351 Cleveland...NEED SOME ADVICE....

Im about to buy a truck that has a very good running/rebuilt 351 Cleveland, with the matching Tranny. The Truck is CLEAN..in and out, and Im pretty much getting hooked up by some family. I dont know crap about these engines but heard they need or used to need high octane? If not it"ll start to "knock" and so on. I need this truck to run well, and am worried these engines are way to high maintenance? Any help or suggestions? Thanx alot!

 

The need for a high octane fuel has nothing to do with the type of engine but rather the compression of the engine. You may have heard that because when this engine was first introduced it was built for NASCAR and the compression was pretty high.

They are great runnning engines, and require no more maintenance than any other motor built in that era.


Rob

 

The 351C is a very good engine but they haven't been built in over 30 years. I'd want to check it out real good for compression, make sure there's no oil in water or water in the oil. The 4 bbl Cleveland made good power and did have a higher compression than anything factory built today so pinging is always possible. That can be dialed out or go to 93 octane for better performance. I had one in a Cyclone years ago that would fry the tires off the car with a cracked cyl. wall and still got decent mpg. If the price is within your budget Id go for it if it's what you want

 

Nice intro.

But in the interest of lending a helping hand they are not a high maintenence mill. Depending on the year and weather it is a 2V or 4V it may or may not need to run on super and may or may not be a high compression mill.

Now go to the top of page where it says "New to the Board . . ." introduce yourself and spend 5 minutes reading the rules before you post pics of your '70 something pickup and then get your damned feelings hurt when you don't fit in.

 

NICE!!!! You fellas made my day! The price is great!!! NOW...can you explain "pinging"...sorry man...Im a rookie....

Wow, already ran into "That Guy" of the message board! Theres always a couple....so its a 1957 Ford F100 douche bag! And obvious this is not the original engine I know. And since your so invested in introductions...Hi everyone, My name is David and I love long walks on the beach, playing catch with my dog.....ARE YOU SERIOUS BRO. I just registered 10 minutes ago...give me a minute!....LOL

 

Hmm.. I've never heard of an F100 Douche Bag before. This could be Entertaining

 

Ok I was being polite.

"That Guy" btw is the guy that would have answered your questions if you hadn't tried the "billy bad ass" thing.

Now go fuck yourself.

Pinging? Ask your mom.

 

Come on now...a man tries to come on here ask a few questions, and your first reply is talking shit! Your definitely "THAT GUY". Now my mom is at work so I cant ask her...but wait...let me go ask yours she getting out of the shower hang on.....

 

Ok..ok....This aint myspace teen drama C'mon.... I finished my New To The board".... your a vet on this site PorkNbeaner I respect that, and Im sure you know your stuff. SO, whether its a 2v or 4v will determine the gas?

 

2v will be better for the street....4v had huge valves which killed low end torque

 

Actually I'm that Guy's Alter ego.

You're the one that mentioned "your" family was hooking you up. Seems to me like you think we are your family but we don't even know who the hell you are or where you are comming from.

Wroking days on saturday, I heard the recession hit hard in your part of the country, but I didn't know it was that bad.

BTW I answered your question. Now you answer a couple for us. Who the are you and just what do you think we are, your freindly neighborhood 411?

This is almost as good as the broad who came on the other week first post was a question about pluming in her damned house.

 

Ahhh man...i feel bad now.... Are you special lil guy???? Hey dumbass...my actual family (uncle) is hooking me up. You are f-ing awesome!!!!!! Evryone has to just sit back and listen to your dumb ass daily!!!! Lol....idiot..

 

OH WAIT...I SEE WHERE YOU ARE FROM...WHEN I SAY UNCLE I MEAN MY DADS BROTHER...THATS IT....NOT MY UNCLE WHOS ALSO MY BROTHERS SON< WHOS MY COUSIN ETC.....

THANX RAT ROD EDIIE...Im FINDING OUT RIGHT NOW IF ITS 2V or 4V.

 

Somehow I dont think the HAMB is your kinda place... Why dont you find some other message board to talk smack on. You aint earned your pubes yet, so you dont talk to the senior members like that. Try asking with a little respect and you might get somewhere.

Idiot.

 

I came in very respectfuly and polite, I even said this isnt myspace and tried to avoid drama, and asked more engine questions...This site is right for me. Im here giving respect, deserve it back. Is this site about whos been on it the longest and clicks, or about old rides and the traditions etc? Im here for the second.

 

Porknbeaner asked you, pretty nicely, to read the rules and post your introduction.

