The objective of this article is to distinguish the differences between
the Ford Windsor, Cleveland, FE, 351M/400 and the Big Block . For starters the
289 was produced from '63-'68 and is almost identical to the 302 except for
the stroke and camshaft which is either Mechanical or Hydraulic. A 289 has a
4.00 x 2.870 Bore and Stroke while the 302 has 4.00x 3.00. The 302
manufactured from '85 and up has roller camshaft which Engine Factory uses
exclusively. The 302 is more readily available, has better internal parts and
can generate more power for less money! We offer Horsepower ranges of 275HP,
350HP, 370HP and up to 425HP all on pump Gas.
The 351 Windsor is the biggest of the small block Ford engines. It has a Bore
and Stroke of 4.00x.3.50. It was made at the Windsor, Ontario plant - which of
course giving it's name. The 351 is a beefier block than the 302/289 but has
the same bore spacing and bore diameter. The deck height is taller and the
Main journals larger. The Windsor has been in production since '69 and still
in production. Engine Factory offers a wide selection of the Windsor engines.
We offer different stroke combinations (393,408,418w and 427w) making this a
true Street Beast!
The 351 Cleveland is in a class by itself and entered the scene in 1970 until
1974. It has canted valves and multi-groove keepers, hydraulic cam, pedestal
-mounted rocker arms that are retained with cap bolts. Two types of heads
where made they were the 2V and 4V. The 2V heads have open chambers with
rounded ports, while the 4V has quench combustion chambers with larger rounded
intake and exhaust ports. A 351c Cobra-Jet appeared in '71 with 4-bolt main
caps. A 351C Boss also came out in '71 with 4V type chamber head with
pedestals machined to accept a 302 Boss type valve train and mechanical cam.
In '72 open chamber heads were used with a flat top piston and the name
changed to 351C HO. Being that the Cleveland is over 30 years old, they are
becoming a rare find and hard to find parts. For this reason we interchange it
with the 351w which share the same bellhousing and engine mount patterns. The
Exhaust manifolds, Front brackets and Pulleys do need to be changed out.
Engine Factory offers the complete March Performance Pulley kit as an option
on a swap like this.
 The 351 Windsor's radiator hose attaches to the radiator and connects directly to the front of the intake manifold via a water neck. Windsor 351 V-8 Engine 1. Valve cover is held in place by 6 bolts.
The 351 Cleveland's radiator hose attaches to the radiator and connects directly into the front of the engine block. It makes a 90° bend from the radiator to the engine block. Cleveland 351 V-8 Engine 1. Valve cover is held in place by 8 bolts.. |
The 351m and 400 have the same bore spacing as the 302/351C/351W
but a taller block for a longer stroke and rods. They were considered the next
generation of the 351 Cleveland. They share the same cylinder head bolt
pattern as the Clevelands but most of the external bolt ons were different. The 400 started production towards the mid
70's where compression was dropped down to around 8 to 1 compression. This of
course affected Horsepower numbers. They had the 460 big block bell housing
pattern to use larger clutches for greater torque capacity, which is why
some people opt to swap out to a 460 Big block. The exhaust bolt pattern,
pulleys, accessories and Brackets are not the same though. The 351M was
introduced after the 400 to fill production demand for a 351 size engine. They
were not known for their big performance by enthusiasts but a good engine when
setup properly for low end grunt torque.
Another distinction between the 289/302/351w engines, they use a front
Aluminum Timing Chain cover and water exits the intake manifold face of the
cylinder head through the intake manifold to the radiator. The 351C/351M/400
engines use a flat tin front cover instead and the block extends out to cover
the timing chain. The water exits the block face.
The FE engines are the 352/360/390/427/428 engines and are different from all
other Ford engines. The 390 is set up basically the same as the other engines
but are balanced internally as oppossed to externally on the 428. Some of the
427 engines are overhead cam and are extremely powerful yet rare especially
the side oiler versions. The 428 isn't much different but isn't an overhead
cam plus a rare find. Engine Factory simplifies matters and offers the 390FE.
It will interchange with either the 352,360 or even the 428. We provide this
engine package with the Cobra Jet Aluminum Heads, these alone generate an
awesome amount of torque. We also provide a Stroker version of this that comes
to 426 cubic Inches.
The last of the Ford engines are the Big Blocks 429/460. 429's were available
from '68-'73 and named Cobra-Jet, Super Cobra-Jet, and Boss. Basically the 429
was a wedge engine with hydraulic cam, 2-bolt main caps, and 2V or 4V carbs.
The 460 is a stroked 429. The CJ had a hotter cam, larger carb, bigger port
heads and valves. The SCJ had 4 bolt mains mechanical cam, adjustable
non-positive stop rocker arm studs, stamped rockers arms push rod guide
plates. The pistons are forged aluminum . The Boss had aluminum heads and hemi
combustion chambers. Engine Factory offers the 460 Big block with the Edelbrock Aluminum Cylinder Heads. Good for running on the street where more
broad power band is needed.
An easy to identify on the Fords is to count the number of retaining bolts on
the valve covers. This should be the same for cars and trucks.
5 bolts = FE Block
6 bolts = 289/ 302/ 351Windsor
8 bolts = Cleveland / Modified
You can reference this as well:
2 bolts the engine is a: 239/256/272/292/312
(produced from 1954 to 1964)
5 bolts the engine is a: 332/352/360/361/390/391/406/410/427/428/ (FE engine)
6 bolts the engine is a: 221/260/289/302/351W
7 bolts the engine is a: 429/460
8 bolts the engine is a: 351C/351M/400