[DeTomaso] Aluminum Cleveland Block

Doug Braun doug at silicondesigns.com
Wed Sep 24 15:01:07 EDT 2008


Or if your last name is Cleveland (right Larry?)

Seriously though, I'm using an SVO Windsor block in mine with 351C-4V iron
heads and an Edelbrock F351 dual plane (now called the Performer).  From all
appearances in the engine bay, it looks like a Cleveland, except for the
missing oil pressure sender at the back of the manifold.  This block has the
superior Windsor type oiling system, is much stronger than the 351C, and
some versions can be bored and stroked to 427 Cu-in if desired (PI
Motorsports is doing these).  The conversion does however, require the
following additional mods:

Modification to the front and rear of the intake manifold because the "S"
shaped rails in the block are reversed between the 351C and the 351W.  But
its a simple modification for a good shop with heliarc and machining
capability.

A remote thermostat housing that can easily be hidden at the right side of
the RH valve cover just ahead of the coolant pressure bottle.

1" coolant fittings off the front corners of each head to feed the remote
thermostat.

Minor relocation of the alternator & AC compressor (some of our vendors have
these brackets)

Doug Braun
blue 73L #5505

-----Original Message-----
From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com
[mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com]On Behalf Of Larry - Ohio Time Corp
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 10:01 AM
To: 'LS'; cengles at cox.net
Cc: detomaso at realbig.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Aluminum Cleveland Block


<<Windsor in an early Pantera blasphemous??>>

Only if you are from Cleveland...

Larry (blank) - Cleveland

-----Original Message-----
From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com] On
Behalf Of LS
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 12:57 PM
To: cengles at cox.net
Cc: detomaso at realbig.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Aluminum Cleveland Block

Bill, Chuck, thanks for the replies and updates.
 
I can't believe nobody in AUS has put one together yet...
 
Is installing a Windsor in an early Pantera blasphemous??
 
Thanks,
LS

----- Original Message ----
From: "cengles at cox.net" <cengles at cox.net>
To: LS <lashdeep at yahoo.com>
Cc: detomaso at realbig.com
Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2008 12:38:20 PM
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] Aluminum Cleveland Block


Dear LS,
The short answer is that no one is reliably producing aluminum 351 C blocks
and there are none, reliable or not, readily available.
The long answer is that there were a very few aluminum blocks cast by Ford
for racing purposes. You won't find any of these . Todd Buttermore has
experience with engine casting and production. He has embarked on a project
to create a new, improved 351C with corrections and improvements on the old
design. He has cast up a few blocks. He is not reliably producing them, but
he intends to provide them in aluminum and iron. To my knowledge, this block
has not yet been assembled into a working engine nor tested in the real
world. It seems very promising, but it certainly will be a while before it
is available.
Warmest regards, Chuck Engles

---- LS <lashdeep at yahoo.com> wrote:
>Is anyone reliably producing Al 351C blocks today?
>
>I have seen talk about tooling up some from different manufacturers, but
can't find any readily available sources.
>
>Thanks,
>LS






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