Hows it going everyone? so i came across a first gen lightning engine and i was thinking about building it up and dropping it in a 4x4 truck. I was wondering whats the difference between a lighting 351 and a standard 351? like the compression, hp/lb, and any other things i should know that makes the lightning 351 different. Also how much power can they could support depending if i get it I may put a super charger to give me a edge at the sand drags.

thanks
Mike

 

how complete is it???? do you have the intake and stuff???

 

Intake and heads are different..

Intake is considered by some worth it's weight in gold.

 

sorry about that guys should have gave a little more information about the engine but yes its complete even comes with the wire harness/computer I'm getting it from my friend. just under 70k miles ran find before he rolled it if i get it I'm going to pull the heads and make sure everything is fine. I had a question about the heads are they gt40 alum or is it a gt40 design? oh yeah it came out of a 1995 lightning and i was wondering if the blocks are different is there any way to know its a lightning engine besides the intake and heads? hes not trying to pull a fast one on me i was just wondering if the Vin or something is different so you know what engine it is and what truck it come out of hope that information helps

Thanks
Mike

 

if it's a lightning 351 then as stated aboce the heads and intake are different


everything else is the same and interchangeable as the other 351's


but the gt40 heads may need the gt40 intake

 

Heads are the original GT-40's. Not P's, not Y's, Not X or whatever they got now. Cast iron.

The lower half of the intake is highly sought after.

It is also a Roller Block "rare" when it comes to 351's. Only made those for a few years.

Roller blocks are considered the weakest of all 351's. Still a lot of guys with over 650rwhp with them though.

There were "truck" rods and "car" rods. Truck rods are considered stronger.

84 and up had a 1 piece rear main seal. 83 and down had 2 piece.

Also in the early years(69 or so) they deck heights were slightly different if memory serves me correctly.

 

Thanks for the information FatherFord so despite it having gt40 heads and the intake is the block even worth it? the engine is going in to a truck going to do a lot of sand drag racing up comp hill that's why I'm considering a small block over a big block rap up those R quicker you think the block is good or should I get it a different block and swap everything over because I'm getting this engine for dirt cheap talking about a grand or so?

 

The guys that get them to last in "high hp" 600-650rwhp is turbo guys that stay under 6000rpm in the 1/4 mile.

What kind of RPM and Power output are we talking about? The earlier blocks, if/when you find one, can hold some decent power and RPMS. I know some turbo guys pushing 1000rwhp through them.

A grand for a lighting 351? Ill say this. Intake sells for $250-400 depending on condition. Heads/1.7 rockers go for $150-300. Roller block goes for $100-300. Usually though an Intake to oil pan lightning engine goes for $600-800 here in Texas. Do you plan on using the intake and heads?

IMO if you want to stay small block this is what I would do if I were you.


Look for an older non-roller 351 short-block.. I have had them given to me before...

Piece together an EBAY 393. Watch for the deals and you can do it. 302 forged pistons, some china H-beam 351 rods, and a cast 393 crank.

What you local mustang forums/eBay/craigslist for a set of used aluminum heads. Don't get suckered into the AFR hype, they are good heads but aren't worth the money people want IMO. Canfields, Edelbrock, Holley, trick flows. Note though, 302 heads have a 3/8 head bolt, where as 351's have 1/2". So you must drill them out if you get them, most though come with 1/2" so they can be used on either 302 or 351. I have a pair for TW trick flows with a cnc port job and 1.6 roller rockers I picked up for $400. A Pair of Canfileds with a "stage 3" port job by fast lake for $600, both are leaps and bounds better then GT-40 heads.

Once again, watch the ebay/craigslist for intake manifolds. Do you plan on carb or efi?

Buy a roller rocker conversion lifters. $400-500, then you can use any roller cam out there, which used they got for $75-100 all the time on the mustang forums.

That will give you a good platform for a solid engine. Throw some boost(turbo) on it and you will have a screamer!

 

Once again thanks for the information i was thinking right around 450hp more or less is fine with me but right around 450. i would like to go with EFI i haven't decided yet but my f-150 has 4x4 i beams so i was thinking about putting some nice suspension under it so i can do a little pre running also if the hill is beat a bit or thrashed i wouldn't have to worry about the carb cutting out if i hit a huge rut or from the bouncing. I was thinking about using the heads and intake but once u said that I'm having sec thoughts about getting the engine now but I'm still thinking about it. I always owned newer ford vehicles so i don't know to much about the older fords i build a nice a 350 for my 69 Camaro but that's about it but seeing how 99 percent of all my friends are all chevy pride all i herd is oh its going to blow up the first time you start it... so sorry if im asking to much questions but like i said i dont know much about the older ford i know the basics like what came in what but no clue which blocks are better and why and how much something goes for so once again thanks
how much compression am i looking at for a turbo 351 or even a super charged?
Thanks
Mike

 

If you are just looking for 450rwhp that lightning engine would be fine. Ill even be bold enough to say that the stock rod SHOULD hold with arp bolts, but for just a little more you can buy some cheap ebay rods that aren't the best, but will hold 450rwhp no problem. Get some cheaper forged pistons why you are at it and 450rwhp will be plenty safe. Hell if you go that far, spend another $200 and get a cast 393 stroker crank... A "gt-40" 351 with a budget turbo setup will do 450-500rwhp no problem.

The factory compression is fine for blown or turbo aps. I suggest turbo application for the 351 platform. Go to the http://www.theturboforums.com/ and read up on what the stang guys are doing. You can read what ebay stuff does and doesn't work, what cheap turbos to get, etc to build a solid turbo setup for 1/2 the price of a blower kit.

Also if you want to go into EFI, either convert over to a mustang mass air setup, or go megasquirt.

I would do $750 for that lightning long block. Replace the rods and pistons with some cheaper eBay replacements. Mock up a turbo setup(easy on a truck) upgrade the fuel system with a Walbro intank and a Bosch 044 pump with 1/2 fuel lines and call it a day. A solid safe 500-550rwhp 550-600ftlbs of torque. If you think you will ever want more then that(and you will) Look for an older block and get aftermarket heads/intake etc.

OR

Older block, with some good aftermarket heads, intake, cam, with a 408 stroker will get your 450rwhp also without the use of boost.

A little research on your end, and you will have you chevy buddys with their mouth wide open as all they see is the sand throwing at them while you are in front. 302/351 aftermarket is just as cheap and plentiful as the chevy small block now...

 

hmm alright well once again fatherford thanks i do have one more question tho i hope you don't mind answering this one for me but whats up with those sportman blocks? what era of blocks is that block engineered off of or its it just a new improvement block?? like the new 302 block they look expansive but i was just wondering if those blocks are any good for high horse power.
thanks
Mike

 

Sportsman Blocks are better engineered blocks from ford racing.

How wild do you plan on going. That 450rwhp figure any 351 block will do.

 

right around 450hp is my target goal i was just wondering what was up with that sportman block.

Thanks
Mike

 

The 351w is not a high rev motor. It's a Torque Monster. Why make it into a high RPM motor...unless you really want to.

 

http://www.f150hub.com/svt/1st-gen-lightning.html

The Gen. 1 L came with a Marine cam. The '93 R code block is not roller ready. The ECM is L specific.