Getting the big Fairlane back on the road.... Engine is finally in !!!!

[440]

As some of you know the engine in my daily driver Fairlane died and needed rebuilding. Well, I got it back two days ago and am pretty happy. Although the engine is worth nearly 12 times what the car is worth it should wake it up and give it a bit more oomph. It was a standard 302 cleveland bumped up to a 351 with a 351 crank and rods. The engine builder wanted to use the longer 302 rod but couldn't get a piston in the size needed. Compression has been bumped to 10.1:1, minor head work, mild cam, double roller chain and air gap intake.

I was hoping for a ballpark of around 350 hp 350 torque. After a while I was seriously doubting I'd get there with my budget, but to my surprise a similar spec engine package (maybe with a slightly hotter cam) are in the 380+/400ft.lb range claiming to be in the high 12's

Not bad for a POS beater. Should be a fun car.

[Ghoste]

Nice.  Pics?

[440]

I'll get some, it's still wrapped and strapped to the pallet. I still need to buy all the little bits like sending units, new water neck, fuel pump, motor mounts, hoses etc.

This is the first engine I've had built from a bare block, looking forward to seeing how it goes.

[440]

Here's an older pic of the car it's going in. There's probably a bit more rust showing through now, lol.

The cars came factory equipped with 4 wheel disk brakes and limited slip rear axle. It's actually not a bad handling car.

[RallyeMike]

The cars came factory equipped with 4 wheel disk brakes

Wow, that is quite ahead of its time for a regular sedan (by US standards). I had no idea Ford was short-changing us all these years! 

That looks like a very fun daily.   

[TUFCAT]

No kidding!..... its a much cleaner design compared to what Ford offered in the USA during the same period.  I like it.

[polywideblock]

   mate just sold his marquis 

[440]

It would have been better if it was a two door but it's got a good shape. Out of all the cars I have/had this has been the most fun. It's a real war horse, it's got bad paint, a bit of rust and dents but it will take you anywhere and you don't have to worry where you park it. It's got a street hardened look to it 

[440]

Just got it back again due to an issue with the manifold, and who knew a stock distributor would be so hard to find for an early cleveland. I ended up just buying a MSD ready to run. I've heard good and bad things about these but put the bad down to mosty improper set up.

I'd like a bigger air cleaner as this one looks wussy, but I'm stuck to it due to the LPG mixer.

Just need to get a new torque converter and a carb and I'm set.

[Cooter]

In the states, that's the infamous 351/400 modified. Not a general good performance engine pick, but they can make good power. F&P just did one in a Ford pick up for a customer. Basically stock with ported heads, headers, aftermarket intake and carb. Runs fairly well for what it is....

[440]

I was always under the impression that the Cleveland was an Aussie made block. The 302 and 351 cleveland blocks are identical. The Aussie heads are far better then the US heads and highly sought after.

The US had the Windsor which we never got as far as I know.

I've got an F150 4x4 with a 400m which is basically a tall deck 351. They are known for oiling issues due to the big journals and also cracking blocks like the GM 400ci. Luckily mine it mild enough but makes good power for what it is, I managed to blow up the pump in a C6.


This little 351 should be a good little runner for a daily driver, not a big powerhouse but something you can thrash on daily without worry. It will run out of power around 5k so you don't have to wring its neck but should make good torque to pull the rear gear.

[moparnation74]

I love fairlaines!!!

Sweet ride and as Ghoste said PICS!!!!

[Mopar Nut]

That'll be a nice sleeper!

[Cooter]

As far as I know, the Cleveland engine was built in Cleveland Ohio. The Windsor was built in Windsor Ontario Canada.

[TUFCAT]

Much more than that Cooter. Completely different engines. The only thing the same was the displacement. 351W had a unique block compared to the Cleveland. The upper radiator hose location of a Windsor is different than a Cleveland..... the Cleveland goes into the block (there's also an integrated casting in the front of the block to accompany the timing chain)

Also different rods, heads, and deck height.

