I finally returned form Iraq and am knee deep in restoring my early 63 Ford Falcon and AFTER I got 90% done rebuliding the carb, I realized a hole in the intake manifold/cylinder head. From one angle it looks like someone took a hole punch and knocked a hole in it then it rusted out a little making it bigger. From another angle/ it looks completely rusted out. I didn't know if this is a major isssue (like have to get a new engine or intake manifold/cylinder head or if it can be welded up.) I'm going to try to get a pic of it on here within the next 24 hrs so you all can get an idea of what I'm talking about. Thanks for any help. -Jeromy "Back from Iraq and trying to get this stupid inline running!"
thanks for the reply. its just wierd because the guy i bought this thing from apparently didn't know what he was doing. i found another hole thats on the intake manifold behind the carb as well. so it has been punched....no idea why, but it was punched and like nearly 50% of the car, rusted and weakened.
A 200 has most of the same exterior dimensions, seven main bearings, and is a ton better engine than your 144. They were in production forever, and a good one shouldn't be hard to find. Good luck getting her running, but if you have to pull the head on the 144, it is probably just as easy to replace the motor with a 200.
been there myself kinda....I had and oil pressure problem on the back cylinder and had to take'er out. What I found is that the first year 250 mustangs had the same early bellhousing as the 144, 170, 200. So we put a 250 in our 63 S-22 comet. Just so you know your options.
144s are amusing for all the wrong reasons, i love hearing mine all wound up just trying to not get swamped by the traffic.... go for a 200. 250's may have clearance issues due to the higher deck, it can vary model to model though... my friend has one in her XP- '65/'66 but i wouldnt want to try fit one in my XK- '62.
Was the 144 engine even available in '63? Anyhow, could you be looking at a heat tube for the choke that has rusted away or something of that nature? Was the car running before the carb rebuild, and if so, how well did it run? Can you post some pix of the areas in question?
yes they made 144 in 63, and it wouldnt take much to find another head. Course it wouldnt take much to bolt in a v8 either 260, 289, 302, 351. course then you need v8 springs heres a whole donor car. http://lexington.craigslist.org/pts/1039947841.html
There is a falcon club with a few owners over in Louisville that could steer you into some help too. http://bluegrasschapter.com/
thanks again for all the help guys. sorry for the lateness of my reply. i had to replace the fuel tank, lines, pump, the whole nine yards so i've been tinkering away for some time now just to get that part squared away. i have been told that the holes where punched there bc the head would leak oil due to the gaskets getting too hot/cold and cracking so the holes where punched in there to drain the oil out.....wouldn't put it past them...but kinda makes sense. man i hate this motor and im starting to hate this car. thanks for all the reference links duste01. been trying to find a good salvage yard here around louisville to get a 200, but i haven't really had a chance yet and i moved to a new part of town and still trying to get all the little mom and pop places found.
we really need to see what you're referring to; there are spots in the webbing of the head/intake that can be easily punched out without causing any ill effect. these intake/heads tend to gather trash and oil in these spots between the runners and cause trouble with smoke and possibly starting fires. shine us some pics!
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