Introduction

The 351 Cleveland is in a class of Ford made engines of its own, the 335 series varient, better known as Fords fire breathing dragon. The 351 Cleveland arrived on the scene in 1970 and isn't related to the earlier 351 Windsor, only in cubic inches. The 335 Cleveland family included the 351 Cleveland, 351M, and the 400M. The 351 Cleveland was utilized in several of Fords automobiles: 1970-73 Mustang, Torino, Mercury, LTD and Pickup trucks of these years models, some 1974 vehicles had Clevelands that were over runs of the last year of production casting in 1973. This review is focused mainly on the 2V and 4V 351 Cleveland and not the 351M & 400M brother engines.

Identity and Comparison Highlights                                                                                                               

What set the 351 Cleveland apart from the other engines was its induction system (the compression heads) which were really a big block type of induction setup on a small block format, in turn bumping it up to a mid or medium block engine, and came in a few different compression types mainly 2V-4V. 2V North American head had smaller intake and exhaust ports with open compression chambers and canted or poly angle valve arrangement 2.04 intake valve. The Ford Australian 2V was the same as the American version with the exception of the quenched  compression chamber for better compression and torque on the street and was identifiable by the casted #2 in the upper and lower diagonal corners of the head. 4V versions were two main 4 barrel heads in which i will devulge below, these were the bad boys that put the fear of GOD in Chevy and Chrysler lovers everywhere lol, humongus intake-exhuast ports and intake valves in fact so large (2.19-2.25) that the valve arrangement on these where also canted or poly angled. Notice intake ports nearly topping 3" these were the largest auto manufactured intake ports to this day big or small block(reminds me of some sort of massive toilet plumbing lol). The main difference in the two 4V head options, one was open chambered/CJ and the other was quenched or closed chambered/BOSS and was identifiable also by the casted #4 in the top upper and lower diagonal corners of the head. 

Big Secret>>> most Drag Racers perfered the open chambered CJ(Cobra Jet) heads over the Boss heads, because of the compression chamber design "OPEN" in which allowed fuel to be shot directly over the center of the piston, usually high compression dome top over bored pistons were used. Now dont get me wrong the Boss heads were excellent compression heads but the shrouded sides of the quenched chambers caused the fuel to hit the sides of the cylinder walls and run down and thereby not getting a good dense direct full shot of fuel and needed chamber porting to achieve what the CJ heads could do stock. 

Other things note worthy on this engine was a dry intake, water ran threw the front of the block instead. The valve covers were also a dead givaway wide flat on top then twisting at a down angle with the engine. Bellhousing bolt pattern is the same as the 302(5.0), 351W.  In addition unlike the 351M, in which the M does not stand for "Modified" but indeed a simple letter differentiation between other blocks in the same family (call FORD MOTOR COMPANY ), however the 351 Cleveland retained its famous or imfamous Cleveland name per/ NASCAR rules /regulations and manufacturers line of production cars.

Sources and Resources

The 351 Cleveland still can be found in a number of places even as old as it may be, early model auto salvage yards(1970-74 Mustangs, Torinos, Cougars, LTD's and trucks of these year models), Ford swap meets, You Tube Videos and last but certainly not least  http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?from=R40&satitle=351+cleveland  on ebay. Also internet search engines have a wealth of info on the 351 Cleveland, simply type 351 Cleveland on your favorite search engine and the websites are virtually endless. This was a simple fun retainable version of the 351 Cleveland history. However as far as engine codes and what car was coded with what engine and head match , reiterating you can goto most any auto salvage yard that may still have FORD/Mercury vehicles from 1970-74 and the VIN decodes are inside the operator side door, the 2 main letter codes for 1970-74 Clevelands are: H /2V and Q & R /4V there are other letter codes for different heads and other engines, the main thing is the casted numbers(2 and 4) in the upper and lower top diagonal corners for Cleveland heads period. (IF 2 and 4 ARE NOT CASTED IN THE TOP UPPER AND LOWER DIAGONAL CORNERS OF THE HEADS ITS NOT IN THE 351 CLEVELAND 335 FAMILY!!!) Note this is not a long drawn out 15 page engineering synopsis, therefore info's mainly for the home Hot Rodders, Novices and Part time Ford enthusist.  If this guide was of help or not please leave your vote below, and thanx for stopping by :)