Stock 72 LTD 351C dyno results!!

I have a 72 LTD with the stock 351c, so thought it would be fun to show up to a local dyno day and see what it would put down. This thing still has the 2 barrel carb, log manifolds with single exhaust, emissions, and non-clutch style radiator fan.

From what I can tell the stock HP rating in 72 for a 351c with 2v heads was 153HP, but I haven't found the torque numbers yet(haven't looke too hard either). Anyway here's what the big girl put down:

151HP and 232 FT LBS of torque.

I thought that was pretty good! It was lean too, yes we put the innovative LM-2 on, so next up is a 4 barrel intake and carb, then it's back to the dyno. After that maybe a true duel exhaust, then a cam. Anyway here are the pics of the big girl on the dyno and in the parking lot.

A little more info on the car and pics:

60k original miles.

Yes, I ran on the dyno with a gumball police light.

I gained 4HP by removing the air cleaner lid.

I let off a little over 4500RPM and was doing 123MPH on the dyno at that point.

The stock fan was LOUD at those RPMs....sounded like I was doing 40k RPM.

You'll notice a lot of the trim is missing. I got the car with a horrible repaint in a real bright shade of green, so after a ton of work and a few tries it's now a really dark green metallic. I have all the trim, but haven't had a chance to put it back on.

The tires seem tiny for the car. 205/15s. I plan to go with a wider steel wheel and tire, but these are still in great shape, so will wait until they are worn a little more.

It was a 160 mile round trip to the dyno and I floated along in comfort the entire way.

Sweet!

They were rated at the flywheel, so if you put down almost the same to the wheels, then yeah, that's pretty good! That car reminds me of this one...

Very cool! I had a 70 XL(LTD) vert in high school w/a 390/2bbl, and it was barely faster than a friend's 1st-gen non-turbo Isuzu Impulse, though he could get me off the line every time. :D

bravenrace wrote: They were rated at the flywheel, so if you put down almost the same to the wheels, then yeah, that's pretty good! That car reminds me of this one...

Funny you mention that! The reason I bought the car was because of that movie. One night I was watching White Lighting for probably the 10th time and just thought to myself, "I really need an LTD", so off to craigslist I went. I found this one about 45 miles from home and, even though it had the horrible paint, it had a perfect green interior and ran and drove great, so I made a deal on it. After I got it home my neighbor made a comment about it looking like the white lightning car too.

In reply to Cotton:

So the question is, do YOU look like Burt?

LOL I don't think I could pull off that mustache.

Saaaaay, don't you have a '78 Trans Am as well...

In reply to bravenrace:

Yeah I do....damn those Burt movies must have really made an impression on me!

You don't have a rocket powered Camaro do you?

In reply to Appleseed:

Not yet, but I have a Chevy 4x4 stepside project similar to the truck he drove in Hooper...or was that a GMC? Anyway, mines a Chevrolet. It's been a looonnngg project, but I just ordered the paint for it, so hope to have it finished up by fall.

Check out my '77 Bonanza C-20. It doesn't look like that now, as it's a rolling chassis with a cab on it at the moment, and has been sitting in my barn for 12 years. But I'm hoping to get back to it next winter. Funny, of all the 80 something cars I've owned, that one is my baby. Can't say why, other than there's a lot of good memories there. Did you or are you going to do a build thread on yours? I'd be interested.

That's great, it did it with what passes for gasoline these days too.

I would have guessed @ 140 HP/ 220 tq. Very good indeed. I wouldn't be surprised if you run into the limits of the heads pretty quickly with a 4bbl and dual exhaust. Doesn't mean that you shouldn't try though.

bravenrace wrote: Check out my '77 Bonanza C-20. It doesn't look like that now, as it's a rolling chassis with a cab on it at the moment, and has been sitting in my barn for 12 years. But I'm hoping to get back to it next winter. Funny, of all the 80 something cars I've owned, that one is my baby. Can't say why, other than there's a lot of good memories there. Did you or are you going to do a build thread on yours? I'd be interested.

That's a sweet ride....love the factory big block.

I may do a build thread on it, but I'll be starting the middle since I'm just now finishing the chassis with new suspension, brakes, rebuilt engine, etc. The cab is in my shop now flipped on it's back and I'm painting the bottom and firewall, then hopefully mounting it back to the chassis next week. That's why I went ahead and bought the rest of the paint and clear....I'm real close to the point where I need to paint the inside of the cab, then cut in the fenders, doors, etc before I mount them. My Grandfather bought this truck new in 1975 and I have a lot of memories with it growing up, so I can't wait to finish it and show my Dad.

