Hot Rods How good can you make a Windsor look?

Here's my conundrum. I bought my 30 coupe 3/4 finished and the previous owner put a Windsor in it. It's a good little motor. Lumpy cam, runs nice, no smoke. I've got no reason to swap it out.

But

It looks wrong. I don't know if it's the angular valve covers, the long water pump or the dizzy in the front but it just looks so nineties.

I'm at the point now though where I need to make the decision whether to get rid of it or learn to live with it. Changing drivetrain/tranny at this point in the build is going to absorb a lot of time and $.

I'm hoping there might be a few die hard Windsor guys out there who can show me a few pics of cool looking engines to convince me to keep it. I've tried googling it and I just get pics of Mustang engine bays. I want to see a few Windsor's with chrome, metal flake blocks, polished tunnel rams etc.

Do the exist?

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Y block valve cover adapters

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/media/albums/my-cars.25705/

 

There's also FE valve cover adaptors, which to me look more 'natural'. Use pent-roof covers and there's no hassle putting oil in. Holman-Moody also makes a very attractive cover.

 

FE valve covers on a small block. Is that like putting a plastic rack on a size 8 porn star?

I like that look!

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Keep the Windsor, too many sbc in old Fords. Bones

 

Here's a pretty good looking Windsor.

 

Some finned valve covers and cool air cleaner and call it done
If ya really want to pull of the vintage vibe, add an oil fill timing cover and a generator.

 

You are worried about how it looks and you want to see “metal flake painted blocks”

Ray

 

Put a hood on it and don't open. Nothing better than a Ford in a Ford.

 

You can run twin 4s, tripower an elusive manafre 4 x2 intake, theres quad webers or injection etc. theres plenty of rocker covers avail. finned sumps etc. I run a tripower, offy covers and a cal custom finned sump with lakes style headers on a winsdor in my A Coupe.

 

One way

 

Don't try to make it something it isn't. Forget the finned aluminum and go for a Ford factory race look circa '64:

 

My little Windsor don't look so bad.

 

Heres a few in this older thread, kinda like the look of the keystones but not sure what they would look like on the actual engine??? (probably pricey tho)
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/early-60s-aftermarket-sbf-valve-covers.1026351/

 

I use an older timing cover, pre 70 water pump and early pulleys. Shortens up the engine. Lots of valve cover choices (I'm going 64 Fairlane/Galaxie on spacers so roller rockers fit better) tons of intake choices. If' it's a 302 it's easier, if it's a 351 you can still find several intake styles.

3rd one down is my '88 roller 5.0/302 with a couple different looks. It will be painted with minimal chrome. Most likely where I am headed. Will also use Pertronix and stock looking wires from them.

The 289 in my '57 in a couple different looks. Also Pertronix.
SPark

 

There is only one Windsor, the 351.
221, 260, 289 and 302 were called Challangers or the Ford Fairlane V8.

Everybody call them Windsors when "small block" would be more appropriate.

 

put a hood on it and drive.

 

I like the early black blocks with the painted gold valve covers
those look cool

and this one as well

 

No hood

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I personally like the "Power By Ford" oem rocker covers.

 

Get rid of colored wires if you have them and use black. Make every thing neat and clean. I think they look great.

 

.... and make sure you use the small cap on the distributor.

 

The 5.0 in my '31. Black metallic catalyzed urethane on the engine.

 

I have the Edlebrock dual quad set up for a 351W that I’m selling you’re interested. It’s still in the box, I only took it out to take pictures one day.


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Drink lots of beer,it’s known to cure ugly!

 

Thanks but if I keep the motor I'm thinking about going with a tunnel ram. It'll keep that 60s feel and apparently 302s run pretty well with them.

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Before you started this post I was thinking the same thing about how to get the ugly off a chevy motor so I just went with a ford.

 

This is the 351W thats going in my 53 Courier. I made adapters for the 66 390 covers.

 

Out standing!

 

following as I will be running the same engine in my sedan