351 Cleveland Rebuild

Looking @ rebuilding my 70' 351C. I currently have a 74' 2V in my 70 GT fastback. It was actually the engine in the car when I bought it last year. The guy I bought it from gave me the original 70' 4V less 4V heads. I was looking @ going with a Sealed Power rebuild kit from Fel-Pro. The kit has a compression of 10:22:1 and was planning on using the 2V heads from the 74 after I get them ported and polished. Plan on running an Weiand X-CELerator intake with a Holly 670 Street Avenger and Flowtech full length headers. I plan to go .30 over based on the application. I also was entertaining stroking it, but looking for ideas to do it on a limited budget. I know they have kits out there from CHP, Ford Racing, etc... but they're starting around $1800.00 and up.

I'm basically looking to start with 350 to 400 hp, but was looking for other ideas to get from you guys that may have already done it.

Thanks in advance

Originally Posted by sthomp29

Looking @ rebuilding my 70' 351C. I currently have a 74' 2V in my 70 GT fastback. It was actually the engine in the car when I bought it last year. The guy I bought it from gave me the original 70' 4V less 4V heads. I was looking @ going with a Sealed Power rebuild kit from Fel-Pro. The kit has a compression of 10:22:1 and was planning on using the 2V heads from the 74 after I get them ported and polished. Plan on running an Weiand X-CELerator intake with a Holly 670 Street Avenger and Flowtech full length headers. I plan to go .30 over based on the application. I also was entertaining stroking it, but looking for ideas to do it on a limited budget. I know they have kits out there from CHP, Ford Racing, etc... but they're starting around $1800.00 and up.

I'm basically looking to start with 350 to 400 hp, but was looking for other ideas to get from you guys that may have already done it.

Thanks in advance

I am not a Cleveland specialist but I will tell you what I know. I have a good friend who has a 72 mach 1. He has been building Clevelands for almost 30 years. This what he is running.

.030 Cleveland 2 bolt block
Weiand X-Celarator
850CFM Dp
12.00:1 comp
351C 4V heads closed chamber (I know your are using the 2v's which are better for the street)
620 lift solid cam

In a 3750 pound 72 Mach 1 it runs 11.80's with 4.11's and a c-6. (c-4's, even the PA automatics he tried didnt live long under those rrr's from that Cleveland.

These engines work better on the street with the 2v's. Off idle response is better. The stroker kits do make good HP's but if you are on a budget, the .030 over ported 2v head combo works pretty well up to about 400 horsepower. I think you will be happy with the results.

Thanks for that!!!!
I'm assuming he used his stock crank and rods.
Do you know what kind of pistons he used, flat, domed, Keith B, Trick Flow????

Really appreciate the info bud!

Originally Posted by sthomp29

Thanks for that!!!!
I'm assuming he used his stock crank and rods.
Do you know what kind of pistons he used, flat, domed, Keith B, Trick Flow????

Really appreciate the info bud!

I will call him and ask. Do you want to run 93 or racing gas? If your have a 70-74 open chambered head flat tops will yield 9.5:1. Domed pistons, which is probably what is in his motor, are probably what is giving him 12:1. just a guess. I did have one cleveland. It was in 70 Cougar. I ran a stock bore flat top with 2V heads. I had an Edelbrock Performer, 750 Double Pumper and a mild hydraulic (circa 1983 Lunati). I think it was 505 lift and 228 duration @.50. It had a little lope, sounded nice. I ran and FMX with a fairbanks 2800 converter and a 9" inch with 3.89:1 Traction lock. It ran a best of 13.95 at 99 mph. The car weighed probably 3600 and at that time was on P27560R15 radial T/As. I figure it put out about 325-350 HP.

I Plan on running a mixture of 110 and 87 non-alcohol from this shop that sells race fuel. It's not sunoco, but the citgo red. I'll occasionally get sunoco from the track when I'm there (Norwalk raceway, now Summit Racing Park). With that mix ratio, I plan on running between 102 and 104. Much cheaper than running the Cam2 100 race that some Speedway's carry, which sells for $5.60 a gallon. I can get the 110 for $5.45 a gallon and mix with their leaded 87 for $2 and some change.

Don't ask me why, but the smell of burning race fuel is worth the extra buck. Much like a freshly painted car.

Let me know what you find out from your friend.

Thanks

Originally Posted by sthomp29

I Plan on running a mixture of 110 and 87 non-alcohol from this shop that sells race fuel. It's not sunoco, but the citgo red. I'll occasionally get sunoco from the track when I'm there (Norwalk raceway, now Summit Racing Park). With that mix ratio, I plan on running between 102 and 104. Much cheaper than running the Cam2 100 race that some Speedway's carry, which sells for $5.60 a gallon. I can get the 110 for $5.45 a gallon and mix with their leaded 87 for $2 and some change.

