Engine power question

I have a 1965 Ford Country Sedan station wagon on a late 70s 4X4 frame with 35s.  I was wondering if a 351 windsor would have enough power to get my landark through the mud or if I should use a big block.  

Well a 351W has a lot of power. If you want to run it then get a set of cams. A big block has more power, but less fuel economy. Each one has its ups and downs, but in the end it still is a reliable Ford.  
_______________
.
.
Dodge sucks!!!!!!

mnyman92:
Well a 351W has a lot of power. If you want to run it then get a set of cams. A big block has more power, but less fuel economy. Each one has its ups and downs, but in the end it still is a reliable Ford.

The question here is not if you need a big engine or cam but rather the gear ratio you have in axles. Big tires on stock gear reduce engine RPM at same ground speed so you have less available power. (HP is a function of torque and RPM) Deep axle gears restores the balance and are the great equalizer here not cams, air cleaners or exhaust. A set of 4.56 or 4.88 gears will wake it up a lot. (I would lean toward 4.88 if you plan to play hard) Deeper gears will put more HP and wheel torque down to ground at any given speed vs stock gearing.  

mnyman92:
Well a 351W has a lot of power. If you want to run it then get a set of cams. A big block has more power, but less fuel economy. Each one has its ups and downs, but in the end it still is a reliable Ford.

SnoMan:
The question here is not if you need a big engine or cam but rather the gear ratio you have in axles. Big tires on stock gear reduce engine RPM at same ground speed so you have less available power. (HP is a function of torque and RPM) Deep axle gears restores the balance and are the great equalizer here not cams, air cleaners or exhaust. A set of 4.56 or 4.88 gears will wake it up a lot. (I would lean toward 4.88 if you plan to play hard) Deeper gears will put more HP and wheel torque down to ground at any given speed vs stock gearing.

Sno,Sno...Sno.Your compleatly right.But if the guys got a straght-6(good thouqe for the size) in it I'm sure he would much rather have the 351.If it was me I'd do both.  
Dying ain't much of a livin'
From my favorite movie.
Trucks...
1989 150(200k) 33 inch hawgs and a blown 302.
1995 Pathfinder(178k)and still going with 31s.
Bikes.
2004 Yamaha TTR 225,barly used.
Kawasaki 750 (26k) Not ran right since carbs rebuilt.
!972 Yamaha mini enduro.The niceest one I've ever seen thats never been painted.
New 2002 f150,fx4,5.4v8,after market tranny coolers and unirol tires.

Even a 6 would benefit a lot for deeper gears. Many many years ago in 70's I knew this old timer that used to do some haul for hire on construction jobs to supplement his retirement. He had a 58 C60 Chevy dump truck that was cherry that he bought at a farm sale that had hardly been used. It only had a 261 six and a 8 speed (4 x 2 speed axle) He used to haul 8 tons of materiel on it all the time without a problem (his GVW was around 28,000 lbs) While engine was not big, the gearing made good use of it. "low" range on two speed axle was about 11 to 1 and high was around 7.17 to one. This "low" range and the SM420's 7.05 first gear gave it a crawl ratio of nearly 80 to 1 in lowest gear.  

WOW! Where can I get one of those trannys? Anyone have one? I am thinking about downsizing my motor to a Vortec 4.3L. I know they have plenty of power to move my heavy truck around. But I know I will need to go with an Atlas t-case and 5.13 gears. The Atlas can wait. I'm on a budget  

Yes it would.  
Dying ain't much of a livin'
From my favorite movie.
Trucks...
1989 150(200k) 33 inch hawgs and a blown 302.
1995 Pathfinder(178k)and still going with 31s.
Bikes.
2004 Yamaha TTR 225,barly used.
Kawasaki 750 (26k) Not ran right since carbs rebuilt.
!972 Yamaha mini enduro.The niceest one I've ever seen thats never been painted.
New 2002 f150,fx4,5.4v8,after market tranny coolers and unirol tires.

Just install some 5.13 gears and a NV4500 and you will never miss or need Atlas. Many would never need them if they would just take time to gear axles properly. They are after all the strongest reduction unit(s) in your 4x4.