Stroker: Cleveland Vs. Windsor

Well I've been doing some research into stroking a 351 Windsor out to a 408. I've found quite a few readily available kits at great prices. I'm also aware that the same processes can be performed on a 351 Cleveland, but information and kits aren't exactly easy to come by. I personaly belive that the Cleveland would make much more power but the Windsor will be cheaper while still making some great numbers. I have BOTH blocks already but I'm having trouble deciding which to go for. I don't mind cost so much as this build should take the good part of a year to complete, I just want input and recondmindations from people that have done one or both.

The car that I'll be puting this into is a 72 Gran Torino and back it up with a heavily modified C4 and a 9" with 3.55 gears. It will mostly be driven on the street and go to the track maby twice a month just for fun.

If you have good stock 351c heads and were going to use stock 351w heads. then i would go 351c stroker.
If you are going into after market heads
i might still go 351c stroker. I think it will take the higher rpms better.

The Windsor blosk is much stronger, and if you get some GOOD heads, it will make more power than the cleveland. The cleveland bloocks Are very thin wall castings, and the crack cylinder walls very easy.

JOE SHERMAN RACING ENGINES

Cleveland is the way to go. You can't beat a canted valve head and the torque is awesome. We run a 408 long rod (6.25") cleveland with ported 4v heads and we're running mid tens with no power adders just a 950 Holley foot braking. One of the smartest thing we did was put the cleveland together.

Scotsman
JN Motorsports
JN Motorsports -Williamsburg VA. www.OldGuysGoingFast.com

Either way I go I'm getting aftermarket aluminum heads. AFRs if I go windsor and CHIs if I go with the Cleveland. Also, this may be an odd question, but is the distance from cam to crank the same on all SBFs? I ask because I really want to use a dual idler gear drive for my timing.

If your going with aftermarket heads I see no reason to build a cleveland for the reasons that Bigjoe mentioned....You can also run the canted valve heads on a windsor block if you want to go that route.

Originally Posted by frdnut

....You can also run the canted valve heads on a windsor block if you want to go that route.

Isn't that what is referred to as the "Clevor"??? Cleveland heads on the Windsor block?

Originally Posted by kgordonl

Isn't that what is referred to as the "Clevor"??? Cleveland heads on the Windsor block?

Yup..It used to be more popular in the days before all the aftermarket stuff was available.

The jegs Engine master winner at 708hp(single Carb) winner was a cleveland. Kick a few windsor butts.
But a budget build would be a Windsor. Bottom end is stronger on a Cleveland.
Tons of Aussie Stufff being make... We run nothing but Clevelands and run 6.48 (1/8th) in a 3400lb engine only 69 Mach1 (no transbrake) . Have windsor guys at my trailer every week in the summer.
300 passes on our current 408 at 8200rpm. Holding up fine.

JJ

cleveland stuff is a whole lot more expensive than is windsor stuff, isn't it?