What does the 'M' in 351m stand for?

[Gilligan]

:D....................................

[Johnny]

Motor... duh...

[Damurazz]

Crap, I thought it stood for Medium :o

[Johnny]

No... sorry.. the correct answer would have been mystery..... mystery..... as in 351Mystery.... well you didn't win, but you walk away with some nice consolation prizes.... jimmy, tell them what they've won...

[blythe_mechanic]

read this guys:
most people think it ment modified bu it had to do with the plant making it and production family


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From 1977 to 1982, the M-block (351M/400) V8 engine was a mainstay of Ford light truck powerplants. During that period, the M-block 400 was the largest engine available in any Ford 4x4 truck. In the 1978 and 1979 model years, the 351M and 400 were the only engines offered in Ford’s new, full-size Bronco.

The following sections provide some background on the M-block engine’s origin and design.

Ancient History
The 400 was introduced in 1971 as a longer-stroke variant of the 351 Cleveland, and it would be the last pushrod V8 engine ever designed by the Ford Motor Company.


The 335 Engine Family
There were two engine types in the 335 series engine family, the 351 Cleveland (351C) and the “M-block.” There were several minor variants of the 351C engine (including the basic 2V and several high-performance 4V versions), but there were only two M-block variants — the 351M and the 400.


Demise of the M-Block
The ultimate cruel irony in the M-block’s history was that it was so well adapted to first-generation emission control systems, it was not easily updated to work with more modern engine management systems, and it was dropped from production at the end of the 1982 model year.


Big-Block Comparisons
An M-block engine in factory trim has vast, untapped power potential. It is smaller and lighter than a 385-series big block (which is why it was developed in the first place), and when properly built, the M-block 400’s output is comparable to most big blocks.


M-Block Availability
M-block engines were used in most of Ford’s mid-size to full-size cars and station wagons from 1971 to 1979, as well as in pickup trucks and Broncos from 1977 to 1982.

[Johnny]

We were just kidding around dude... It's an long running joke...

[mudduck]

You? Kidding? I don't believe it. :D

[79time]

I still don't know what the M stands for?

[redmt79]

It stands for Mediocre, since it did not get the same variable length rods as the 400. :D

[1TONAMERA]

Well, in spite of the fact that most people on the "other site" say it stands for Modified (at least that's what direction I think it went), I still like to think it stands for Midland. Since Midland (Ontario?) was an engine or casting plant, it makes the most sense to me. After all, the other lettered Ford engines I'm most familiar with (Windsor and Cleveland) were named after Ford plants. Windsor (Ontario again?) and the Cleveland Foundry. Yeah, I know, some of the 335's were cast in the CF (Cleveland Foundry) too and you can see the "CF" right in the casting, but maybe it still could work. And like I said, Midland just flows right for me.
Besides, it's a great excuse to re-hash this again for a new subject on this site. What say you all?

Paul

[1TONAMERA]

And yes, it's actually a good question Gilligan. It's just everybody who's been there before all have so much fun when the subject comes up that they can't help themselves sometimes. First time I've heard Mediocre though. That's a good one.
Ford just messed with us by not having much in the way of "official" literature on the subject, at least that we can find, and so left it up to us mostly to mess with. In the Ford Motorsport catalog I think they call it a "Modified", but that's the only officially Ford print that I've seen. In a way, Modified isn't too far off the mark either, since the 351M is actually just a "modified" 400.
If you look at it that way, it's not much of a stretch.

Oh, and now I see that grinning smiley face too. Ugh. I fell for it and got on a roll too! April Fools!!!

Paul

[jigmister]

it stands for 351 M
its a ford V8 that is much like the 351 C


ok?

[Johnny]

Paul.... you do know who Gilligan is don't you???

[79time]

It stands for Mediocre, since it did not get the same variable length rods as the 400. :D

Ok, makes since since the 400 has fixed length rods! :ROFL:

[mudduck]

It's a pretty good debate.

I myself don't think it stands for anything, just a letter designation to make it identifiable (on paper) to the other 351s. Why do they not call it a "400M", it's always refered to as just a "400" ?

I think it was some wise guys way of driving people crazy later on in the years. It's a conspiarcy I tell ya!

[jopes]

everyone knows it stands for Modified.

[1TONAMERA]

I myself don't think it stands for anything, just a letter designation to make it identifiable (on paper) to the other 351s. Why do they not call it a "400M", it's always refered to as just a "400" ?


