I'd like to upgrade my 223 with a 240/300 distributor to gain mechanical advance. I've read several articles about what is involved and would like to use a fresh drive gear. Checking Google I find one place that has them, but they are listed as being for 52, 53, 54 215 and 223. Are the early 6s really that different from the later ones? If they are different, who has the later gear?
@john mullen , can one of your guys help answer this rodder's questions on interchangeability and availability?
I a I ***ume you have a early 223. The 300 conversion on the earlier engines is more complex. Personally I would use the old gear off the 223 if it's in good shape. That way you know it's compatible. It seems like I remember a compatibility problem with steel gears and iron cams or vice versa.... With the old gear or "correct" replacement for that year...you "should" be OK. Some, maybe most 1963s and all 1964 223s use the same size oil pump drive as the 240/300. On earlier engines the 300 oil pump drive has to be modified to fit the pre '64 oil pump. There are several tech articles/posts about this on the old sight fordsix.com. One word of caution.... 240s used the LOM vacuum only advance through the early 70s. As more and more replacement parts go out of production, make sure that your new '300' distributor is really a vacuum/mechanical unit and not a 240 LOM unit.
NOS Ford 223 gear: https://www.ebay.com/itm/114699054377?epid=1958525071&hash=item1ab498ad29:g:jYoAAOSw-wJfP96U As F-One mentioned, the later oil pump will accept the hex drive of the later type distributor. I think it may be the 1964 only 223/262 only pump. As you may already know, I believe you need to shorten the shaft of the new distributor or cut a new one out of quality hex stock.
Thanks. I understand the need to use the 64 oil pump and a shortened 240 shaft. I actually have a 63 engine, thanks to the 223s ability to rev higher than it can stay together at. Hey, it was almost 50 years back and I had a heavy right foot, OK? I'd like to get a new gear so that I can keep the original LOM dist together as a backup. I know the early ones had a slot drive oil pump shaft, but that should not change the gear.
Not that it matters to my question, but this 223 resides in a 56 F100 panel with headers and a T85 behind it.
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