See other engines in this family
Ford W specs: 361 ci 8-cylinder, 4.047 x 3.50 in (102.8 x 88.9 mm) bore and stroke, 9.6:1 compression. Rated 303 hp, 1959. Used in the Edsel Edsel.
The Ford 361ci (W) is oversquare — the 4.0469" bore exceeds the 3.5" stroke by 15.6% — a layout that favors airflow and RPM over leverage at the crank. The 3.5" stroke puts mean piston speed at 4,000 ft/min around 6,850 RPM, which is where a production bottom end is generally considered at its limit. Each of the 8 cylinders displaces 45.1 ci (739 cc).
9.6:1 is in the range that usually runs on pump premium.
It is one of 2 engines in the Ford 361ci family, all of them 361 ci — the differences between them are in compression, heads and rating, not displacement.
| Displacement | 361 ci |
|---|---|
| Bore | 4.0469" |
| Stroke | 3.5" |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Configuration | V8 |
| Compression ratio | 9.6:1 |
| Bore/stroke ratio | 1.156 |
| Fuel type | gas |
|---|---|
| Firing order | 1-5-4-2-6-3-7-8 |
| Advertised HP | 303 hp |
| Years | 1959 |
| Year | Version | HP @ rpm | Torque @ rpm | Comp. | Duration int / exh | Valve lift int / exh | LSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1959 | gross | 303 @ 4600 | 390 lb-ft @ 2900 | 9.6:1 | 270° | 0.408" | 113° |
Factory specification sheet. Durations are the factory's advertised figures at the basis printed on the sheet, not duration at .050" lift; lobe separation is calculated from the printed valve timing.
| Bore/stroke character | 1.156 — oversquare — bore exceeds stroke, which favours higher RPM and larger valves |
|---|---|
| Mean piston speed at 6,000 RPM | 3,500 ft/min — conservative for a street engine |
| Displacement per cylinder | 45.1 ci |
| Static compression | 9.6:1 — in the range that usually runs on pump premium |
Each link opens the calculator with this engine's specs already filled in.
1 factory vehicle, 1959. Each year opens that model's engine table.