Since the 351C is short for "Cleveland", it was just possible that Ford had an actual reason for the M. But you could be right about the M still. They may just have used it to differentiate and didn't want to think too hard on the subject. Either way, it's not used on the 400 because you don't need it. Unlke the 351's, there wasn't another 400 in the lineup to differentiate from.


II think it was some wise guys way of driving people crazy later on in the years. It's a conspiarcy I tell ya!

I'll drink to that!!!

Paul

[1TONAMERA]

Paul.... you do know who Gilligan is don't you???

Your alter-ego in the Super Mod Squad?
The Skippers little buddy?
The Howell's gopher?
The professor's guinnea pig? As in, "put your finger here Gilligan, while I crank the dynamo to power the short-wave radio I just made from two coconuts with pineapple rabbit ears and tell me if you get a signal through your fillings when I flip the switch."
That Gilligan?

Other than that, I have no idea. :D

Paul

[1TONAMERA]

I just found a real gem! I was looking through an issue of Four Wheeler from '77 and they mentioned that "the 400 is available with a 4bbl carb in the truck only" or something to that effect. Funny, that's another one of these long discussions.
I wonder if that's where the old myth about the 4bbl 400 started?

Paul

[Johnny]

Paul.... you do know who Gilligan is don't you???

The Skippers little buddy?
The Howell's gopher?
The professor's guinnea pig? As in, "put your finger here Gilligan, while I crank the dynamo to power the short-wave radio I just made from two coconuts with pineapple rabbit ears and tell me if you get a signal through your fillings when I flip the switch."
That Gilligan?


Yep... that would be the one... also known as

[1TONAMERA]

I guess I should browse some of my old magazines before I hand them over to the Baja Bronco guy nearby. Maybe I'll come across some reference from back in the day.
Probably not though. That'd be too easy.

If I'd stopped to think about it, I might have been able to figure out it was bmc (maybe). You know, the whole "stranded on a desert isle with a good lookin' woman" thing, and all that. MaryAnn, eat your heart out.
Thanks.

Paul

[blythe_mechanic]

1 ton your correct, but i think most think that it stands for the other incorrect meaning, and from the mindless postin i see i dont think they care

[jr78f150]

blythe,you gotta understand that Bill posted that because he knew it would get an arguement going lol.im sure Paul (oneton) knows that now that he knows its Bill.this started a big long lasting arguement over at PJB a good while back.i dont think i was supposed to tell that though :)

[Nohsp4u]

For the longest time i beleived it was Modified as it was a modified 400, but after hours of long cruely research and many beers, i found the truth. It is simply a 351 Modified midland mystery monster motor. to simplfy ford just used one "M" or is would have been a 351 mmmmm. :D

[redmt79]

:D Now that pretty much sums it up.

Geez, not even been a month and we're already being accused of mindless posting.

[jr78f150]

did you really expect anything else from this group? now if we just had some fresh blood to corrupt :D

[Gilligan]

:

Geez, not even been a month and we're already being accused of mindless posting.

success! :D

[unreng]

what about Mulligan???

[Salt-Man]

you guys all know that the M does not stand for anything but to distinguish it from the other 351 engines.
it is a proven fact, look it up

[mudduck]

Rick, did you read all the post in this thread? I think it's proven that.

There are just a couple guys (not mentioning any names but one lives on an island and is the skipper's little buddy and the other looks like the skipper) like to rehash this debate every now and again just to see the answers and outcome.

[Salt-Man]

I know, I was being a smart azz doesn't the M stand for Mud Duck ;)

[Blue79]

I always was told that the M designated a 400 block that was modified with the short throw crank to make the 351 so the M stood for Modified.

but back to the joke:
the real story was the engineer that designed the 351m was named Milford Needamyer,
the idea was so great that naturally named the block after him M= Milford.
Its been proven and still carries on today every stroker engine ever built can be tracked back to stroker ace (who btw was born to race)

[Salt-Man]

now thats funny :D

[mudduck]

But I thought Stroker had a mean streak?

And no the "M" does not stand for mudduck, it stands for "Many" as in they mad many of them blocks so we gotta call them sumthing.

[Salt-Man]

You boys had better hold on because I'm gonna have to stand on it!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTAn-lsHyCc

[mudduck]

Ihave that movie on dvd. One of my favorites.


Thread hijacked successfully

[Blue79]

One word about that movie,,,,,,,,,, Loni :p

[Salt-Man]

I got that one too, I like any old moonshine runnin movie
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Now its complete. my job here is done :D

[MIL1ION]

I use my rational thinking, logical mind when it comes to these type questions.