Don't ask me why, but the smell of burning race fuel is worth the extra buck. Much like a freshly painted car.

Let me know what you find out from your friend.

Thanks

As long as you run the mix you should be okay. He told me that I was correct with the details for the most part:

351C 2 bolt block 0.30 over
domed 12:1 pistons
stock stroke cast crank
351C rods, good bolts
70 351C Quench heads
Xcelerator intake and an 850cfm
Super comp headers
4.56:1 Detriot Locker

Hope this helps.

These engines work better on the street with the 2v's.

*sigh*

Originally Posted by sthomp29

Looking @ rebuilding my 70' 351C. I currently have a 74' 2V in my 70 GT fastback. It was actually the engine in the car when I bought it last year. The guy I bought it from gave me the original 70' 4V less 4V heads. I was looking @ going with a Sealed Power rebuild kit from Fel-Pro. The kit has a compression of 10:22:1 and was planning on using the 2V heads from the 74 after I get them ported and polished. Plan on running an Weiand X-CELerator intake with a Holly 670 Street Avenger and Flowtech full length headers. I plan to go .30 over based on the application. I also was entertaining stroking it, but looking for ideas to do it on a limited budget. I know they have kits out there from CHP, Ford Racing, etc... but they're starting around $1800.00 and up.

I'm basically looking to start with 350 to 400 hp, but was looking for other ideas to get from you guys that may have already done it.

Thanks in advance

The Cleveland style stroker kits we offer are about 35% less than what you list and generally use Scat components - parts that are nicer than what you've listed above (Err...FMS uses a lot of Scat so they're similar, if not nicer.)

When you compare reconditioning your components to the price of a stroker I think you'll find that, even though a Cleveland is more than a Windsor to build, it's still quite reasonable in comparision. 408's are real common for us.

Brian

After mulling some things over, I finally started addressing my '74 2V Cleveland. Here's what I have so far:

600 CFM Holley 4 barrel - to start
Wieand X-celerator single plane intake
Comp Cams Dual Energy Cam and Lifter kit with timing set - 484"/510" (510"/536" gross)
Hi perf Valves - Exhaust- 21-4N Stainless Material / Intake- Specially Alloyed Intake Steel
Hi perf Valve Springs - 110 Lbs@ 1.825 / 340 @ .600" Lift
Comp Cams Hi Energy Push Rods
Crane Points Eliminator Kit
NOS Sniper 100 - 150 shot

Summit was happy with me last Saturday

I know this is a start, but I want to take care of the top end first. Now I do plan to get the heads ported and match the intake, as well as other head upgrades like rockers. However, I wanted to touch base with the ford guys to get your opinion on the spray. I'm not looking to go nuts with it, I just wanted a little extra ummph, before I get the block freshed this fall (0.030 over rebuild as I mentioned in my earlier posts).

Any opinons on what I have so far. There are so many things we can do to get up in the ponies, but considering this engine is mostly stock, I hope to notice some power gains with this top end set-up.

Please give me your .30 cents!

Well, I didn't make it ot Fun Ford in Norwalk, OH this past weekend, however it's nice to know that I'll at least best be able to make some sort of a time trial before the end of the season in Oct.
Anyways, just wanted to share some pics of my Cleveland I'm getting ready to drop in the 70' GT Fastback. Got it back from the machiner about a month ago, and everything else has been my own doing. I'll equate it to the phrase "my eyes must have been bigger than my stomach"!
Let me tell you, I just had an addition to the family back in Janurary, and my wife calls the car my mistress. Anyways, had to take about a 3-4 week hiatis from the project which put me behind considerably.
As for the block, it's .30 over with keith black flat tops, comp cam high energy with a 510/536 split lift, weiand single plane, 650 DP, 125 shot of juice, refeshed 2V heads with new valve train, HEI 50,000 volt dist. for 351C, hi flow WP, flowtech full lengths with purple hornies for air and a mean sound.
Just didn't know what it took when I took this project on everyone. When you start taking off stuff you tend to want to replace with new. And your expectations of finishing the project resort you to celebrating small victories. With saying that, I'm now understanding why guys say it's been 2 to 4 years in the work.
This project has definitely humbled me and hats off to all who "do work" by themselves!
This reply is not only an update, but a tear shed and a smile lifted for the guys who are tr0ue to the art of wrenching on old cars. It doesn't only take a patient mind, (and understanding wife.....It takes the will to know that everything isn't going to happen over night.
Until the next time, keep wrenching!!
Torino - The Forgotten Classic