think he was still running the cast iron manifolds due to fitment issues AND California emissions laws. They can't see the "illegal" cam, but they can see the manifolds so those couldn't be headers since there aren't any CARB approved headers for the 351w that fit in a Ranger. Although if emissions isn't an issue, I don't know if the only option is custom headers for 351w swaps or if there are some headers that can be made to work.

[Chris]

Thanks for the info guys. I wanted to be sure before we really started going this route.

[cgrey8]

Anything's possible. It just depends on how much work you are willing to do.

[Chris]

very true.

[plowboy34]

my theory is if you have the time, the money, a cutting torch and a welder you can do anything you want to do. Once seen a 454 in a Honda Civic....ever since then I believe I can do it.

[Chris]

454 in a civic?? Thats awesome. Best I've seen was a supercharged 5.4L in a Focus. The guy called it a Porsche Killer. That was done with mostly bolt on parts though.

[plowboy34]

Yep, and it was either in the late 70's or early 80's so it was one of them really little civic's. The valve covers stuck out above the fenders but it was in there and it drove down the highway. It was a really clean job, looked like a skateboard with a engine on it....

[MalcolmV8]

Once seen a 454 in a Honda Civic

Reminds me of this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMdUo43-qu0

Or how about this v8 powered little civic hatch

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmP3au8UoXc