icuhatn99

I just got a 1977 lincoln versailles with 65,000 original miles...the engine runs very good just not enough power for me...It says 351 on the valve covers and someone told me it was a 351w 2bbl carb that came in these cars...I was wondering any mods I could do that could improve performance without rebuilding the engine...like....getting rid of the smog stuff???new intake /carb?? thanks for any info also what makes these years of engines so horsepower challenged??

Freshmeat

They were so low on horsepower back then because it was the early stages of vacuum diagrams, smog equipment, catalytic converters, etc. What I'd do:
Good 4bbl intake and Edelbrock Performer carb (600-650cfm, no bigger), then swap the cam when you can. Go to www.summitracing.com- get the intake/cam combo, most likely the Performer RPM, and get the Edelbrock carb to match. Then, start on your exhaust; either free-flowing cats or take advantage of the grandfather clause and ditch them entirely, good free-flowing 2.25" inlet / 2.25" outlet mufflers (I'd recommend MagnaFlow [Flowmasters are overrated]), and have an exhaust shop weld it in using 2.25" piping. They may try to push you on 2.5", but you'll need the torque provided by the 2.25" to really get that beast moving.

Let me do a little more searching before I tell you anything about cylinder head swaps.

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My Garage

macx

A number of years ago I helped a friend bring a full sized Bronco with a 351W to life. I think it was around the same year as yours.

We did it simple - Edelbrock Performer intake, 650 vac secondary Holley,l
matching Performer cam, "straight up" dual roller timing chain to get rid of
the factory retarded cam timing, headers, dual 2-1/2" exhaust with turbo mufflers.

We freed the engine from all the timing curve controls like the retard, etc.

He was AMAZED at the difference, and the improved mileage and towing ability.

Changing the cam IS "going inside the engine" to a small degree, but when
you're changing intake is a GREAT time to do that.

At the least, do the intake/carb/exhaust and distributor mods to start and
put on a straight up timing set. Even just that will really help.