Ford 351 (351C, 351M, 400M) Cleveland Engines

Author: George Reid, ISBN: 9781613250488

How to Build for Max Performance. Covers 351C, 351M, 400M engines, packed with technical specs, history & more.

Ford's 351 Cleveland was designed to be a "midsized" V-8 engine, and was developed for higher performance use upon its launch in late 1969 for the 1970 models. The Cleveland engine addressed the major shortcoming of the Windsor engines that preceded it, namely cylinder head airflow. The Windsor engines just couldn't be built at the time to compete effectively with the strongest GM and Mopar small-block offerings, and the Cleveland engine was the answer to that problem. Unfortunately, the Cleveland engine was introduced at the end of Detroit's muscle car era, and the engine, in pure Cleveland form, was very short lived. It did continue on as a low-compression passenger car and truck engine in the form of the 351M and 400M, which in their day, offered little in the way of excitement. Renewed enthusiasm in this engine has spawned an influx of top-quality new components that make building or modifying these engines affordable.

The author reviews the history and variations of the 351 Cleveland and Ford's related engines, the 351M and 400M. Basic dimensions and specifications of each engine, along with tips for identifying both design differences and casting numbers are covered. In addition, each engine's strong points and areas of concern are described in detail. Example builds of 400-, 500-, and even 600-hp engines are highlighted, so you can model your build after any of these powerhouses, depending on your intended use.
With the influx of aftermarket parts, especially excellent cylinder heads, the 351 Cleveland as well as its 351M and 400M cousins are now seen as great engines to build. This book tells you everything rota need to know to build a great street or competition engine based on the 351 Cleveland platform.

George Reid has been a Ford enthusiast for more than 30 years. He enjoys restoring and building Fords.. George has written a number of books for CarTech, including High-Performance Ford Engine Parts Interchange, How to Build Big-Inch Ford Small Blocks, How to Rebuild & Modify Ford C4 & C6 Automatic Transmissions, and others.