HappyAndy wrote: That's great, it did it with what passes for gasoline these days too. I would have guessed @ 140 HP/ 220 tq. Very good indeed. I wouldn't be surprised if you run into the limits of the heads pretty quickly with a 4bbl and dual exhaust. Doesn't mean that you shouldn't try though.

I was hoping for anything over 130rwhp to be honest. I've debated on going with a used set of 4v heads, but might wait until the 2vs are a limitation. Still making up my mind on that one. I'm definitely open to any insight/suggestions on these old Ford heads because I have no experience with them. This is the first car I ever owned with a 351.

I decided to upload a picture of the car while prepping it for paint, so you can see the horrible color it was when I got it. I'm sure the color is why I got a good deal on it.

Looks WAY better now

Cool. I still have a set of 351M heads left over from my '78 Ford F-150 days. They've been in my shed for 20+ years.

Back then, guys said headers and a Holley 650 4 bbl would not only add some power but also improve the gas mileage a few points over the factor 2 bbl. My truck would get 10 mpg @ 60 mph, which they said was actually pretty good.

I miss that truck...

re: the paint - what the hell were they thinking???

Ian F wrote: My truck would get 10 mpg @ 60 mph, which they said was actually pretty good.

You are lucky! my 1985 Bronco with a 351W and C6 trans would get 6mpg... on a good day, with the wind at its back, downhill, in neutral. It did run rich as a berkeley though

In reply to tjbell:

Yeah - the engine ran really well and was bone-stock. It was also a 4 spd (really a 3 spd + granny-gear). I remember the first time I had it inspected. This was when testing was done with the probe in the exhaust. The HC limit was somewhere over 800 and the truck was actually putting out 168. My mechanic checked to make sure the probe hadn't fallen out.

I bought the truck in '89 and sold it in '92.

on the paint...man I just don't know. I got it out of a neighborhood that was, well not the best. I'm thinking maybe they were going to turn it into a lucky charms donk or something and stopped at the paint. Other than the paint the car was really nice and unmolested surprisingly.

tjbell wrote:

Ian F wrote: My truck would get 10 mpg @ 60 mph, which they said was actually pretty good.

You are lucky! my 1985 Bronco with a 351W and C6 trans would get 6mpg... on a good day, with the wind at its back, downhill, in neutral. It did run rich as a berkeley though

Huh, my 85 Econoline Conversion van with the same 351W and C6 got 14 mpg no matter what. Around town, on the freeway, towing. NEver changed. But that van came off the line under a full moon being blessed by a druid priest who was whipping 20 vestal virgins with a hazle switch I'm sure. That thing was awesome. It was the only Econolodge I ever drove or road in that tracked straight and true. YOu could literally take your hands off the wheel at 80mph on the freeway and it would stay rock steady in it's lane.

BAck on topic. Nothing useful to add, but damn, what a cool sweet ride. I vote for a Roadkill style build. Do the heads, cam, intake, headers and carb in 24 hours then set off on a 2 day road trip with a pressing engagement at the end you can't miss like a friends wedding, then dyno again on the way home

Love that car. Fuels an idea I've been working on lately.

Wife and I are planning a road trip with the kids out to the west coast (Vancouver Island). Leave the truck and 5th wheel at home, take the car and a tent and actually CAMP.

Our Mazda 5 would work fine, but I think some old American iron would be better. I've been half-heartedly shopping around. Might have to step it up a bit.

If I could find an old Buick or Olds wagon I'd be tempted for sure.

I was gonna guess about 120 rwhp. Color me impressed.

Does that have the straight up or retarded cam timing? If it has the retarded timing chain, you can pick up a boatload of power with a new, straight up, pre-smog chain and gears.

volvoclearinghouse wrote: Does that have the straight up or retarded cam timing? If it has the retarded timing chain, you can pick up a boatload of power with a new, straight up, pre-smog chain and gears.

you know I really have no idea, but when I do the cam I'll check it. The plan is to go with a retro fit roller because I hate breaking in cams.

For the dyno the extent of my prep was checking the oil, replacing the alternator belt, and filling the tank with 93 octane!