Project 351 Cleveland

First of all, I'm from Brazil, and my english isn't 100%, so excuse me for the future mistakes I'm going to write here, and would like to find someone who made or is making a similar project. Hope you all can understand and enjoy my page.

Well, this car I bought in 2003. It was a 1995 V6 3.8 Mustang. It came with a dual exaust, and my first real upgrade on it was to put a Vortech Supercharger on it, and dual 2.5" pipes with a "H" structure. It was very nice, but you know how it works. We always want more and more power. After a year usig that specs, I decided change for a V8. But here in Brazil we have only some old 302 carbs, and nothing else more modern or bigger, like a 4.6, or a boss engine. So, after some time looking around, I found it. It was a beautiful 351C 5.8L 2V. It was from a Ford Cougar 1972 and i knew that the Mustang Mach1 1969 to 74 had that engine too. So I took it. Some people sayed to me that it was madness, and that the engine wasn't going to fit in the 95's safe. But with some patience I think everything is possible, and I decided to give it a try. The project isn't finish yet, and I'm working for 2 years, since I decided to put a V8.

Here is an old picture of some brazilian mustang lovers frinds of mine. Nothing better than talk about mustang modifications with a lot of mustang nuts in a sunny sunday day.

Here are the first picture of it. Sorry about the quality of these images, they were took with some weak cellphone. The first is the V6 being removed, already with the heads off. The second is the engine just when I bought it. It was running well, but nothing extraordinary. So I decided to open it, and make a re-build with some upgrades. That took me a lot of greens $$$.

The 351 Cleveland Project

First, I know what you're thinking! This guy is nuts. The car wasn't so bad, why change this so welldone V6 project? Well, I was very happy with that car. But I had some serius problems with that, and here in my city I couldn't found a real helpfull assistense. So, I always got a v8 dream, and I took all of this like an change engine oportunity.

Taking the V6 off, and buying an old sleeping 5.8L Ford 351 Cleveland. It was in a 1972 Ford Cougar. All painted blue, with chrome valve covers. It wasn't so bad. But I opened it all and start shopping. ;)

First, I had to open the engine bore size to 0.040 to start making a nice engine restauration. I heard once that it isn't cool open this bore to 0.40, but I saw 351C with 0.60 working well, so... The engine took a new set of Keith Black Hypereutectic Pistons, with Dish Top, and 4.040 in. bore size. Dish tops to make the compreesion lower and the supercharger works safetly. I had to transform the original Connecting Rods to floating wrist pin style. A new smooth camshaft from Crane 272/272 and hydraulic lifters. New Rocker Arms half roller set. Pushrod guideplates, new chromemoly pushrods set and moly piston rings, copper head gaskets. And everything else new, including aluminium water pump, oil pump, gasket sets, double chain and all bearings new. I got thse parts from Summit Racing. Everything with ARP bolts on. ;)

My third move was selling the V6, the Vortech, to pay the summit bill and buying a Mp112 Eaton Supercharger at eBay from USA :D I will fit here some pictures of the SC in the future. Now you must be wondering how could I fit a 351C and a M112 on it, inside of the 95 stang's safe, with an original and not cutted hood! ;)

After months of looking for the right motor mounts, we used a old chevy model mounts. This one could fit the engine with some mount modification very deep and low in the safe. The engine was very retreated and near the "fire wall" (don't know if that is the correct name of it). That was good because that would make the car more stable in turns. Oh, almost forgot! The oil pam needed a lot of modifications. I had to cut it a lot, making it very smaller and fitting it over the front axis. The head exaust was the stocks but I intend to make new ones. I will look for and publish more pictures for this part.

After sitting the engine, we used a Mallory distributor to make the car running without the sueprcharger first. It worked very well. The car was running, but it wasn't powerfull like it should. I believe it was because of the dishes pistons. The original ratio of a 2V 351C is 8.5. I believe it was around 7.5. So it was hard to get the engine even starts. I forgot to mention that I'm still using a lot of parts from the V6. From the engine to the rear, the alluminium bell housing, the high torque starting motor, driving shaft, diferential, 5-speed transmition, everything is original from the V6. If something will brake or not, I don't know, but I will be. If something break, I change it for a new and better :)

The pulley system is all from the V6. The AC is still there, with some pipe line changes. The alternator, hydraulic steering, and it's support still there too. Everything from the V6 bolted in the old V8. The V6 crank pulley was modified. Like a glove :D

As you can see, that safe is bigger than it looks. I took of the water reservatory, and I cutted a little the eletric fan house too. The battery was placed in the trunk (oh! and it is a 150A battery, a truck one, since start that engine isn't a easy task now on). I placed it right over the rear axis, to make more gripping effects course! ;)

The first part was completed. Now I was ready to get starting to put Fuel Injection on this new pony heart. I toke the intake and made the injectors connectors. The injectors I got from eBay too, 24lb from a F-150, and the fuel system was a national Digipulse Full. It was temporary. I knew that I could't make the top calibration using that.

Here is a close look at the "small" mouth of the 351C 2v Header. Can you wonder how big is the 351C 4v exits? It's big, trust me. ;)

About the exterior, I will use 4" exausts, 20" rims, with 235/35 at front, and 315/35 at the rear. I don't know if that rim size will be too big, hope not. I'm trying to get close to a Saleen look here, but still there are a lot to do. The painel already have now a hallmeter, vacuummeter, oil pressure, fuel pressure gauges. I want to upgrade the brakes too, still thinking about willwood, brenbo, and other brands. The front bumper is modified based on some others mods and my head :P
The 2 black Saleen stripes at the sides a got from eBay. The headlights are the Crystal EuroLights, got from eBay too!

The extra gauge instruments are from ODG and Chronomac. Vacuometer and hallmeter in the middle, and fuel pressure and oil pressure with other instruments.

Here is the original picture of the wheels at the website store. I still don't know about this black. I'm still thinking in a dark silver color in that.

This pulley I build it using the old v6 crankshaft pulley. Now this super pulley has the crankshaft pulley, a giant pulley for the supercharger engine generate almost the doubble of pressure, and the tooth for the ignition system.

This is how the engine is at this moment. We started the engine yesterday (07/05/08), but still have much to do. Calibrate, search for leaks and other kind of problems. We will disassemble the intake and the supercharger for a few corrections this days. Next week calibrate the injection system (FuelTech system is being used here). And them all the exaust system will be restaured.

I will use the stock steering wheel and shaft of the 2008 mustang. Some decals and details like this here I'm still thinking about.

Here is the right header ready. Check out the rocker arms and the valve guides. That's a nice and cheap upgrade for the Cleveland.

Fell free to post a coment, I will be glad in return. And I will post more picture soon.

Thanks!!!