So, i picked up this "rough" 1964 Econoline about a month ago. The more i looked at it, the more i realized i was going to have to do to get it on the road. Well, the first night we tried to get it running, it would fire and then shut off immediately. We killed the battery in the process and then it sat for the last month. Well, last night we got it started. Long story short, we just had to hotwire the ignition and run all that old fuel out. When it fired, it wouldnt idle and but it would run at about 600rpms @full throttle. We messed with it and kept it going and then all of a sudden it shot some SHIT out of the exhaust and ran perfect. This bad boy purrs like a kitten! I couldnt believe it. It shot out some BIG chunky black shit and some STINKY ass exhaust. Almost like there was a rats nest inside the exhaust. Im hella stoked. Now my question. I was looking for the carb numbers to get a rebuild kit for it and i noticed that the valve cover said 250. I thought they came with 1144/170(?)? Does this mean it was swapped? The carb numbers came back to a 70-74 model year carb and i found a piece of paper in the van that said "1974 Torino Motor". I didnt know the 250 would swap into those vans? Its looks clean and not hacked up, thats why i assumed the motor was stock. Either way, this fucker RUNS! I forgot the windshield was taped in when i took it around the block (after a few beers). I hit the gas and almost flew off the wheelwell (no seats ). This thing HAULS ASS! My friends econoline has a 3 on the tree and its a slug. Mine smokes his! Thanks, i had to tell someone! Heres some pics if you havent seen it. And no, it did not sell; and no, its not for sale! http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=281252&highlight=econoline
My dad had a 61 "window" econoline for 20 + years. The last (of 3) motors i put in it for him was a 250 from a granada. 250 has adjustable rockers and WAY more power than the 144 original ..less than 1500 lbs wet ! Man , was it a handfull. 3 motors,1 rear end,2 trannys and about 10 clutches later I know WAY more than I should about the "little" ford six's. LOL ! Maybe this is why I only own GM stuff ? ( If you don't count the wife's WRX driver ) Dave
Did you have to put in new mounts with the 250? What does it take to get it in there? I didnt think the 250 was a bolt in?
Man, you are asking me to remember details like that from almost 30 years ago !! I can't remember what i had for dinner last night. LOL ! As I think back on the swap it really was not a big deal. The biggest problem was trying to re use the exhaust manifold (I think the 144 manifold was shorter and would not fit the 250 head ). We bought the motor (rebuilt) from Lacey's auto parts machine shop (another trad parts store/shop now gone) and had to chase wrecking yards for the exhaust manifold and a carb core cuz the 250 head had a bigger carb mounting flange. If you were swapping from a donor car you should be able use all the 250 stuff no problem..And if you get lucky enough to get an electronic dizzy you can trigger an msd box ! Dave
I have a 250 in mine. clean swap for the most part. If you're going to stay with a 6, go with the 300.
No, the 250 is still a little six, the 240 is a big six. Confusing, hunh? And then to make it more fun the earlier little sixes are different than the later little sixes.
yup, go with the 300cui industrial 6 with a 4brl manifold, drop a 750cfm holly or demon on it and hold on tight!.
good job you little reggin face! i'm stoked the shiftheads are drivers more than collectors these days! just got johnny desoto titled and registered and i've been smashin it around all day! might settle for a running 400 for the chop this saturday at $150, little less power but it's more power than i've got now baby!
Id swoop the 400 if you can. Thats a hell of a deal. Also, the van bumper stays with the van. Its attached to my tow-package
The 250, although it's the last evolution of the falcon 6 or little 6, is slightly wider than the 200, 170, 144, etc... Really all that needs to be done is redrill the motor mount pads. Or if you're a complete hack like whoever put the 250 in my 64 econoline, you torch the shit out of the mount pads leaving them nearly unusable... fuckers... Nice score, BTW~!
Hey, its almost done! Jordan, i think i found a chassis for the t roadster i got from RICKY. Lets get started. Ricky, thats enough outta you!
Stuffing a big 6 240/300 is a LOT of work in a 61-64 Econo, but a virtual bolt in for the 65-67s... as much work as putting in a v8. I know 200s pretty much drop right in, but I wasn't sure about the 250. I guess they fit in the early Econos! Good to know! If you want to know for sure, run the numbers on the engine block. You can get hop up parts for those motors from Cliffords.
The 300 will bolt in where the 240 was but putting one where a 170 200 was is a chore. We have 2 ecolines junked at present. The last one i bought was a great deal. I was at a auction sale they had sold the place and where moving. At the very last of the day they remembered that in amoung the bushes and blackberrys there was a van you could hardly see it. We bought it for $20.oo. After a week or so i went and got it. Turned out it had a 66 289 and c4 auto swapped in also had a 9 inch 411 rear end that was just the right with to work under our 55 chev wagon. If i hadnt stayed till the end of the sale i would never of known about it. Funny how things work sometimes OldWolf
this thread rocks! i just got a 61 econo pickup with a 144 it runs great but its just not enough. From what every one was saying it sounds like a 250 would be almost a bolt in right? btw here is my truck
NotNu, a 170 is a direct, simple swap, and a 200 will pretty much bolt right in, but I want to say that the 250 needs a little more modifications... like the dogbox is too low or something. From what I recall from discussions on the OldEconolines group, the 250 is not a direct swap. Since its mounts are towards the front of the block, the motor will sit too far back (and perhaps too high on the 65-67 crossmember mounts). This isn't as difficult of a problem as swapping in a v8/big 6 into a 61-64, but it is something to consider. What you need to do is convince srosa to get under his truck and take a lot of pics and take mesurements so you know what needs to be done before you tear into it. some interesting facts 200 The 200 in³ (3.3 L) was introduced in the middle of 1963. The 1965 Mustang came standard with a 200 in³ (3.3 L) that produced 120 hp (89 kW). The Mustang continued to use the 200 as its base engine until it was dropped in 1971. The 200 reappeared as the middle engine in the 1979 Mustang, now producing 94 hp (70 kW). This was the base engine again on the 1980 pony, but was dumped in 1983. The last year of production for the 200 was 1984. The 4-cylinder Ford HSC engine was based on (and generally replaced) the 200. 250 The 250 in³ (4.1 L) straight six was an engine option offered in 1969 in the Mustang and 1970 in medium sized Ford cars. Output was 155 hp (115 kW) in the Mustang, and became the base engine in 1971. Power was down to 98 hp (73 kW) for 1972 and just 88 hp (65 kW) the next year. The last year of production for the 250 was 1984.
The 240/300 series truck six was only available in the last year of the early flatnosed Econoline vans and pickups, 66? 67?
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