Got a friend with a 69 Mustang with a 351 Windsor.
We pulled the heads and found a piston with a chunk missing.
The plan is to pull the engine and have a shop go through it.
Any shop recommendations for a hot 351?

You looking for a machine shop or an engine rebuilder?

Probably cheaper to just buy a crate motor from Jegs or Summit Racing if you're not doing the work yourself.

Teds is supposed to be a good machine shop, but you'll need to have all your specs in hand, and accurate, before you go there. Bore, crankshaft, deck height, etc.

I don't really know of anyone over here doing hi performance head work, again, probably easier to buy a good set of heads and massage them from there.

If you're looking to keep it original, and the bores are sound, you could just hone it and put in some replacement pistons.

There used to be a shop on Republican, right across from McDonalds called BSM Performance that worked on domestic { real } cars. Don't know if they're still there though.

More info needed!

Edit: Wait a minute, I thought you were a mechanic??

Got a friend with a 69 Mustang with a 351 Windsor.
We pulled the heads and found a piston with a chunk missing.
The plan is to pull the engine and have a shop go through it.
Any shop recommendations for a hot 351?

lots of mustang guys on this site, give it a day or two, and i bet some of them pipe in
i believe at least one of the guys works at a shop

I'm sure the name snider in Waipahu is an option

For your viewing pleasure/consideration;


http://www.jegs.com/p/Blueprint-Engines/Blueprint-Engines-Small-Block-Ford-408ci-Stroker-345HP-440TQ/1617617/10002/-1   




Admittedly low on horsepower, but hey, it's a Ford. To that end, these motors come with a 30 month 50,000 mile warranty! 

$3,400 for a long block, $4,300 for a complete turnkey motor + a dyno sheet is included.

Edit: They also have a 425 horse version for a bit more, depends how much is in your budget.

I guess my friend needs an engine builder.
The missing part of the piston has  him worried.
There is also damage to the chamber on the head.
Need somebody to inspect and check tolerances.

The engine has Edelbrok heads and intake, aftermarket rockers (dont know ratio or brand)
Don't know cam / lift
MSD dist.,coil, and box. Hooker headers, aluminum radiator....
Supposedly six grand in the engine

I guess my friend needs an engine builder.
The missing part of the piston has  him worried.
There is also damage to the chamber on the head.
Need somebody to inspect and check tolerances.

The engine has Edelbrok heads and intake, aftermarket rockers (dont know ratio or brand)
Don't know cam / lift
MSD dist.,coil, and box. Hooker headers, aluminum radiator....
Supposedly six grand in the engine

Yeah! A chunk missing from a piston isn't a sign of good things happening.

Could be a few things, but if it's just one cylinder, and there's no evidence of valve or valve guide damage due to valve float, or improperly adjusted valves and the piston smacking the valve, I would look at the big end bearings and fasteners. If they weren't torqued properly, failed, or the bearing let go, the piston would be thrown up into chamber and waste it. Especially on a close tolerance performance motor with domed pistons. I would drop the pan and check it out. If that's what happened he's going to have crank problems as well. Could also be a spiro lock that wasn't installed properly in the wrist pin, allowing the piston to "float" on one side or the other.

Hell, I'm just speculating here. Yeah, your buddy needs a competent engine builder, that motor's going have to be torn down more than likely.

The missing piece of the piston was not recovered.
Not sure if it escaped out the valve or not.
Looks like somebody was in the engine, removed the piece, and reinstalled the head(s).
Oh yeah the original issue was water in the oil. (head gasket)
Didn't see any signs of blown head gasket though.

The missing piece of the piston was not recovered.
Not sure if it escaped out the valve or not.
Looks like somebody was in the engine, removed the piece, and reinstalled the head(s).
Oh yeah the original issue was water in the oil. (head gasket)
Didn't see any signs of blown head gasket though.

heads

The missing piece of the piston was not recovered.
Not sure if it escaped out the valve or not.
Looks like somebody was in the engine, removed the piece, and reinstalled the head(s).
Oh yeah the original issue was water in the oil. (head gasket)
Didn't see any signs of blown head gasket though.

Well that's a horse of a different color isn't it!

If you've pulled both heads and there's no sign of a blown gasket, that leaves you with a crack in the block. Which means tearing apart the motor and getting the block magnafluxed to find it and see if it can be repaired. Then rebuilding it with new pistons, bearings, etc, etc. Plus doing the head work, assuming they're repairable.

Still not an awesome outcome.

Or you could put it back together with new head gaskets "as is" assuming it was running OK before, and hope for the best. If the block is cracked, you've only spent the cost of the gaskets to find out. Shouldn't be more than $200 for an overhaul gasket set, just make sure you have the right thickness for the head gasket, or a little thicker for insurance. Edelbrock should have recommended gaskets on their website for your model heads. Check with a straight edge and feeler gauges to make sure the heads aren't warped. If they are you'll have to take them in for repair.

But you'll need a new motor if the block can't be repaired. Shitty, I know.