Ford 351 Windsor Workshop Manual

keen — Jul 19th, 1996

Q: I have a 1969 Mercury Cougar (VIN 9F91M539283) which I purchased in June of 1969 in Riverside California. I am often asked what kind of engine is installed in the car. Some say it is a Cleveland and some say it is an Ontario High performance engine. —T.W., Belfair

Ford V8, 5.0L 302, 351W, March 22, 1984-1992 2138 3138 Notes:. #2120 or #3120 should not be installed on 351W engines as they are designed for 255, 289, 302 or Boss 302 engines. The 351 Windsor also belongs to the Ford Small Block family - not to be confused with the mid-sized-block 351 Cleveland, a different engine of the 335 family. The 'Modified' engines are also in a different vein, and not generally as popular or well suited for Jeep conversions.

A: To the eternal bane of automotive parts people everywhere, Ford has made not one, but three 351 cubic inch engines: the Cleveland, the Windsor (Ontario), and the Modified. After consulting parts catalogs, repair manuals, and my colleagues on the Internet, I've learned the following:

The Windsor (351W) was introduced in 1969 and stayed in use until 1991. The Cleveland (351C) was first used in 1970 on some early-production 1971 models, and was last produced in 1974, when it was replaced with the Modified (351M) model. The first number on the VIN code on your Cougar designates it a 1969 model year, and the last letter, 'M,' designates it a four-barrel carbureted engine.

There are several external differences that can help to distinguish between the 351W engine and the 351C and M engines: The 351W has three bolts attaching the valve covers on the exhaust manifold side; the 351C,M has four. The 351W has the timing cover bolted to the block. The timing cover on the 351C,M is cast as part of the block. On the 351W the thermostat housing is attached to the intake manifold, on the 351C,M it's attached to the front cover. The fuel pump attaching bolts are mounted in the horizontal plane on the 351W and the in vertical plane on the 351C,M.

The catalogs and books tell part of the story, for the rest, here's practical wisdom from my friends on the Internet:

351

'According to your VIN you have a 351-4V engine Windsor with 290 horsepower. If the car has a functional hood scoop it's the Eliminator Model.'

'The Cleveland motor had very large intake/exhaust ports and valves. The Windsor motors couldn't come close. It was almost like having big block heads on a small block motor.'

'Cleveland motors supposedly had more power than Windsors, but you could usually expect a Windsor to last a lot longer.'

'The reason Cleveland is preferred over Windsor is because it is supposed to be a stronger engine block, mostly in the main web area of the block. I've built a lot of Windsors and Clevelands, and see no real difference in reliability. The only time I recommend a Cleveland is for a REAL high performance engine (450+ horse power).'

'The 351W is a basic 302-type engine. The 351C engine got all the hype, but what we race today is the basic W or a combination of the two. The W is a better engine for long-lived low RPM power. It needs proper preparation to race, and, as it has the better torque curve on the low end, it is not a high rpm engine. By the way, the best street plug today in 18mm is the Champion RF9YC. The original equipment plug, the Motorcraft BRF32, is no longer being made. I was told a BRF42 would work. I tried it — it's too hot for anything more than going to get lunch!'

(Chip Keen is an ASA-certified Master Automotive Technician and the owner of Hansville Repair. Readers may send questions to: Car Forum, The Sun, P.O. Box 259, Bremerton, Wash, 98337, or e-mail carforum@kendaco.telebyte.com.)

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