long rod 351

[GT Rosema]

anyone had any experience with the long rod 351? I vaguely remember reading a article using 360 Chrysler rods and 350 chevy pistons and getting about 400HP. Would like to hear comments. Thanks, George

[Keithc8]

There is always a new trick of the week and this was pretty common a few years back. I see no reason to do this just build a stroker or stay with the standard 351W combination. It all depends on what you want to do with the engine and your budget. It is no problem to make 400 with the regular 351W engine as it is with the new heads and hydraulic roller camshafts. Good luck, Keith

[Jack21]

This combo was the 377 stroker, and was popular about 10 years ago. The crank was offset ground to a 3.61 stroke, and matched the Mopar rod journal. The Mopar 360 rods had to be milled on one side. This setup conviently mated up with 350 Chevy pistons unless you were using a '68 or '69 block. Then the pistons needed to be milled because of the shorter deck height. In short, a lot of machine shop $$$ (provided the machine shop was even familiar with this setup - most just gave you funny looks) for not much displacement increase.

The popularity of this pretty much died when Scat introduced the 393W stroker crank. It was designed to use stock 351W rods, and stock 302 pistons. Going the 302 piston route, the compression still needed to be dialed in by dishing the pistons. The stock rods could be reused given a typical warm street motor reconditioning. Again, the machining cost nearly equalled a set of new rods that needed nothing. Either way, it still needs balancing.

Today, the entire 393W rotating assembly can be had, balanced, with rings and bearings. FMS now sells the complete short block which includes sportsman roller cam block, stroker crank, forged rods, and (now) forged pistons. It lists for $3k. Pick your poison. Think these 393W's come standard in new SPF's.

[GT Rosema]

Thanks for the insight guys. I was thinking of ease but seems like it is more involved than just going with a stroker. Somehow I had the impression of off shelf parts. Again thanks, George

[Jack21]

The parts are off the shelf. It just depends on whose shelf you look on. Perusing the Keith Craft site from this forum, he offers a "built" 393W short block (Scat crank, Scat rods, SRS or Probe pistons) for ~$400 less than the FMS short block, and an econo model, probably comparable to the FMS (Scat crank, stock rods, TRW pistons) for ~$600 less. He does complete crate engines too, built to your likeing.

Next to perhaps Jack Roush, Keith Craft is one of the foremost Ford engine builders nationwide, if not worldwide. Perusing his "What's New" section is his new CNC machine. Do you know what one of these jewels cost? Well into 7 figures. And his "Built individually at the North Pole by elves" prices are still less than a FMS production line, or low bid contractor assembled engine.

So, shop around.