Hey all, I've got what is supposed to be a 351W to go in my 58 F100. It was in a 68 Ford with a T-5 behind it. I don't know what year it is, but I'm pretty sure the number on the block is D4XXXXXXX. It's kinda hard to tell through all of the sludge. I want to get the right parts the first time when I start to tear into it. I am initially going to put an automatic behind it until I can afford to rebuild the T-5 as well, so I need to know if I'll need a 28 or 31 oz flexplate. When did Ford change the casting numbers on the block? Is there any other way to tell?? It's got roller rockers and a later style distributor, but that's not really a guarantee. Here's a pic if it helps.
That looks like an 80s motor at least, going by the valve covers, they look like 5.0L EFI units. Either way, all 351Ws are 28oz balance. Could be an F4TE roller cam block, if it is, hang on to that sucker tight!
If the block starts with D4 that makes it a 74 block. It should be a 28oz flexplate and balancer. Just FYI the first letter of the casting is the decade, the second the year. So C4 would be 64, E4 84 etc.
D4 is a 74 casting so it's not original to the 68 it was in. looking at it, it also has late model EFI style valve covers. The fastest way to tell a 351 vs 302 is the lower thermostat housing bolt. If you can put a socket on the bolt with an extension straight out it's a 351, if you would need to use a open end wrench it's a 302
It's a 351, I'm just not sure if it's a W or not. I know the casting number is 74, I was just wondering how long they used this design before they changed casting numbers. According to what I've seen online, some gaskets fit a certain era, and some another. If it's true that all 351W's used a 28oz flewxplate, then at least that part is covered. I'll pull the valve covers and see if I can find a casting number on the heads. Thanks for the input.
It is a "W". The other 351 is the Cleveland and it's a whole different engine family and does not look similar at all. And yes, all 351W's are 28oz.
as every one above stated d being 70 and the 4 behind it makes it 74 !28 oz balance !kinda confused as to why it has those lase model 302 efi valve covers though ?
That's my point. The number doesn't mean the year the engine was made, it means the year the casting was first made for the block. If Ford used the same casting number up to 89 or whenever they changed the number, they would have the EFI valve covers on them and could be from any year between the original casting year and the final year of that production. I'm just curious to see if there's any thing I'll notice right away to make sure to get the correct year gaskets. I'm thinking, they only changes gaskets because they went from carb'd to EFI so a gasket set for a late 70's to early 80's ought to do me fine. Thanks all. JB
I believe that Ford had a newer casting that was E4 and those blocks were used for the Fuelie motors when they came out in 87. The F4TE is the desirable roller cam 351, hard to find. By the way that D4 block was a smog block that replaced the D2 block to accommodate the smog pump mounting. Nothing internal just an extra boss cast on. The D2 and later blocks have a higher deck height of 9.503" compared to the C9 blocks 9.48"
The valve covers will fit a 289, 302 or 351W. I wouldn't be too concerned with that probably just something they had sitting around. I just bought a 351W for use as a core, it had double roller timing chain and 69 timing cover and water pump on a 84 block. These motors are old enough at this point to been thru several owners, rebuilds and vehicles. Now if you're lucky you will find C90E , or D0OE casting numbers on the heads, good luck.
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