1973 Mustang Engine Information – 351 cubic inch V-8 (5.8 L Windsor V8)
The 351 Windsor Engine
The 351 Windsor engine is an 8 cylinder, 90 degree, overhead valves (OHV) engine. It was introduced in 1969, and got its name from the Windsor Canada location of the Ford assembly plant that built them. There were two versions introduced in 1969, the 250 hp 2 barrel engine and the 290 hp 4 barrel version.
The only 351 engine that was manufactured with a dual point vacuum advance distributor was the Cleveland Boss & HO versions. All Windsor engines received the single point vacuum advance distributors. Accordingly, all Windsor engines had hydraulic lifters 2 bolt mains and all had cast iron intake manifolds.
The 1969 4bbl engine was destined to use premium leaded gasoline while all other 2 and 4 bbl versions only required regular gasoline.
Engine Basics
| Year |
1973 |
| bbl |
2 |
| Cylinders |
8 |
| Displacement |
351 cu / 5.8 liters |
| Power (hp) |
164 hp @ 4000 RPM |
| Torque (lb/ft) |
276 lb/ft @ 2000 RPM |
| Compression |
8.6:1 |
| Bore x Stroke |
4.00 x 3.50 |
Engine Specifications
| Spark Plugs |
|
| Oil filter |
|
| Gas Filter |
|
| Air Filter |
|
| PCV |
|
| Oil |
5 quarts of 10W30 or 10W40 |
| Oil Pressure |
35 – 60 PSI |
| Timing |
6 Degrees BTDC Manual & 12 Degrees BTDC Automatic |
| Valve adjustment |
Cold |
| Valve size |
|
| Valve arrangement |
Right |
| Manifold Vacuum |
17 inches at idle |
| Warm Idle Manual Trans |
575-600 RPM |
| Warm Idle Auto Trans |
500-525 RPM |
| Carburetor CFM |
|
| Bore and stroke |
|
| Compression |
|
| HP and Torque |
|
| Taxable HP |
|
| Distributor Rotation |
Clockwise |
| Firing order |
1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8 |
| 351 Windsor weight |
530 Pounds |
Engine Torque Specifications
All torque specifications provided in this table are those recommended by FORD. If you use special bolts, follow the torque specifications provided by the manufacturer. I recommend that you use the 3 step torque technique where you torque down the bolts in three equal steps. Once you have reached the maximum recommended torque setting, go around one more time. Do not torque in a circular pattern. Always torque cross to cross.
| Head bolts |
95-100 (120 on Boss) |
| main cap bolts |
95-105 |
| Rod end bolts |
4–45 |
| Intake bolts |
23-25 |
| Exhaust manifold bolts |
18-24 |
| Harmonic damper |
70-90 |
|
|
|
| Engine fan |
|
|
|
|
| Bellhousing bolts |
25 |
| Trans to Bellhousing |
|
| Flywheel to Crankshaft |
75-85 |
| Oil pan bolts |
15 |
| Valve cover bolts |
10 |
| Carburetor mount bolts |
|
| Oil pump |
25 |
| Spark plugs |
|
| Trans. inspection plate |
|
| Water pump bolts |
25 |
| Upper timing gear bolt |
45 |
| Clutch pressure plate |
35 |
| Camshaft thrust plate |
10 |
| Oil pump pickup |
20 |
Crankshaft Bearing Journal Specifications
Main Bearing Journal (inches)
| Journal Diameter |
2.2482 – 2.2490 |
| Oil Clearance |
0.0005 – 0.0022 |
| Shaft end play |
0.004 – 0.008 |
| Thrust on number |
3 |
Connecting Rod Journals
| Journal Diameter |
2.1232 – 2.1240 |
| Oil Clearance |
0.008 – 0.0024 |
| Side clearance |
0.003 – 0.010 |
Piston Ring Specifications
Comp Ring Width
| Top |
0.0774 – 0.0781 |
| Bottom |
0.0770 – 0.0780 |
Ring side clearance
| Top |
0.0019 – 0.0036 |
| Bottom |
0.0020 – 0.0040 |
| Oil ring |
Snug |
Ring gap width
| Top |
0.010 – 0.020 |
| Bottom |
0.010 – 0.020 |
| Oil Ring |
0.015 – 0.055 |
Piston Specifications
| Code Red |
3.4982 – 3.4987 |
| Code Blue |
3.4993 – 3.4999 |
| 0.003 Oversize |
3.5001 – 3.5005 |
| Piston to Cyl. Bore clearance |
0.0014 – 0.0020 |
| Piston Pin Bore Dia. |
0.9122 – 0.9125 |
Tune Up Specs
| Year |
1973 2V |
1973 4V |
| Spark Plug |
Autolite ARF-42 |
Autolite ARF-42 |
| Plug Gap |
.032″-.036″ |
.032″-.036″ |
| Dwell |
24-29 (manual), 26-31 (automatic) |
24-29 (manual), 26-31 (automatic) |
| Point Gap |
.017″ |
.017″ |
| Intake |
1.9025″-1.9175″ |
2.185″-2.195″ |
| Exhaust |
1.533″-1.548″ |
1.7045″-1.7145″ |
| Carburetor |
Autolite 2300-A (2V) Automatic choke |
Autolite 4300-A (4V ) Squarebore automatic choke |
