Engine info 351 Ford Commander

Nice job (what hull is that)?. Sorry for replying to such an old post but I am looking for the manuals for the 351 Commanders also. Will trade for some of the manuals in my database. Thanks for any help you can give me.

Mikkel: Great job. If that engine runs as good as it looks you'll have a great summer. Let us know how it runs with the new prop.

Hi again guys,

Here's an update on my project. I haven't taken a lot of pictures since I pulled everything apart, so you'll have to make do with the final result :-)
It turned out to be much more of a project than I originally thought. I think I have spent the better part of 300 hours, a LOT of greenbacks and almost every spare weekend since November. The most time was spent taking the engine apart, cleaning the parts down to the bare metal and repainting them, but I think the final result is worth every hour.

I replaced all bearings, gaskets, oil pump, pistons, rings, connecting rods, lifters, alternator. The heads have been machined and exhaust valves replaced. Engine mounts have been replaced. New control cables, prop and propshaft are on their way. Throttle, carburettor and salt water pump has been rebuilt. Distributor has been rebuilt and fitted with Prestolite electronic ignition module (this was so easy and works SO good) Almost every hose has been replaced, every instrument except two and I have built a complete new wiring harness from scratch.
Now the engine fires up instantly and runs so smooth I cannot believe the difference! I can't wait to have the last bits done so I can see how it sails - I think it'll be one good summer!

It probably would have been cheaper to buy a replacement, but not nearly as fun. Plus now I know every nut and bolt of the boat, what might come in handy later on.

Enjoy the pictures :-)

Before:






After:

Thanks for the update Mikkel. Please post some pictures of your progress.

thanks,

Ultra

Mikkel, TiqueFan, Mousecreek, Luchog, et. al., Keith has posted the Commander Service/Overhaul manual and the Parts manual in the reference section. They are at the bottom of the list.

I hope they are of use to you all.

Ultra.

Hey mouse, I put all the manuals on a CD and mailed it to Keith yesterday. So look for the manuals in the reference section shortly.

Mikkel, Luchog, et. al., I mailed off a CD with the Commander manuals to Keith today. So you should seem them in the reference section shortly. So sorry I got side-tracked and it took this long to get them to you all.

I hope they help.

Ultra.

Thanks Mark. My e-mail is aqbhudson1@hotmail.com.

I appreciate your getting these scanned for us. I'd also like to get the name of the guy in Miami you mentioned that had new old stock Commander parts. I need several replacement parts that I have not been able to source.

Mikkel wrote: I still can't find out how this private messaging system works, is it not enabled, or am I doing something wrong?

Probably because there isnt one! The site just allows you to send emails- there is no private message feature.

I still can't find out how this private messaging system works, is it not enabled, or am I doing something wrong?

Ultra, could you please drop your mail address to me, using the email system on the forum? (I've enabled it in my settings now) I think that might be the way to go for now...

Br. Mikkel

Hey guys, I've done some more scanning. I'm pretty much snow-bound the next couple of days, so I should have it wrapped up.

thanks,

Ultra

Hi again,

Yes, actually I have several updates on the boat. I have a very good colleague in the US who brought over a good supply of spare parts for me in the beginning of November. I bought a rebuild kit for my Holley, and various bits and pieces for the ignition, including a Prestolite Electronic conversion kit, which have had the best review I can find on the web. I also found a small Danish company, which can supply me with a replacement propeller. I ordered a 4-blade SS propeller 13x13, which will be bored exactly to fit my shaft, and balanced on a shaft so it should be running good - the old propeller was in VERY bad condition. This new propeller has been put on hold for the moment because of below discoveries.

I rebuild the carb a couple of weeks ago and it turned out really good. All the gaskets were very old, and now it should be in good condition once again. When I had finished with the carb I wanted to hear if the rebuild improved on the engine, but then unfortunately I found out that the engine had seized up since I took it out of the water. It was running 8 weeks prior to that, not very good however, but now it's completely stuck :-(( So two weeks ago I pulled it out of the boat - which was a major job all mounts and everything is rusted and seized completely, but I managed to get it out. Now I am tearing the engine apart when I have spare time for the project. There is quite a bit of rust in the cylinders, and I think that one or more pistons are rusted stuck. Otherwise it comes apart pretty good, only a few broken bolts, all of which I managed to get out all together without damaging the threads in the block. I am also getting closer to identifying the engine. The block casting number reads D9AE which makes it a full size 1979 (whatever that means?), and it is a 351. I believe the block is a windsor. One of the heads read 1985 and the other reads 1981. I think it might have been rebuilt before since the parts are different dates?

Anyways, I am fairly optimistic about the whole thing at the moment. The major upside being that the engine was just sitting still while it seized up so no major parts should have been damaged (I hope) and also now I will strip the whole thing down and replace all gaskets, fix the worn hoses and I will build a complete new wiring harness for it. Also I will have the entire engine cleaned piece by piece and finally spray painted or powder coated. I don't think it'll be too expensive, but it is going to require quite a lot of hours of my spare time. Hopefully the engine and aux. systems will be in mint condition come spring time. :-)) Good thing about it is that the engine is very solid, and simple construction, much nicer to work on than my jap motorcycle, since there's lots of room and only relatively few parts.
All in all, once I got past the initial dissapointment, I think it's a super project, which will add greatly to the fun-value of my boat :-))

I am particularily looking forward to seeing a manual which hopefully applies to my engine.

/Mikkel

P.S. any advise on things I have to look out for in the rebuild will be appreciated. One thing I already found was that some of the cooling channels in the block/head were discontinued by the head gasket. Is this because of wrong gasket? or could it be intentional?

Mikkel, any updates on the boat?

Ultrarunner, any on the manuals?

You cant go wrong with either a 13x13,12,11,5, but since a prop is at least a U$D350 investment plus shipping, I'd try to get the best one for my application, that's why I suggested getting the boat running well first.
Dont forget to check the alignment of the shaft also.

The Prestolite kit is listed in skidim.com, as for the ballast resistor each kit has it's instructions wich you should follow, installation of EI kits is often discussed on this forums.

I must have been mixing up Argentina and Venezuela! Sorry.
Boating season for most people is coming to an end here. So it is funny to hear you say it is just starting there. Upside down from here. But Eddie and I will ski all year. Just add a heater shirt and we'll be good to go.
Better get all that new stuff now before you and Maite get any more serious!
Have fun my friend.

john