The 351 Windsor has a taller block than the 351 Cleveland, and the Cleveland has canted-valve heads that flow well.
351 Windsor
- Built by Ford from 1969 to 1997.
- Deck height 9.48 inches (taller block in 351W than in 302).
- Wide aftermarket support.
351 Cleveland
- Built from 1970 to 1974.
- Deck height 9.206 inches.
- Canted valves and large ports for better airflow.
- Produced in Cleveland, Ohio.
Parts
Not interchangeable.
Preferred
Cleveland for heads, Windsor for aftermarket parts.
Engine design differences
Both are 351 cubic inch Ford V8 engines but are different designs. The 351 Windsor (351W) was introduced in 1969 and is based on the 289 and 302 Windsor family, with a deck height of 9.480 inches. The 351 Cleveland (351C) was produced from 1970 to 1974 and has larger canted valves, bigger ports and a different block design, and a taller deck height of 10.290 inches.
- Parts do not interchange, except for some components such as the crankshaft journals in certain builds.
- Cleveland heads flow much more than Windsor, which gave strong performance, but stock emissions rules and low compression in later years limited power.
- The 351M and 400M are related to the Cleveland family but use different blocks.
Which to choose
Windsors have a large aftermarket, parts are cheap and easy to find, and are common in Mustangs and F-series trucks. Clevelands are valued by performance enthusiasts for the heads but parts are less common and pricier. Identify engines by block casting numbers and bellhousing bolt patterns. Verify before ordering parts.
Engine design differences
The 351 Windsor (1969 to 1997) and 351 Cleveland (1970 to 1974) are both 5.8 liter Ford V8s but are different engines. The Cleveland has large canted valve heads, higher revving potential, and a taller block. The Windsor shares parts with 302 and has a huge aftermarket.
Which to choose
Pick Windsor for parts availability and cost, Cleveland for high port flow performance builds. Parts do not interchange.
Design differences
The Ford 351 Windsor (1969) and 351 Cleveland (1970) are both 5.8 liter V8 engines but different designs. The Windsor is a derivative of the small block 289 and 302 family, with a 9.5 inch deck height. The Cleveland has a taller 10.2 inch deck, canted valves and large ports, similar to the 429 big block design.
Performance and parts
Cleveland heads flow far better, making the engine famous for high rpm power in the Mustang Mach 1 and Boss 351. Windsors are more common, with a large aftermarket and interchangeable parts. Cleveland production ended in 1974, with later 351M and 400 variants made in Michigan, and parts are costlier. The two do not share heads, intake manifolds or most components, and a modified Cleveland needs specific parts. A Windsor suits street builds on a budget.
Based on data from Ford Motor Company history and Hemmings
