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351C Head Installation

Ford manufactured the 351 Cleveland, or 351C, engine from 1970 to 1974. It appears in various Ford vehicles during this period, especially the Mustang. The 351C engine is a V8 engine with a cylinder head for each side of the engine. The installation of the cylinder heads in a 351C engine is generally the same for all vehicles. You will need to remove different components depending on which cylinder head you are replacing.

Instructions

1

Place a drain pan under the radiator drain and open the drain cock with a socket wrench. Drain the coolant into the pan and replace the drain cock. Store the coolant for later use.

2

Disconnect the intake manifold from the engine with the carburetor still attached. Remove the muffler inlet pipes from the exhaust manifold with a socket wrench and remove the exhaust manifold. Record the position of the spark plug wires and detach them from the spark plugs. Unscrew the spark plugs from the cylinder heads.

3

Detach the drive belt from the air compressor if your vehicle is so equipped. Disconnect the mounting bolts for the compressor with a socket wrench and push the compressor out of your way. Remove the drive belt for the power steering pump. Disconnect the mounting bolts for the pump and move the pump out of your way. Perform this step only if you are removing the left cylinder head.

4

Disconnect the alternator, ignition coil and air inlet duct with a socket wrench. Detach the hose from the air manifold on the right cylinder head. Perform this step only if you are removing the right cylinder head.

5

Remove the electrical wires from the rear of the cylinder heads. Loosen the retaining nuts for the rocker arms with a socket wrench and turn the rocker arms to access the push rods. Record the position of the push rods and remove them from the engine block.

6

Record the positions of the mounting bolts on the cylinder block. Disconnect the mounting bolts with a socket wrench and pull the cylinder heads from the engine block. Remove the cylinder head gaskets from the engine block and discard them.

7

Clean the mounting surfaces for the cylinder head gasket with a gasket scraper and shop rag. Mount the new cylinder head gaskets over the dowels on the engine block and mount new gaskets on the muffler inlet pipes. Place the cylinder heads onto the dowels on the engine block.

8

Coat the heads of the cylinder head mounting bolts with water-resistant sealer and place them in the original holes you recorded in Step 6. Tighten the mounting bolts on the first pass to 50 foot-pounds with a torque wrench. Tighten them 60 foot-pounds on the second pass, then tighten them to between 95 and 100 foot-pounds on the third pass.

9

Test the push rods for straightness by rolling them across a flat surface and replace any bent push rods. Soak the push rods in engine oil solvent and clean them with compressed air. Install the push rods according to the notes you made in Step five.

10

Rotate the rocker arms into position and replace the covers for the rocker arms. Tighten the retaining bolts for the rocker arm covers to between three and five foot-pounds with a torque wrench.

11

Install the exhaust manifold to the engine block and tighten its retaining nuts to between 18 and 24 foot-pounds. Install the intake manifold to the engine block with a socket wrench. Connect the components you removed in Step three if you installed the left cylinder head. Connect the components you removed in Step four if you installed the right cylinder head. Adjust the tension on the drive belts that you removed.

12

Attach the electrical wire to the rear of the cylinder heads. Screw the spark plugs into their bores on the engine block with a socket wrench. Connect the electrical wiring for the spark plugs according to the notes you made in Step two. Fill the radiator with the coolant you drained. Start the engine and check for fluid leaks.

Posted by Unknown at 6:00 PM

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Labels: 351c, head, installation