Depends on what exhaust system you want to run and the size. With stock manifolds I don't think any mods are required but changing plugs is a bear. Check the archives for a zillion posts on this subject, some say no some say yes. My experience is to cut the towers just to make it easy for maintenance but others claim to have no trouble at all with plugs etc.
you don't have to, but it's a bear to change plugs. there's a lot of other posts on this. go to the archives to find them.
hey thanks i really don't know how to weld, don't have a welder and , don't have the cash to have some one else modify them for me. so i think i will just try and put in the 351w with out modifications to the shock towers.
Buddy of mine put a 351w in a 70 Mav in the late 70's. He creatively sledged hammered the shock towers in a bit. When I say creatively, I mean he spent some time doing it and didnt go wild. Gave a little more room for changing plugs. He did use stock style exhaust manifolds. That car ran very well. Nice car too, he sold it and then it got stolen and was used in a bank robbery! Dan
well i have a 351W in my car and i can tell u mine is annoying. the shock towers were cut back, but that was only because of the headers i used. i had gotten a pair of long tubes from summit. my major concern now is doing the spark plugs and watch for clearance on the steering wheel shaft. the shaft is about half way into one of my headers and just rubbing on the exhaust. the spark plugs were all done with the socket, universal joint extension, 6 inch extension and the wrench. one of them was soo tight that i just put the socket on the plugs and grabbed an open end wrench and turned it out. and yes use the motor mounts from a V8 maverick. anymore questions feel free to ask.
i have a 351w in mine don't have any problems with getting to the plugs shock towers are cut back my headers are Hedman Elite Hedders 500-88308 had 1 tube remade to clear the pitmen arm for Manuel steering
I agree 100% with MaverickGrabber, NRFD (no replacement for displacement). 351, 393, 408, 418, 427 or whatever... less filling and tastes GREAT! Terry Gates AKA Bossmav
Yes, the 393's run well. Like mentioned previously, gotta love big motors in little cars! That being said, people have used shorty headers with good results, but the shortys were not going to cut it for me. For a bracket car, I build my own set of long-tubes (REALLLLY LONG tubes LOL) that clear the powerglide and exit just under the doors at about a 45* angle. They work well, and sound even meaner. You can't tell it's not a big-block by listening to it. See it here (if the link works): http://www.geocities.com/mavman687/bracketcar.htm
Doing it right the first time is definitely worth it. Cut the towers and make it servicable and less frustrating in the end. I put a 351 Cleveland in by cutting the shock towers back to the edge of the springs and welding in new metal and shortening the upper control arms. I also modified the headers a little and ran a full exhaust system. I did this in 1988 without anything but a welder and some desire to have something better and different. (fast too!) Took me about a long weekend and It was well worth the effort. There is a ton of help on this board and much better technology available nowadays. Plus it looks kick-ass when you "pop" the hood and the power bulges out of the engine bay.