If the C i n351C- means Cleveland where it was cast

I would suspect the M in 351M means MIchigan, the state it was cast - The Michigan Casting Plant

Other than that..... It means.... Mill

[mudduck]

Yeah if I remember some of the reading I've done before the "M" designation was used just to make a difference in the 351 clan of motors. It never really meant anything. The use of "modified" was started by the rebuilders because in comparison, it 'appeared' to be a "modified" version of the 351C, although the two motors were completely different. It was just a nickname to the motor that stuck.

Just what I can filter out of the black space between my ears. I better put my armadillo helmet back on, before the goverment brain wave devices get to me.

[68Mercury250Ranger]

I would have to agree with MIL1ION, the M would stand for Michigan.

not sure if we only heard this one in Canada only .

I heard so many clowns advertise a 351M as a "factory modified high performance" motor I just started to laugh at them.


so I guess to those guys it must have meant MOTORSPORT>{:rolleyes:

[J&SBroncolvrs]

The block was also cast at the Cleveland Foundry, so the M standing for Michigan doesn't make sense to me.

[Gilligan]

The block was also cast at the Cleveland Foundry, so the M standing for Michigan doesn't make sense to me.

And the Dearborn Foundry (DIF). Ducks explanation is as near the right one as I've been able to figure out over the many years I've worked on 'em.

[J&SBroncolvrs]

Ducks explanation does make sense. I did just read that it was "Midland" Michigan though lol

[Damurazz]

Oh poo..........all this time I thought it meant that it was custom built just for me and stood for "My" 351.

[TMI]

I received an invitation at Project Bronco fromblue79, Thanks!!

I want to start my posts here by passing on what a friend of mine stated.


A friend of mine worked for Ford during mid 60's. He was one of the 4 engine builders for the gt40s that won Lemans. He stated that he thought the "M" stands for modifid. He told me a little bit about the beginning of the cleveland.
He said it was about 1968 when Ford decided to build and engine for the Mexican trucks. They were going to be painted orange and they were 335 cubic inches. Hence the 335 series. Anyway he tried to recall that there was some sort of issue with the 351W engine that they put it on what they call a "hurry up" schedule. That was a 7 day a week schedule. He has a engineering booklet of the Cleveland engine and he is going to send it to me so I can dig into it more.

[cuse]

It's modified.

[Gilligan]

Welcome aboard Tim! (..and don't forget to let me know about the Bronco Roundup..:D)

I would love to see some of the internal Ford history on the Clevelands. Seems that precious little is known or available about the internal 'goings on' at Ford...

[buffs 78 ford]

Post Deleted.

Sorry Buff, that is a copywrited article off another website.

[jimmers75f250]

the m means notta a thing, its just the plant code like lets say the (m) plant where it was cast, i ground my ( m) off my block and stamped a (j) which stands for (jimmers).lol

[buffs 78 ford]

Websters dictionary I did not know that Thanks for letting me know.
It was a mistake I did not know you could not use the material for observation there is another one in another thread on here might take care of it to. Thomas

[redmt79]

Uh, actually it came directly off of PJB, including the author's name and date.

It would be preffered that people at least post a link to the source of the material that is quoted here. Then I think we are covered.

[buffs 78 ford]

What is PJB?
Yep done a history search and found it I had googled something the other day didnt realize thats where it came from. Sorry about that. I am computer stupid. Typical my brother is the computer guru
http://www.projectbronco.com/History/history_of_the_ford_351m.htm

[redmt79]

Yep you got it!

[buffs 78 ford]

I see now. So if you want to post a vid how do ya do it without using a link

[redmt79]

http://7879blueovalbronco.com/forums/showthread.php?t=374

[Salt-Man]

it stands for 351M otor ?????? >M<:>I:dummy

[Winder]

Given Fords history of naming blocks after the foundry that produced them I think the 351M stood for Michigan.

When the 351C was still running strong Ford was in the process of phasing out 360FE & 390FE truck engines. In order to fill the void left by the FE motors Ford took the 351C (cast at the Cleveland foundry) and made it bigger and beefier to be used as a truck division.

A few years later the 351C was also phased out as Ford ran away from racing. That left on the 351 Windsor to fill the roll.

Ford destroked the 400 down to the 351M and put it in the market to help fill demand for 350 cubic inch motors. The 351M was originally produced at the Michigan plant..... hence the M moniker. Later the 351M was put together at the Cleveland facility, but then name was already in place.

[Allcruisen]

I tawt it stood for "MINE" 351Mine...

As in mine and no one elses????

Darn,

Allcruisen

[Mud Rat]

Ford did that to keep forum threads going.