Tag Archives: AutoBlog

Ford’s Windsor and Cleveland Engines Prt II

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Ok, so one engine plant is located in Canada and the other Ohio.  What else is different?

The 351 Windsor (biggest displacement of the Windsor family  – which included the 289 and 302) had a beefier block than the Cleveland, which in theory allowed for more abuse and longer life-span.

The Windsor also came first in the history  being used from 1969 to 1998.

The Cleveland was used from 1970 to 1974 (much, much shorter run), with 1971 bringing 351 C Cobra Jet.

Unlike the Windsor the Cleveland had canted multi-grooved valves.  It also required larger rounded intake and exhaust ports.

There is another major difference and that was how the engined were cooled.  No we aren’t talking water vs. air (these weren’t VW engines) we are talking about water flow.

Like the 289 and 302 the 351W used a front cover and water existed the intake manifold face of the cylinder head through intake manifold to the radiator.  The 351C don’t have the front cover.  The block is extended and the covered with a flat stamping.  Water existed the combustion face of the head and into the block and then to the radiator.  This is important to note, particularly for me.  Why:

The Cleveland and Windsor heads are interchangeable only with modifications to the water passage.  I currently have a set of 351C Cobra Jet heads to put on my Windsor family 302.  I’ll have to have those mods done when I have the heads rebuilt.

Not the same location as the 302 Windsor.

There you have the basic differences between the Cleveland and Windsor families.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Ford’s Windsor and Cleveland Engines

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I have a Ford and as I’ve said before, though the years (ok….40’s, 50’s and 60’s) they produced some of the more interesting cars with  some of the most powerful engines.  Of those engines the Cleveland and the Windsor were major players.

I’m not alone thinking that the only real difference between the two were the names each being made in the plant they were named after.  The Windsor was named after the Essex Engine plant in Windsor,  Ontario and the Cleveland Engine Plant in Ohio.

 

1914 Photo of the Essex Engine plant in Windsor, Ontario

 

Totally different plants  and countries about the only they had in common was displacement.

What were the differences?   That’s coming up.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

1960 Sunliner

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I love the Sunliner the 50’s and 60’s models. Love the fins and the dual antennas on the 1960 in this vid.  Ford made some of the most innovative and well designed cars in the 50’s and 60’s.  I am a fan.

[vodpod id=Video.16166458&w=425&h=350&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26]

Sunliner, posted with vodpod
Thanks for reading.
Tim

A Little C3 and C4 Covette Action from Corvette Pals

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This is what I like, a Give-Away that results in some KOOL, pics and vids.

What I was looking for was some action shots for C3, C4 and C5 Vettes and I’m sure you’ll agree that these are pretty good entries.

This is Tony Z's C4 Burn. Now that is some smoke action!! We'll call him Crazy Tony Z!!!!

Do don't get to do this often. Don H. doing hot laps at Watkins Glen!!!!

This next on is the maybe the hot’s C4 burn out I’ve seen

This is Doug B. C4, which is gonna need some new rubber!!!!

 

The only C3 entry was Roy O.  You’ve seen some of his vids here, but you are going to LOVE this one.  This is Roy’s C3.

[vodpod id=Video.16152592&w=425&h=350&fv=%26rel%3D0%26border%3D0%26]

Roy’s C3, posted with vodpod

Roy’s C3, posted with vodpod

We measured the winners were Don and Doug with the highest numbers of Likes on my companion Face Book Page :

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Average-Guys-Car-Restoration-Mods-and-Racing/185827701454279

They each picked up an original C4 dealership promo model.

Much Fun!!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

 

Parking Lot Spot Light 74 Impala

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Right on the verge of the gas crisis, the ’74 models were a mixed bag of old school horsepower and new school power choking fog reduction hardware.  This Impala was in fact still a V8 with the power of the a 1960’s 6 cylinder.

Now I love the Impala models and if you’ve read a recent post I wrote I think 4 doors are under valued and with the right tweaks can achieve the power desired to make them a muscle car.

This Chevy was sitting outside a local CVS store with a for sale sign.

4 door with stamped steel wheels and poverty hub caps

 

Still sporting chrome bumpers

 

 

I like the plain jane hood and front end.

 

 

 

 

AutoRama Pittsburgh- Part II

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You are going to like this pics from Red Stripe Adventure’s blog. The lowered Lincoln in stealth black and you have to agree that Hudson looks great – in spite of the WWII aircraft theme.
Thanks for reading.

Barrett-Jackson and Karl Kustom Corvettes

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Not only is there a ton of beautiful cars at Barrett-Jackson auctions, there are also a lot of venders.  Anything from car care products, to engine builders to custom building shops.

One of those was Karl Kustom Corvettes located in Des Moines, Ia.  I had a chance to speak with Jim Hidy one of the reps for Karl Kustom at the auction this past January.

SWEET!!!!

 

Nice looking car, yes?  HELL YES.  But there some interesting things I didn’t know about these custom Vettes and how they are made.

I spoke with Jim at length and I have to tell you that how I thought these were made wasn’t even close and how they are made was pretty surprising to me.  Jim set me straight.

Great Creation

 

These are of course C6 machines with the look of the  60’s Vettes.  All the great handling and power of the C6 underpinning and classic looks.  I thought ‘how cool they manufacture a body that snaps on the C6 frame.  But that’s not how it’s done.

More coming up in Part 2.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Hurst Competition Plus Shift Kit – Installation of Backup Light Switch – Pt2

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So I’ve gotten the new electrical connection installed on the  switch.  I now need to cut off the old switch and strip the wires.

Ya know it’s hard to take a video while you a squeezed under a car on jack-stands!!!

In this video you can see the striped wires.

Installing the bracket was easy enough except that it wasn’t formed properly and had to be bent.  Keep in mind this is not ‘harden’ steel and too much bending will weaken it and when the reverse lever comes back will just push the bracket backward and not allow the button to be depressed enough to make contact and complete the circuit and turn the backup lights on.

Here it is all installed.

Here it is with the car in the reverse position. You can see the button depressed.

Here is a video shot.

And the intended results:

Now I’d love to tell you that all was well, however remember the bolt and the Sharpie mark I made on it so that I could gauge how far to screw it back in?

Well I was still pretty happy with the progress and I took the car off the jack-stand and started her up and backed out of the garage.  That went well, but there didn’t seem to be a first gear once I decided to pull the car forward, nor second gear.  She isn’t going to move.

So I’ve got the car out of the garage and right at the edge of the drive on the driver’s side. I have to get under the car and tighten that bold a few more turns.  I end up laying partially on the drive way, partially on the rocks (we don’t have grass in your yards here..we have small, gather in you pants when you are laying on them, sharp rocks) and partially on one of your shrubs.  Ok, lets not forget the glowing hot Hooker header pipes..yeah…just back out of the garage…no worries the hair on my arm will grow back.  Any way,  I tighten it just enough to get the car to go into second gear and pull it back into garage.

It had to go back up on the jack-stands for more adjustments, and I had to the switch off once to make adjustments to the bracket.  But success was achieved!!!!!

How I measure success!!!

Thanks for reading,

.im

 

Corvette Mouse Pad Give Away – Corvette Engine Contest Final Winner

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Here you have the final winner:

Roy Obert (you’ve seen his work here – Quickiefilms) from  Mi., with his C3 – with a tiny but functional engine.

The specs? Oh...he just says..."Bad Ass".

What a profile!!!!!!!!

Thanks for the fun.  More contests coming up.

Thanks for reading.

Tim