Mach 1 Club

Full Version: 351 Cleveland factory info
You're currently viewing a stripped down version of our content. View the full version with proper formatting.
In the hope of clearing up misinformation on the 351C I present the following commentary 100% based on original period correct factory literature I have. I apologize for it's length & hope this helps.

351C engines
1970: VIN H; 351 2V, 2 bolt mains, flat top pistons, 9.5:1 compression using 76.2cc (averaged) open chamber heads, small ports, 2.04 intake/1.65 exhaust valves, 250 gross HP rpm, 355 ft lbs gross torque rpm.

1970: VIN M; 351 4V, 2 bolt mains, flat top pistons, forged steel connecting rods, 11:1 compression using 62.8cc (averaged) closed chamber (quench) heads, large ports, 2.19 intake/1.71 exhaust valves, slightly better cam & valve train, 300 gross HP rpm, 380 ft lbs gross torque @ 3400 rpm.

1971: VIN M; 351 4V, 2 bolt mains, flat top pistons, 10.7:1 compression using 66.1cc (averaged) closed chamber (quench) heads, large ports, 2.19 intake/1.71 exhaust valves, slightly better cam & valve train, 285 gross HP rpm, 370 ft lbs gross torque @ 3400 rpm.

1971: VIN Q; 351 4V, 2 or 4 bolt mains, flat top pistons, 9:1 compression using 75.4cc (averaged) open chamber heads, large ports, 2.19 intake/1.71 exhaust valves, Cobra Jet cam, spread bore carburetor, 280 gross HP rpm, 345 ft lbs gross torque rpm.

1971: VIN R; 351 4V BOSS, hi nodular iron block w/ 4 bolt mains selected for hardness, selected hi nodular iron crankshaft, forged pop-up pistons, conrods shot peened & magnafluxed w/ 180,000 PSI bolts, 11.3:1 compression using 66.1cc (averaged) closed chamber (quench) heads, large ports, 2.19 intake/1.71 exhaust valves, solid lifter cam & valve train, spread bore carb on hi-rise aluminum intake, 330 gross HP rpm, 370 ft lbs gross torque rpm.

1972: VIN M & Q; same as ’71 Q except for camshaft retarded 4 degrees, 266 net HP rpm, 301 ft lbs net torque rpm.

1972: VIN R; 351 4V HO, same as ’71 R w/ the following changes; forged flat top pistons, 9.2:1 compression using 75.4cc (averaged) open chamber heads, solid lifter cam (retarded 4 degrees) & valve train, 275 net HP rpm, 286 ft lbs net torque rpm.

1973-74: VIN Q; 351 4V, 2 or 4 bolt mains, dished pistons, 8.2:1 compression using 78.4cc (averaged) open chamber heads, large ports/small valves, 2.04 intake/1.65 exhaust valves, Cobra Jet camshaft retarded 4 degrees, spread bore carburetor, 248 net HP rpm, unknown ft lbs net torque rpm.

I mention the VIN H 351C 2V only once (1970) as a base reference. It was avail in other yrs w/ only slight changes fr ’72 on. Note that VIN H in these yrs can also mean a 351W (Windsor) engine; a completely different block & design. VIN H in any Ford can be either Windsor or Cleveland during the ’70 thru ’74 model yrs.

Note that Ford never built the same 4V Cleveland 2 yrs in a row; save for ’73-’74. Every yr there were small differences even using same VIN codes as previous yr. Also, I am certain that compression dropped on the '72 M & Q engines compared to their '71 versions but can find no documentation of that in the Ford literature I have.

In the preceding narrative I highlighted the changes, no matter how small, that were made fr yr to yr. To compare; just refer to a previous/later yr.

I also want to state something about HP. I believe Ford, for the most part, used very conservative gross ratings. In some cases HP did not lose much when Ford switched to SAE net ratings in 1972 (compare '71 to '72 Q code). But it is misleading to think that similar engines between different yrs would be as close in performance as published factory ratings seem to indicate. Many automotive journalists of the time agreed that the BOSS 351 was very close to, if not in excess of, 400 gross HP. Yet Ford rated it at 330HP. Anyone who drove these cars (GM & Mopar incl) during the yrs that compression dropped & camshafts were retarded to meet emissions specs, knows that the newer engines were pale imitations of the former. In some cases they weren’t even close; unless you chose to be blinded by factory ratings.