351W block

The 69 - 74 blocks are heavier, but the deck height is .023 shorter (9.480 vs 9.503). This comes into play when you are planning your piston deck clearance and quench area. If the earlier heads have been deck milled, and you choose the wrong piston, you may end up with it sticking up above the block deck. Measure carfully and stive for as close to 0 deck clearance as you can get. I used an early block that had not been milled and Sealed Power flat top pistons to achive .002 deck clearance, which is as close as I could get wothout shaving .002 off of the decks.

supposedly only the '69 had the short deck.

Based on earlier threads on this topic, the early blocks will handle something in the neighborhood of 700 Hp. The later blocks can reliably handle 500 Hp. If you want a factory roller block, look for one out of a 95 and newer E or F series Ford Van/Truck, respectively.

Robert

Looking at my notes, my D4AE block (cast Jan 22, 1974) is also a taller deck. It measured 9.510. My tools may have been off a little at the time..but the C9OE block I had measure 9.486, so it wasnt off by much.

_________________
"it is better to appear ignorant than to open your mouth and remove all doubt"--Mark Twain

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: mavman on 2/23/06 11:02am ]</font>