Engine question

[One_fast67]

I have a line on a 351W engine out of a '97 F250. I haven't looked at it in person yet but it supposedly ran well prior to it being pulled. Other than obvious cracks in the block, anything else I should look out for? Is there any way to confirm this is a 351W and not something else? The price is really attractive and if everything is on the up-and-up, I would like to strip it down and build it up into a 408W stroker.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[SAC69]

To ID a 351w, it will have 6 valve cover bolts like a 289/302. A W has a longer stroke and thus the block is taller & wider than the smaller cousin. Check the height difference at the distributor between the 351 and the 289 in these pics:

351:

289:

The 351 manifold is wider too, mine measures 10 1/2" wide +/-, a 289/302 will be noticeably less, at least one inch, IIRC.

 

[Fast68back]

Check the height difference at the distributor between the 351 and the 289 in these pics:
The 351 manifold is wider too, mine measures 10 1/2" wide +/-, a 289/302 will be noticeably less, at least one inch, IIRC.

351C or 351M would have a water jacket on the block

 

[S8NS 289]

I'd jump on it because it's probably a roller engine if it's out of a 97 F series truck. I think the casting number is FT4E on rollers -not sure though?

 

[GypsyR]

A 351W/5.8 looks like a slightly larger 5.0. If it is in fact a small block Ford and not a turbodiesel out of a 1997 F250 then it is in a fact a roller cam 5.8 engine. Confirm by looking for the "F4TE-.." casting mark on the block just above where the starter goes.
Little worry about confusing it with a 351C or 351M. The C's last year of production was 1974 and the M about 1985. Neither ever had fuel injection. A 1997 5.8 will have a fairly big EFI intake on it. All 1994+up 5.8 engines were roller cams. Ford for some reason used non-roller cams in the F150 Lightning 5.8's but they use the same block and a roller cam fits right in them. Anecdotal info as Lightning 5.8's are rare as hen's teeth and not cheap.

 

[One_fast67]

I decided to pull the trigger and got the engine. It is indeed an F4TE block. I guess time will only tell if this was a good $275 purchase or not. If all goes well, I'll start pulling parts off tomorrow to see what I have inside.