Ford 351W Rebuild

I am refurbishing my Ski Centurian from the fiberglass up.. Started with new stringers and transome,, now focussing on the engine. It is a 351W HO. Family members accused me of being insane to undertake this project...and they are quite correct, however, it would be a great "told you so" if my new/old boat spanks the pants off them when I'm done. So even though it will cost extra dollars..that I will never get back.. pride is involved here. So the question is.. what suggestions are there for increasing speed/horsepower on a 351W. BTW, the current heads are cracked..no leakage yet but would soon so considering purchasing new heads... Any advice out there?? :-)

If yours is a 351HO you might already have the GT40 heads, see for the casted barrs on the fron of the head or the casting numbers when you take them apart. If they are not, GT40P are the way to go. Is your engine LH or RH?

Most people here boosting their 351s also add an Edelbrock performer aluminium intake manifold and a Comp Cams Camshaft. You may also look for a new CNC propeller to add after the rebuild.

Those are really nice add ons for the buck.

Very good advice and thank you to all. I am confused by the HO not being available till '92. My understanding was that the HO was defined by the presence of a 4 barrel carb (which mine has). What does define the HO?

I spoke with a dealer/mechanic today. He said that he was not sure about Indmar Fords but PCM Fords had special marine heads, pistons, cams, rockers, etc. Is that true? Just curious if I get a GT40 head, although it would fit, if it would work.

He also said that the distributor had to be marine and not just one for a car due to the humidity. Is that true or just a dealer story?

Brian;

To be able to tell if its RR or LR, when you stand behind the engine, which way does it rotate? If to the right, its a righty. If to the left, its a std. automotive rotation engine.

On the distributor, marine units are sealed so the spark cannot get out and cause an explosion in the confined engine box. May be some other differences too, but, I believe thats the main one.

To my knowledge, the heads, and pistons are std. automotive, or more specifically, truck components. I do not believe the std. 351's used in ski boats are marine special units.

The cam is ground more like an RV cam and designed for low end pull (or torque), more like an RV cam, and not a high winding race cam. Of course the cam in a RH engine is made for that rotation.

The GT40-P heads should bolt right up. If they come off of a 5.0 (302) as many of the "P" heads did, you will have to bore the head bolt holes up a little (to 1/2") so they will bolt on the 351.

As it relates to HO, I am not very familiar with them. Some of the other guys I am sure are.

spec for the head...E5AE-CA / 67-70CC / 1.78/1.46 302 / 86-86

82 Nautique 1 wrote: Question I do not know the answer to. I am wanting to put an electronic distributor in a 1988 CC Ski Nautique. How do I tell if it is a 351W, 351C, 351M. Mallory says there are 2 distributors and I need to konw what one I have. Thanks Dennis

Not an exact answer to your question but you have a 351W, the cleveland motors were out of production in 1974 and the 351 Modified(destroked 400) was never used in a marine application at least not in a correct craft that I know of.

keep in mind you'll need the old distributor gear or a new one since you engine is most likely RH rotation.

It would be nice but dont under estimate the importance of breaking a gear and cam in together. All the 351w reverse rotation gears I have seen end up being the same, but if you have a choice and can get a new gear I recommend doing so and installing with a good quality assembly lube. 30 dollars is cheap in the grand scheme of things.

and 8.00 more for a good zinc addative...

I'll let you know how much you'll have left over, count on zero

Eric,

What do you mean by a goog zink aditive for $8.oo My distributor (reverse rotation) came with the gear.

Thanks

Chris,

I purchased from SKIDIM that is where I received the notes I posted from their website. Just curious if somebody else has made the modification to Mallory.

Where in Iowa are you ? I am in Rock Island, Il across from Davenport

Dennis

82 Nautique 1 wrote: Eric, What do you mean by a goog zink aditive for $8.oo My distributor (reverse rotation) came with the gear. Thanks

I think Eric is just making reference to the fact that you want to be sure your oil contains the zinc additive to protect the flat lifters and cam in your 351 Ford.......most of the new oils leave that ingredient out of their mix. If the oil you buy doesn't have the zinc, you could use an additive but most just use VR1 with a high level of zinc already in it.

There is a lot of discussion here about the use of oil in our older ford 351 engines. If you use the search function and enter valvoline ZR 1, ZDDP, Oil Additive or something similar you'll have a good day's reading ahead of you.

Here's a LInk to get you started.

1988 rebuild update:

Started up my 351 rebuild today in the driveway with the flush-pro.

What a wonderful sound to hear the engine purr. 20 minute break in, check timing 10 BTDC set idle... wow !!!

On to refinishing the teak wood, install carpet and the new Nautique skins. Pictures to come as I progress.

Dennis