351 in a Mav?

ok i have a 71 Mav that i will be putting a V8 in . my wife insists that i put a 351 in it instead of a 302 what are the challenges i face (other than possible clearence issues) to do this? will the 302 motor mounts work or do i need some fabbed for me?

 

You certainly will have some clearance issues. There are many threads on this swap. Do a search for 351 swap and start reading away. Good luck to ya.

 

Everything will work except:

You will need a different bellhousing.

Even using 302 exhaust manifolds, you will need to do some serious grinding.

Either do the shock tower mod, or prepare to take a hammer to the towers.

Learn new cuss words! You will need them when you change plugs.

 

Bell housings are the same between and 302 and 351W or C. as far as bolting to the engine.
Engine mounts are the same. Exhaust manifolds bolt right up to the heads but might not work since the Windsor is taller and wider than the 302.
You also need to buy our wife at least a dozen roses for insisting you get a larger engine. What a WOMAN!
clint

 

That is misleading, Clint.

 

just stroke the 302 to a 347,more cubes and no clearance issues.

 

I am putting a Windsor in mine and I think it is a better motor then a stroked 302
that is my 2 cents anyway

 

Stroke that beast.

Good luck finding headers.

 

all ready have them I would have stroked it but was trying to keep the build affordable 375 hp for under 1000.00 ..

 

If you're concerned about the fit of a 351, just stroke the 302 to 347.

 

Absolutely!!! Perfect fit and more power than you really need on the streets.

 

thank you for insisting on the roses.

 

I had a 351W in mine and had no problems with the bellhousing. The 302 and 351w are the same. I never had any mods to the shock towers. It is a tight fit and you won't be happy changing spark plugs, but it can be done. I wouldn't do it again without cutting the towers. What headers do you have? That seems to be the main problem most people have. I still have the 351w headers that fit but they don't have a name on them. Not sure what brand they are. I'm keeping them in case I ever put another 351w in.

 

Not trying to be misleading and I apologize if it was. Please tell me how so I won't mislead anybody else
So far as I know and I surely don't claim to know much but all of the 302's, 351w and Clevelands have all had the same bolt pattern where the bell housing bolts to the engine. I said it that way because I have not messed with many automatics in a Maverick or with the smaller c4's and don't know much about the different tooth counts on the flex plates or sizes of torque converters.
So far as the roses go, I figure any wife that interested in her husbands projects deserves some roses. My wife just goes HUMF when I talk about my truck and car. lol At least she doesn't say NO!
clint