351 rebuild components

79nautique wrote: Glad I've got a new set of heads and exhaust logs to stay ahead of you guys, Steve and I won't be able to run away from guys as easily as we did last year, hell where's stang been hiding out?

'79, you'd better have some Yates heads and some extra high HiTeks if you plan on staying ahead of me this year. Just kidding, but we might just bring a sleeper......

reid.. that b/c the wind slides over your head better then ours!

Tim,...ah, I was just kidding about that sleeper part too. We'll probably be bringing a 2 barrel carb boat. I certainly don't condone racing, esp with the family ski boat. Unless, of course you're in the company of some very experienced drivers eagerly seeking to test their enhancements, and far from home and away from the ma$$es, then I guess I could go along with some friendly but safe,....testing. And as long as ne'er a word of the results was leaked or discussed at all afterwards, as that could lead to hard feelings and bitterness amongst true friends. Unless I win!!

MM, I'll take any advantage I can get. Just bought some dome wax.

I'll bring my checkered flag. I'm thinking early AM Friday morning at GL- some WOT runs on gla$$!

Hopefully everyone knows I'm just the eternal antagonist. Always looking to stir up some good banter.

But wouldn't a checkered flag be typically indicative of a close race?

Friday AM? Maybe I'd better leave a day earlier to make sure I get there on time, if only just to watch. Need to make sure everyone's aware of this anticipated part of the festivities.      

Does anyone have a better source for front and rear main seals for this engine, 351 reverse rotation? Skidim has them but at about $120, Felpro makes them for half the price but they are backordered until late march from everyone I've tried.

My machinist says that although the engine is reverse there is an oil wick on the crank so I could use a standard or reverse rear seal. I was going to get the reverse anyway but now I'm stuck and I don't want to wait another 3 weeks. What do you think about the standard seal comment? I would still need the front seal to be reverse. I'd like to get started assembling this weekend. Thanks

I don't have specs Chris but the part numbers from Summit are Fpp-17748 for the rear seal and fpp-17795 for the timing cover seal. Both are out of stock at summit until 3-23 and Jegs can't even find the part numbers. Jegs website is a POS and their tech support is sub par to summits.

I guess I should trust the guy with 30 years of experience then and just get a standard rotation seal for the rear, he says I still need a reverse for the the front which I can get from Skidim, it was the less expensive of the 2 anyway. Thanks

Gasket set is part of the problem. Since I was originally only doing the heads I had purchased a top end set. The new water pump came with gaskets, so all I needed was timing cover, oil pan and seals. I should have just returned the original set but I had already opened it and I bought it about four months ago. So now I'm piece mealing it to get the final items I need. Wouldn't be a big deal if the Felpro ones weren't back ordered. I need to stop at an auto parts store today and see if I can take a look at the lip of a standard seal.

Allan call around and ask for National oil seal part numbers 17748 and 17795 or have then cross reference those numbers.

Fel-pro is national oil seal and everyone cross reference their numbers, so call all the autoparts store's in your area.

That was the trick Chris, Summit site listed it as Felpro but no one could match the numbers up. I called the local autozone and told him to look in the national book and he found it in minutes. Still had to order but they'll be in tommorrow for $54 for the set. Thanks a million

I'll bring the seals to the engine builder when I pick up the block saturday and let him take a look to make sure they're correct. he;s the guy who gave me the part numbers so I think we're good.

hey allan on that rear seal is it a one piece seal?

well the 302 and 351w oil pans are different but I believe the timing covers are the same.

AWhite70 wrote: I've seen front seals that look dramatically different. If I remember right the one I took out of my '79 had a flange on it to help control insertion depth. The one I replaced it with didn't have the flange. The sealing geometry and OD of the press-fit were the same though.

I think that is the case with this front seal. It checks out in the parts book but doesn't have the lip you described, I think we're good to go.

Looks like Alan is locked in for the 80's category at Great Lake again this year. Lookin' good!