SBF engine balance?

How does one tell if they have an internal or external balance?

Also, is the 351W balanced the same as the 289/302?

 

Balance changed on the 302 in '82. Use the pre '82 flywheel or flexplate with the pre '82 harmonic balancer, or post '82 flywheel or flexplate with post '82 harmonic balancer on any 289 or 302. As far as I know, the balance never changed on the 351W.
All three engines are externally balanced.

 

Thank you very much for taking the time to respond.

Wouldn't happen to know if one can run a diaphragm style clutch in place of a Long style, would you?

 

before '82 balance was 28oz,after '82 are 50oz,for SBF info check out:www.spftech.com

 

As far as I know you can, with the right pieces, but that will need to come from someone more into stick ******s than me. Lots of folks whine about parts interchange with Ford engines, but there's really no problem as long as you stay within one engine family. Just about anything from the 289 and 302 will interchange which makes things much easier. I keep talking about the rear sump, double drain, Fox ch***is oil pan and ***ociated parts, being the way to go for engine swaps requiring a rear sump application, but most people say Bronco is better. All I know is what has worked for me installing 289s and 302s in '49-51 Merc ch***is. Anyhow, thanks for listening, and good luck with your Ford powered project.

 

Do some searches here and you will find a wealth of information. As stated pre 82 and all 351W are 28oz, 82 and later 5.0 are 50oz. All are external.
Yes you can use a diaphragm in place of a Long style with the correct T/O brg and fork.

 

And if it's a 351W you have, it's a 351W oil pan you'll need.

 

I don't know if this is true and I would not chance doing this. Taking an engine that's 28 oz-in. ballanced and putting a 50oz-in flexplate and damper on it (or vice versa) sounds like a recipe for trouble.

 

All are external. Except for the BOSS 302 Which I think is internal.

If the 289/302 is '81 or older, Yes. 82 or newer, no. All 351W are 28 oz-in balance.

To be sure you are doing things that won't cause trouble, what are you hooking to what? Or what are you interchanging?

 

Neither would I. The crank also comes into play with the balance. I believe the 3 stampings are 2M, 2MA, 2MAE with 2M and 2MA being 28oz. Double check that though. I know the info is on here because thatsd where I got it from!

But I digress, the crank, balancer, and flexplate all need to stay together.

 

That would pretty much GUARANTY a major vibration followed by a broken crank!

 

So, is there a way to know what flex plate is what with visual inspection while on engine in car? For 351W. Do all 351 flexplates have same bolt pattern-Possible to wrongly put a later than 82 on older motor? Can not see engine numbers by starter. Has AOD trans.

 

All 351W are 28oz.

 

possible to mistakenly put 5.0 flexplate on a 351W? have AOD trans, donor swap may have used later flexplate-if that is possible.

 

Yes, very possible. If you see the two flexplate side by side you can see the difference in the counterweight size.

 

To answer tjm73's question, I am working on a 62' Fairlane with a three speed. I was going to drop a 302 out of a 79' E250 into it, but then this 351W because available. Now I am trying to suss out what it will take to put it into the Fairlane and in front of my three speed transmission.

 

351W's are wider and you will be right up against the shock towers in the 62 Fairlane. Headers/Exhaust manifolds will be tight and changing plugs will test your patience.

 

I think that all 351W are 164T flexplates where 302 are either 157 or 164T. Can anyone confirm this? The difference between the 2 would be obvious.

 

Typically flexplates with 157 teeth have a 10.5" bolt circle, and the 164 teeth have a 11.5" bolt circle. And IIRC, the 50 oz only comes in a 164 tooth.

 

Nope...sbf engines are EXTERNALY balanced.

 

Flywheel and clutch should swap from the '79 302 and bolt right up to your 351W. Then just mount a 6 bolt bellhousing to it, and bolt the 3 speed to that. There's a new set of headers designed to fit these into the '62/63 fairlanes now. I'm going the same route with mine, except AOD. Only caveat is lengthening the original motor mounts another inch to make the 351W fit right.

 

You do it yours and we'll do it ours.

 

But the crank counterweights determine whether it needs 28 oz.-in. or 50 oz.-in. balancer and flywheel. Putting the wrong externals on will result in vibration.

In '82 Ford lightened the engines by taking metal out of the crank, the balancing had to be made up by adding weight to the externals. By putting the weight farther from centerline, the total weight is reduced.

 

vertible59-since externally balanced would have vibration, but crank should survive?

 

Havi - The clutch is its own monster that I haven't really delved into yet. The 79 is an automatic, and when I was going to use it I was planning on using the flywheel and clutch from the original engine, which I thought was a 289, but turned out to be a 221. I had also been having a hell of a time finding a clutch disc for the thing. Everyone and their mother has a 10 spline clutch for sale, but the 23 spline 1 inch by ten was becoming a nightmare. Then I found Macs.

I digress, where things sit right now, I would like to run the 351, I was already planing on changing the engine mounts to match the 302, no big thing there. My current, and most pressing issue is the clutch and flywheel.

 

Good point. 10T 1.06" is what I'm familiar with. My cars were all autos, too. I wonder if it would be worth swapping to a different 3 speed.

 

289/302/351W have the EXACT same engine mount locations.

 

That was in reference to the '62 Fairlane...221cid.

 

True but 221's and 260's cast before Febuary 1962 have a six inch spread on the mount bolts (2 core plusgs per side) while 289/302/351W/351C have a seven inch spread (3 core plugs per side).

Check out Crites for parts including shock tower kits and 351W headers.

 

If balanced externally, and the weight matches on the harmonic balancer and flywheel/flexplate, why would it vibrate?