BBF Ford question...

[Saleen91]

a buddy of mine called me up today who has a customer selling a Ford big block. It comes with the heads and he "just wants to get rid of it". Since I don't know much about them, is there anything in particular to look for? Certain year/model casting numbers?

[Ranger50]

Older is better. C8, C9, D0.... Anything after D4 ('74), is about garbage.

Brian

[Saleen91]

After looking at it, I think it's a 351C or a 351M. The heads definitely look like Clevelands. The deck is about 9.2, and is definitely less than 9.5.

It's also a 4 bolt block.

[FE_rex]

Cleveland would have the small block bell housing pattern, 351M would have the big block bell housing pattern

Definitely not a big block they have about a 10.3 deck

[FE_rex]

Older is better. C8, C9, D0.... Anything after D4 ('74), is about garbage.

Brian

Actually about the only 'thick-web" blocks were the DOVE (70) and the DIVE with 4 bolt mains. All the others are about the same and the hp limit is around 7-800 w/o a girdle or 4-bolt main conversion. One of the hot tickets on a stroker now is to get a late model truck block as the cylinders are longer toward the crank giving more support to strokers.

[Saleen91]

Thanks for the info Ken. Here's what I've determined so far. The heads are the 4 barrel Cleveland heads casting date of March 2, 1972, DA. The block, from what I've been able to research so far, is a 351C-Boss block as it has factory 4 bolt caps on it. The block has a casting number D2AE-CA. It's still standard bore. Atleast that's the info I'm finding via google.

I just crossrefernced the block casting numbers and this is what I found. D2AE-CA is the casting number, date of manufacturer is 2/24/72.

351C Boss 351C-71 CJ, HO 72-74 4V 72-74 D2AE-CA 4.00 bore 9.206 deck height.
Note casting # same as 2 bolt. Hobby consensus is that Ford mixed these in production. 2 bolt blocks have been found on 4V's and 4 bolt blocks in family cars. :eeek: The Boss 351 engine block Casting # is D0AE-L.
D2AE-CA is a sevice block, anybody that ended up blowing there Boss 351 engine back then, ended up with this service block, this was the replacement block that Ford sold over the counter, same block just different casting #

[Timebomb]

Holy Rustoleum Batman!!!

[1quickgt]

wow is that your new boat anchore?

[Saleen91]

lol

[Shaggy]

So what are your plans on the new "boat anchor"?

[Saleen91]

Sell it if I can find a buyer, now that I know kinda what it is. Now I just need to find out what it's worth.

[Chad82GT]

Might want to have a machine shop take a look at it to see if it can be saved 1st.

[Shaggy]

Might want to have a machine shop take a look at it to see if it can be saved 1st.

from the picture it looks like it can probably be saved but the big thing on price is going to be how many sleeves it needs because of how deep the rust on the cylinder walls may or may not be. If you have the time and are curious you can bring it down and we can run one of my ball hones though it to see how deep some of it is. What shape are the heads in?

[Saleen91]

The heads look like they're in better shape as they don't have the rust that the block does. My guess is that the block was tanked and never sprayed/coated with oil to prevent the rust. The heads haven't been tanked.

[FE_rex]

http://www.network54.com/Forum/119419/
info here you might be interested and perhaps the ideal sales sales demographic

[Fryguy]

That block needs a minimum of $450 of work before it's even usable. Worthless IMO. It's a shame though, would have been a decent block if they hadn't let that happen to it.

[FE_rex]

Any stock block needs $450 before you put it together. Thats about block prep in these parts.

You hot tank it, bore 0.030, line hone, and deck it it 'll be OK

[63T-Bolt]

Ben I will let my friend Don know about the block and such if your wanting to get rid of it. He is a 351c nut and has 5-6 of them and is always looking for more!!

[Saleen91]

cool

[Shaggy]

Hey Ben I might be interested in the heads depending on which ones they are. What is the casting on the heads? or if you know the difference in Clevland heads, are the open or closed chamber head as well as are teh exhaust port roundish or a huge square with on corner cut off?

[63T-Bolt]

Ben he is really interested in it.... I'll pm you his number so to try working a price out on this stuff.....

[Saleen91]

Hey Ben I might be interested in the heads depending on which ones they are. What is the casting on the heads? or if you know the difference in Clevland heads, are the open or closed chamber head as well as are teh exhaust port roundish or a huge square with on corner cut off?


They are 4bbl heads, and I see a casting number on them, under the intake runner of DA.

[Saleen91]

Here's the last pic of the heads I took. Both look to be in the exact same condition.

[Shaggy]

Thanks for the pics, unfortunately for me they are the open chambered 4-v heads, I was hoping they were the closed chamber 4-v's. But I do have a question you did not get those from Russell did you?

[Saleen91]

Nope