Reply to "351 Cleveland four bolt main engine heads complete"

Matt,

Just an FYI, but the fact that you have 1970 heads on a 1972-73 means that someone has been into this thing. Who knows what your bore size is...... You can hope that it is original....but it doesn't guarantee it!

You may be able to look thru a spark plug hole and read the numbers on the tops of the piston, to see if there is any .030 or .060 behind the part number to indicate an oversize bore. I've done this in the past! You should also be able to tell if this has dished pistons (stock) or if they have been replaced with flat tops to bring the compression ratio up out of the dumpster.... (max 9.5ish:1 with dished pistons and closed chamber heads)

As for the info from the eBay add regarding the XXX's etc, the statement that someone told you is not necessarily correct!

While the presence of the XXXX and YYY's indicates a "four bolt capable" block, it does NOT indicate how the casting was machined!!!! People do not seem to understand that Ford took a casting and many times machined it differently and assigned different part numbers to it for different applications!

A casting number is NOT a part number on Ford stuff! IF it is the same, it is coincidence. All it does, is identify the CASTING molds used.

So, until you drop the pan and confirm it, you will never be able to 100% guarantee that you have 4 bolt main caps. (You probably do, but I wouldn't bid without knowing for sure.)

Would also be a good idea to inspect a rod bearing or two to insure that this thing didn't have issues.... Perhaps even check the #4 main.


IMHO, the $2500 price tag is a bit off base. If it were a 1971 Boss 351 with all the bits and pieces, then you'd be in the ball park.

Shipping will run aprox $400-800 depending on who you use. Forward Air will be the most reasonable price, but are a little quirky to deal with. I just priced my 351C 4 bolt short block for shipping from CA to the east coast and it was around $400. You have heads, so add another 160lbs or so!!!