351C based engine

[Ford & Jeep Fan]

I am in the planning gathering stages for parts right now. I have a 351C in my basement. Thinking about making it a "390 stroked Cleveland" with a few other parts.
I've got the entire engine planned out in my head,....... Except for the exhaust.

Does anyone know if someone,....Anyone has made some headers for this engine in a roadster??

[Salty Chief 35]

Shell valley and vintage wheels have headers for 351c. Also I believe Gordon Levy recommended George at Gas n pipes who can send you Frankenstein gadget kit and custom make you a set. Another option I heard works is to get shorty headers (forward facing) and use j pipes. At 390-392ci, that Cleveland will have no problems propelling you down the road. Have fun!!!
I also have a 351c but I’m still a year or two from being able to order my kit (truck or roadster… keep going back and forth).
Respectfully,
Jeremie

[GoDadGo]

NOTE:..The Shell Valley Headers won't fit the Factory Five Chassis.
...........They locate their engine about 5-6" further forward than F5.

[Salty Chief 35]

Thanks go dad. Didn’t know there was that much of a difference. They both have the same wheel base. I would recommend buying the mild steel and not ceramic coated that way you could return if they don’t fit.
Respectfully,
Jeremie

[Jim1855]

Just an FYI, Superformance headers won't work in an FFR either. In the SPF the motor sits about 2" further forward. I've tried.

Another difference is the length of the headers. The SPF headers are about 12" long from the heads. This is significantly shorter than FFR pieces.

Jim

[CaptB]

I was very happy with my Gasn experience, if they can do it for you that's who I would go to.

[CraigS]

I don't know the answer but I'd do more checking as to what else needs to be different w/ a C engine. As I understand it, back in the day the Cs were popular because the stock heads flowed better than the stock W heads. Now, w/ aftermarket heads, that advantage is gone. So needing special headers, and special other things(?), a C may be more trouble than it is worth.

[frankb]

Foird&JeepFan:

What you are planning is exactly what I did. In my case, I obtained the header (head) flange template from CHI (Supplier of my heads) and had the flanges cut. Then I welded up my own headers using header bends such as these: https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sch-mb200 (Summit Racing).
BTW, I have an extra pair of head flanges if you want to build yours. PM me if interested.

Frank B

[Ford & Jeep Fan]

........ As I understand it, back in the day the Cs were popular because the stock heads flowed better than the stock W heads. Now, w/ aftermarket heads, that advantage is gone. .......

Yes I know there are a bunch of aftermarket heads for all the 302 and 351Ws. Did you know there are now at least 16 different aftermarket heads for the 351C??
When the CID limit was lowered to 358 in NASCAR in the early 70s Ford racers raced Cleveland engines till 1991, when they switched to Windsor blocks, But they still used Cleveland heads. These were ran till 2008 when the switch was made to The FR9 engine.
starting in the 80s Ford made a much stronger Windsor block. It uses smaller Cleveland size main bearings.
I got to see (some of) the insides of a few of these Nascar Engines back in the early 90s of both brands. (I was sworn to secrecy back then) What i saw was quite eye opening.
The chev heads with a valve cover off looked a little like a ford. the intake valve angle leaned more towards the intake than the exh.
Both brands used different rocker ratios that stock. Most used 1.6 or 1.65 on the intake side and 1.6 or 1.55 on exh.

To see the potential of a Cleveland head look at this article/video https://www.thedrive.com/news/43612/625-hp-ford-boss-300-inline-six-destroys-v8s-without-forced-induction?fbclid=IwAR130HeWlx7WVYnwwJdeBjAev9JebRG pbnj1URP1Cr4HXI3jxeUOKkTJydk

[Higgybulin]

I'm with Frank, make them yourself or find someone that can help you out. Personalizes the project even more and there are only a handful of guys running a Cleveland!!
Here are mine...
159031
159032
159033

[burchfieldb]

Going the same route with the Cleveland, bored and stroked to a 393 with Trick Flow heads. I talked with Georgie and he said he would send me the Franken pipes to lay it out. It was $1500 for him to build the headers, a few months ago. I may just build my own as well, there is not much to them. I wasn't having any luck finding a symmetric shorty set of headers. If anyone knows of some, that would be great to know. Going to go in a coupe, which is supposed to ship in September. 166057166057166057166057

[Mike.Bray]

starting in the 80s Ford made a much stronger Windsor block. It uses smaller Cleveland size main bearings.

I'm using a 351W SVO type block with Cleveland size main bearings. Had to have Scat custom grind a crankshaft for me. I think it's a cool deal though.

https://www.imagecoast.com/images/MichaelBray1/20211031140613mediumrotated.jpg

[Fordguy]

I just ordered my FFR MK4, they say I wont see it until at least December (I hope). I will be installing a 408 Cleveland 500hp/530tq. I spoke to George at GasN about long tube headers for the C block, he said to contact him when I set the motor in the chassis and he will figure out a way to accommodate the flange for the C block. Maybe you will get to him before I do and he will have the template all ready done for future C block users. Also, I'm going to use his touring side pipes, with high compression the Cleveland is going to be very loud and I understand the FFR pipes are (too) loud. Good Luck, let me know what develops.