351w refurb
Printed From: CorrectCraftFan.com
Category: Repairs and Maintenance
Forum Name: Engine Repair
Forum Discription: Engine problems and solutions
URL: http://www.CorrectCraftFan.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=40473
Printed Date: October-07-2024 at 2:25am
Topic: 351w refurb
Posted By: gmars70970
Subject: 351w refurb
Date Posted: January-27-2017 at 6:27pm
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Starting to make some progress now on the old 351w from my 1980 Ski Nautique. Whats a recommended make of gaskets etc.   
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Replies:
Posted By: Gary S
Date Posted: January-27-2017 at 8:56pm
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Graeme I don't know what you have available to you but in fresh water I used all Fel-Pro gaskets for almost 20 years with no problems. When I changed the heads to gt40p's I bought PCM head gaskets just to be sure. I bought all the parts before doing the change,so I did not know how the Fel-Pro's were going to look. ------------- http://www.correctcraftfan.com/diaries/details.asp?ID=1711&sort=&pagenum=1&yrstart=1966&yrend=1970" rel="nofollow - 69 Mustang HM SS 95 Nautique Super Sport |
Posted By: LaurelLakeSkier
Date Posted: January-27-2017 at 11:14pm
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I've had good success using Fel-Pro gaskets on my 351 as well...... ------------- The world is full of youth—what we need is a fountain of smart! |
Posted By: gmars70970
Date Posted: January-28-2017 at 6:25pm
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Thanks for that. Just done a search and I can get Fel-pro gaskets over here. I'll compare prices between those and getting OEM parts shipped over. Thanks Graeme |
Posted By: gmars70970
Date Posted: January-29-2017 at 4:38pm
Do these look like new pistons to anybody else?
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Posted By: gmars70970
Date Posted: February-13-2017 at 5:20pm
Well my plan on replacing the head gasket went a bit further than originally planned.  
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Posted By: MrMcD
Date Posted: February-13-2017 at 6:34pm
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The picture is not complete, can't see the piston skirt or rings but the picture does look like a new piston. You can't hide the wear on a piston skirt if they are used. Also used pistons would show oil burned on the inside of the piston head above the piston pin. If the pistons are oversize it will be stamped on the piston head. IE: 20, 30, 40 or if metric it will say: 50mm 75mm or 100mm I don't think your old 351 would still be standard bore. ------------- |
Posted By: gmars70970
Date Posted: February-13-2017 at 6:43pm
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The pistons are stamped 0.030" The previous owner never mentioned new pistons so I was surprised to find them when I stripped it down. Hopefully that's a cost saving as it's already had new pistons. |
Posted By: MrMcD
Date Posted: February-14-2017 at 4:51am
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If they came out looking like the picture they are very low hour pistons. ------------- |
Posted By: gmars70970
Date Posted: February-14-2017 at 5:28am
| Yes that the way they came out, the picture was taken mid strip down so nothing had been cleaned yet. |
Posted By: MrMcD
Date Posted: February-14-2017 at 2:34pm
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The block is .030 oversize so it has been rebuilt before. Why is this engine coming apart? ------------- |
Posted By: gmars70970
Date Posted: February-14-2017 at 2:47pm
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I removed the engine to do the stringer repair. Since I had the engine out I thought this would be the ideal time to replace gaskets, bearings etc. I didn't know it had previously been worked on until I started to strip it. |
Posted By: tryathlete
Date Posted: February-14-2017 at 4:27pm
| I'd inspect the cylinder bores and crank and rod journals and can lobes (dimensional and appearance) and if. All ok, reassemble the thing. |
Posted By: gmars70970
Date Posted: February-14-2017 at 4:48pm
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Thats the plan. I'm not clued up on engines but my dads a retired mechanic and I work in engineering so between us we should be ok. Is there somewhere I can get the standard dimensions for the cams etc so I know if its been reground for when I'm buying shells etc |
Posted By: tryathlete
Date Posted: February-14-2017 at 4:58pm
| I'd put a set of rollers and a new roller cam if I had it apart. |
Posted By: gmars70970
Date Posted: February-14-2017 at 5:01pm
Ok thanks, anything else you'd defo replace when this far in? |
tryathlete wrote:Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: February-14-2017 at 5:02pm
| No such animal exists in the wild for a RH 351w. |
Posted By: tryathlete
Date Posted: February-14-2017 at 5:03pm
| What are total engine hours? |
Posted By: gmars70970
Date Posted: February-14-2017 at 5:07pm
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I'll double check the hours tomorrow. But since the previous owner never mentioned the new pistons being done i've no idea how many hours its ran since being worked on. It ran fine before I removed it, but since I had it out I thought it would be the ideal opportunity to freshen it up. As I said my dads the mechanic not me lol |
Posted By: KENO
Date Posted: February-14-2017 at 5:53pm
Ain't none in captivity either 
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Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: February-14-2017 at 6:02pm
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Posted By: MrMcD
Date Posted: February-14-2017 at 7:16pm
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The heads are off, very nice time to replace the stock heads with some GT40 heads for more power. Or look at local Craigslist adds for a set of AFR heads. I have seen several sets for around $1,000. The AFR will out perform the GT40 but may not be worth the extra money. I think the GT40 heads are worth 40 HP but others may have more accurate notes on this. ------------- |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: February-14-2017 at 7:23pm
| His location changes a lot of those options... not much economical about rebuilding old American iron across the pond, I suspect. |
Posted By: gmars70970
Date Posted: February-14-2017 at 7:30pm
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Yeh there's not an abundance of parts over here in Scotland. I'll stick to stock parts if possible, I'm happy with the power output & would prefer reliability. Summer lasts about 3 days in Scotland, so the engine should last my lifetime lol |
Posted By: TRBenj
Date Posted: February-14-2017 at 7:33pm
| Stock is fine if it meets your needs, but do not confuse increased power with decreased reliability. Often times, superior quality, more efficient parts improve both. |
Posted By: gmars70970
Date Posted: February-15-2017 at 7:52am
Totally understand advances in technology can give both power & reliability. What I should have said was budget lol..... if the standard parts are still in good working order then I'll re-use them. Getting prices today to get the engine block pressure tested & the shaft checked out. |