He's not "that guy". "That guy" is probably out cruisin' in his ride, or working in the shop. But don't worry, you'll know when "that guy" posts on your thread (I am so not "that guy")

8 posts and you're already ripping on original members: stop typing and think things through.

 

If this site is about whos been on it the longest, and clicks...then no its not for me...Im here for the rides, and traditions of this lifestyle and culture. Thats what I thought is was about. Everyone else has been very helpful ad respectful??? But him?
Even then....Pork-n-Beaner...you came at me outta no where...took me off guard a bit...I respect your a vet here and ur knowledge..I just wanna take part listen and learn.....there it is DONE DEAL...

 

Just about anyone who's anyone is on this board, I mean the names that you associate with this traditional "culture". They are going to judge you on what you write and how you act. So far you're not doing so good.

2 barrel Clevelands are far more streetable than the 4V's, they build decent power stock and do not require high octane fuel (I've had 3 over the years and found them to be solid motors.)

 

Ya know there is a lot of good info here with little or no confines. I for one have over 50 years of Ford knowledge and I know for a fact Porknbeaner knows his stuff. He also has my RESPECT along with Many Many others here. Someone might want to re think what they have said already and re-group before they can't get the time of Day on this board.
For now I'll just hold my Thoughts and see where the Chips fall.
The Wizzard

 

Ok I was trying to answer your question and managed to log myself off:

Now onto questions, the 2V mill besides having smaller valves also had less compression. The later motors also had less compression yet. Pinging is more properly called predetonation. The combustion chamber heats up and combined with the higher compression of some of the older motors causes the fuel mix to detonate prior to the ignition event. Not good for the motor. It can be overcome with higher octane fuel but in some places what is called super these days is not even available. Even what we call super will be a problem with most of the higher performance engines of days past.
You can over come the problem also if you water spray it. Sometimes called water injection, it cools the fuel charge and makes it more dense this is a good thing. Some guys take it a step further and spray methanol instead of water or windshield washer fluid which has methanol mixed in it. A cheaper solution than straight methanol.
Anyway what octain is used depends on what has been done to the motor aside from which motor it was originally. Sometimes rebuilders use little tricks like changing pistons for lower compression pistons or thicker head gaskets to lower the compression a bit. A cam shaft with a ton of overlap also helps with the detonation problem, but like many other performance enhancing tricks it kills your low end grunt and what you end up with is a motor that can only survive in the upper RPM range.
We could go on like this for days, but you really can't throw down 40+ years of building in one post.
Like I said the Clevland engine is very dependable. If I had to own a small block Ford that would or is my engine of choice.

Don't worry about the repect thing, we just met. I just have a left handed way of making nice. Don't get shook, you'll do alright.

 

Assuming Im a idiot who would come on this site with my "70's pickup" and would have hurt feelings....been on the site 5 minutes and he's directing me to go put in my profile info? Who the hell R U? was all I was thinking...but....I still did it. Alright, this is dumb now.

Hey RATROD EDDIE....Im waitin to hear back...but I beleive its a 2V...u say thats better?

 

corner of the heads, should be a 2 or 4. A windbrick like a '57 F100 would do better with a 2. The original post didn't specify year of truck. A 351C was only in the early 70's...so one can assume. Simple matter of misunderstanding, I am sure.

 

WOW....yes it is clear you know ALOT...even though by others replies I could tell you have there respect for a reason. Thanx for the linfo...now this is why I love this site! So if it happens to be a 4v...is there much changes in how to combat the knocking or pinging? and will theses changes or mods hurt the power / torque etc?

 

My question is "Does it currently Knock" While being driven?
The Wizzard

 

I wouldn't change anything if it's a 2v or 4v. Except use premium gas in the 4v.

 

When its driven hard. there is some knocking.

 

When its driven hard. there is some knocking.

 

'sBeen a WEIRD thread. My dad drove a 351 Cleveland for many years & never had a minute's trouble. Havi has good advice (assuming yors was a quality rebuild). In general use the right grade of gas for your engine and type of driving. I don't like to give British Petroleum or Shell any more $$$ than necessary. So, I'd try a quarter-tank of reg., then quarter-tank of mid-grade. If knocks & pings go away on the mid-grade, that would be okay for daily driving. Myself, I wouldn't go to hi-test gas, unless THAT's the only way to make the motor run right (use your ear as much as anything).

BTW, the HAMB is a good band of brothers who -- I've found -- will go out of their way to help a guy who's scratching his hed over a problem. Like anywhere else, though, just be careful not to wear out yer welcome, bro.