quote:Originally posted by Jimlah:
I'm not sure about the Powerheads either, which is why I posted here to see what others thought. There really are no posts addressing the issue, but they are spoken highly of in the George Reid book "Ford 351 Cleveland Engines".
Do you really want heads cast in China? Those are Pro Comp heads.
The George Reid book, in which I am quoted, is geared towards selling you aftermarket parts, and it has the mind-set that all engines are the same. This is the totally wrong mind-set for a 351C with 4V heads. The book was geared towards commercialism, as are many hot-rod books these days. It was a disappoint for me. The Des Hammill book is a better document in terms of honesty and accuracy. I am not quoted in that book, but I had some influence in its content.
quote:Originally posted by Jimlah:
The Hypereutectic pistons are another of those items. Does it make sense to spend double the price on forged pistons for a street car?
The real question is what's available in terms of round skirt pistons? Buy a set of round skirt pistons, I don't care what they're made out of. Round skirt pistons deal with the problem of cracking the thin cylinder walls. The Ross pistons, available via Summit racing, are the best deal in round skirt pistons known to me. Yes they're still $580 and I know that's a lot of pesos. But you're thinking about spending how much on cylinder heads that you don't need?
I don't own stock in Ross pistons .... honest
quote:Originally posted by Jimlah:
My engine builder really wants to be a part of the camshaft selection, thus my hesitance to have a specific recommendation.
But does your engine builder understand the needs of a big valve engine? Perhaps this is a moot point if you choose the Power Heads cylinder heads. I don't know your engine builder. He may be a good person, a smart person. But guys with 351C savvy are far and few between. The advice of old guys, who dealt with the 351C back in the 1970s and 1980s, is often dissed by the younger generations. They feel they are so much better informed than we were.
I'm sorry Jim, I'm a bit jaded by the haughty attitude of some of the engine mechanics I've run into on the internet. I learned how to hot-rod engines listening to the old guys.Telephone Jim Kuntz in Arkadelphia Arkansas and talk to him about Clevelands. Google him if you doubt his experience.
The Cleveland isn't like other V8s in that it was a performance engine right off the assembly line. You don't need a wheelbarrow full of SEMA parts to make power. The big valve heads of the 351C 4V are good heads, you don't need anything more than that to assemble a street engine with an output of 450 bhp. But the big valves and ports tuned for 6000 rpm make them unique. The 351C has a few other unique needs as well. As long as somebody understands their way around the engine, its cool. And if I can understand it, anybody can.
My 2 cents.
-G
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