Cleveland engines are easy to spot looking from the front.... compared to the Windsor.  

[69wannabe]

I just tore down a 351 W early this week for a young guy out of an early model mustang. Think it was a 69 coupe but the engine was rattling when he bought the car and the guy he bought it from claimed it was rebuilt. Got the intake off and it was clean but far from rebuilt. The heads have never been off of it but someone had put a different cam and lifters in it and the top timing gear bolt that holds the fuel pump eccentric had backed out and it was just laying against the timing cover when I pulled it off. No wonder it had a what looked like a quickie electric fuel pump stuck on there in the easiest spot to stick one and the mechanical hole in the timing cover was blocked off. He was expecting a quick fix but I explained to him the engine has never been apart and once I got the heads off the cylinders were slick as glass and a good ring ridge was at the top of the cylinders too so I continued to disassemble it. The rod and main bearings were in the copper but the bottom end was clean and it will really be a good engine to build after some machine work on the block and getting the crankshaft turned and some machine work on the heads since he does not want to spend the cash for a set of aluminum heads. He started popping off horse power numbers and I just stopped him and said look dude it's a 351 small block and without spending 5 or 6 grand on this engine the horsepower numbers are going to be very mild here and if numbers are what you are worried about I will need to just collect for the time I got in tearing it down and someone else can make your horsepower numbers for pennies... I just told him I can build it with some decent compression and a mild cam with some head work and a set of headers and a good carb it will be a fun engine to drive and with a good exhaust system it will sound good too.

[440]

Thats all I did, replaced 302 crank and rods with 351 internals. New pistons, mild cam, mild head work, and a good intake etc and it still set me back 7k. It will be bullet proof though.

It should run good being everything is matched. Good for a sleeper.

[don duick]

I did the same put 351 crank and rods in my 302 ended up with about 10 to 1 compression used a comp cam 218/224 at 50 everything else was stock. used an Impco 425 mixer LPG Propane in a 70 ford torino bork warner 4 speed and 3.45 diff gears. What a perferct combination this ran great and OK economy. Hate to admit this but the torino was a lot better car to drive than my 70 charger.

[440]

I finally got my converter and deep pan today after a month wait  I hope it's a good converter as the company has a good reputation. Probably a bit of overkill really but this should be a bullet proof car. I hope the 2500 stall isn't too aggressive for a daily driver, the stock stall is 1780-2000. The car itself is probably only worth about $800 but I reckon I spent about 12k on motor/trans.

http://www.dominatorconverter.com.au/dominator.html

It better go good

I'll probably ask in another thread as this wont get much exposure but I need a set of traction bars and want something low key. I really like the ford design as you cant really tell they are there, the only thing I don't like is they will be tugging on the frame rail (never a good thing). I like the look of caltracks but you'd see them. The rear suspension on these cars are pretty soft.

[440]

Stripped out the interior for a full scrub and clean. Cut a patch panel to cover the factory cut console shifter hole.

[440]

Bolted engine and trans together after an extremely long process.

[lukedukem]

is that a C6 tranny? i had an 84 ford f-150 with a 351 windsor with a C6. i loved that truck. had 175k on it before it bit the bullet.

Luke

[440]

It's a little C4. When it was at the trans shop with the bellhousing and tailshaft off I couldn't believe just how tiny it really was. Hopefully this one will live a long life. Stage 2 shift kit and a few oiling mods.

I've got a 77 F150 4x4 with the 400 and a C6 and that is a fun truck. I used to thrash on it with a 6" lift and 33's. I eventually blew up the pump but since getting rebuilt has been good. I'd go through 1 - 2 rear ujoints a year

[Mopar Nut]

That's gorgeous!

[skip68]

Man, that motor looks so beautiful I'd want to just leave it in the garage for display.     
Should run really well.   Are you going to fix the steering?    It's on the wrong side of the car.