351 Windsor Engine Swap Guide
05-10-2006, 07:06 PM
#2
CMOC Newbie
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 18
Excellent article. However, having just done this swap in an SN 95 last year I'll clarify a couple of points for guys to think about.
- the main reason I did the swap was so that I wasn't horsepower limited. The 5.0 block apparently likes to split through the main webbing around 450-500 hp unless tied together, or unless it is an early Mexican block or R302. The 351w, and particularly the 9.5inch deck made between 1969-1974 had thicker webbing than later blocks and are easily good to +650hp (or so I'm told).
-if you do the swap, if you want to go EFI you'll probably want the 9.5" deck, otherwise you'll have to convert the 9.2" carb intake to EFI.
-they're right about using the reduced base circle cam to accomodate roller lifters. Bear in mind you'll also have to install the spider, keepers and lifters from a 5.0 roller engine if you go this route. A simpler but more expensive alternative is to buy special retro-fit tie-bar lifters from Crane cams so you can use any roller cam!
-If you're going to put it in a '94-95, you will want the distributor from a Lightning with 5.8 ('94-95) so that the wiring plugs right in.
-use the Mustang fuel rails, and slightly lengthen the fuel lines connecting the sides together.
-the Lightning/GT40 lower intake for 5.8 matches right up to the cobra/GT40 upper - the stock 5.8 lower DOES NOT. If you're on a budget, you can sometimes find a cast iron GT40 5.8 lower on Ebay (Ford used them for marine applications)
-you will need about a 2-2.5" cowl hood on a SN95 to clear the higher deck height (also remember that the '94 Cobra intake sits lower than the '93)
-you may need to chip, reburn the stock computer or move to a standalone to accommodate your mods in an SN95 because of their finicky computers
-while it may initially appear cheaper to do a 351w swap, don't fool yourself - to do it up as an EFI roller engine costs way more than a simple stroker kit for a 5.0, and if you get horsepower greedy you'll have to do some serious mods to exhaust and fuel supply to make it all work (like I did :cry2: ).
Just a few thoughts. Not trying to talk anyone out of this swap as I absolutely love the power output, but be aware of the pitfalls!
- the main reason I did the swap was so that I wasn't horsepower limited. The 5.0 block apparently likes to split through the main webbing around 450-500 hp unless tied together, or unless it is an early Mexican block or R302. The 351w, and particularly the 9.5inch deck made between 1969-1974 had thicker webbing than later blocks and are easily good to +650hp (or so I'm told).
-if you do the swap, if you want to go EFI you'll probably want the 9.5" deck, otherwise you'll have to convert the 9.2" carb intake to EFI.
-they're right about using the reduced base circle cam to accomodate roller lifters. Bear in mind you'll also have to install the spider, keepers and lifters from a 5.0 roller engine if you go this route. A simpler but more expensive alternative is to buy special retro-fit tie-bar lifters from Crane cams so you can use any roller cam!
-If you're going to put it in a '94-95, you will want the distributor from a Lightning with 5.8 ('94-95) so that the wiring plugs right in.
-use the Mustang fuel rails, and slightly lengthen the fuel lines connecting the sides together.
-the Lightning/GT40 lower intake for 5.8 matches right up to the cobra/GT40 upper - the stock 5.8 lower DOES NOT. If you're on a budget, you can sometimes find a cast iron GT40 5.8 lower on Ebay (Ford used them for marine applications)
-you will need about a 2-2.5" cowl hood on a SN95 to clear the higher deck height (also remember that the '94 Cobra intake sits lower than the '93)
-you may need to chip, reburn the stock computer or move to a standalone to accommodate your mods in an SN95 because of their finicky computers
-while it may initially appear cheaper to do a 351w swap, don't fool yourself - to do it up as an EFI roller engine costs way more than a simple stroker kit for a 5.0, and if you get horsepower greedy you'll have to do some serious mods to exhaust and fuel supply to make it all work (like I did :cry2: ).
Just a few thoughts. Not trying to talk anyone out of this swap as I absolutely love the power output, but be aware of the pitfalls!
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