Now that I have your attention... Got a stupid question. I've had my '62 Futura for close to thirty years now, and it's always had a '65 200 six in it. That's the small 5 bolt bellhousing, for those playing at home... So today, against my better judgment, and throwing all caution to the wind (read stupidity), I let the previous owner help me flat tow (strap, for extra man points!) my new '62 Ranchero home all the way across the valley! So, here is the question - This comes with a '67 170, the big 6 bolt bellhousing motor that runs well, but is not installed. My memory banks know that the bigger bellhousing interferes with the firewall and trans tunnel, and something needs to be notched to fit, but where ? Is it hight in the tunnel at the base of the firewall, or is it around the starter motor? The drivers footwell? Where? Has anybody out there in H.A.M.B. land done this recently and can give me a clue? How much needs to come out? I've got the trucklet in the driveway now, but I can't get the motor until next week and wanted to make some progress on this over the week. Any clues? By the way, to the younger guys out there, when the old timers tell you to never consider flat towing something with a tow strap unless it's an emergency, listen to them. Careening down a road ten feet behind the bumper of the vehicle in front of you in a vehicle you don't know at all and is questionably under braked is terrifying at best, and should only be practiced every twenty years or so to remember why you should never do it!! Thanks guys, Chip Quinn
I have a newer 200 in my 63 Ranchero with the C7 Mustang 3.03 bellhousing. I don't remember that I had to notch or massage anything. It was fairly tight at the top for the bellhousing bolts but I had plenty of clearance. I put a toploader overdrive in mine so I cut the floor for the shifter like the factory did for 4 speeds. I used an aftermarket C4 auto trans crossmember. I did have to notch that for the tail shaft housing on the transmission. I don't know if this info helps you or not...
Thanks man. The previous owner made my mind go into overdrive, because he mentioned not being able to fit the bellhousing against the firewall. Made me start thinking about Ford bellhousing trivia, and after that my brain began to hurt. I just noticed that you mentioned your car is a '63, and I remember that something changed in the tunnel or firewall for the coming of the first V8 cars in the Falcon line. Anybody else done this with a '60, '61 or '62 lately? Also, just went on the tffn websight - holy crap! I'll have to look and see if my new acquisition has the dual bolt pattern block. No chance I could be that lucky!
I have a 68 200 with a 65 c4 behind it. bolted in just fine. nothing notched or anything when I looked under it.
I have had both a 61 Comet wagon and a 62 Ranchero with the 200 six and C4 trans. Didn't have to notch or clearance anything. Slipped in like Butta. Throttle linkage was different though. And of course the 2 speed auto column shift was a little different, no biggie
Had a 60 with a six changed it to a 289 and 4 speed (1967) used mustang engine mounts and c-4 trans mount no firewall problems also had 64 ranchero with a boss 302 in it (1974) no firewall problems there either had to notch spring towers! though
Cool guys, thanks. I would have sworn there was something that had to happen when you ran the bigger bellhousing six. But, again, it's been about twenty years since I've really done much ford six swapping. The previous owner had said something about trying to install the motor and having trouble with clearances, and that started my memory banks searching on overtime. I'll just have to wait and see. Thanks Again, Chip Quinn
I also got a 62 ranch my favorite car to date im runnin a 302 with a c4 its a little tight but not enough to start tunneling shit out you should have no prob .
Gee Chip ya big baby ! Flat towing is easy IF the guy in the pull car knows what he's about. Should'a called sounds like I missed all the fun ! You know me ,hard way is my middle name. LOL
You sir, are one of those "old guys" I was talking about!!! Yes, I wish you had been on the other end of the tow rope - or Steve! It was a pretty good adventure though. You comin' over to check the new trucklet out any time soon? We gotta talk T-50's too!
Will probably wonder over that way in the AM. Gota see what Wonder Woman the compulsive collecter has got now. You are going to need to start using my backyard for excess storage. LOL
It's still in the same place it was when you saw it last, what five years ago? Hell, at least I know where IT is. Lots of other stuff has come and gone though, so I can't feel to guilty! In my defense, I have collected a big bunch of really cool stuff for its next go 'round. How about a late model 250 inch six, a TO4 turbo, World class T5 and bell, Centerforce clutch, Holley two barrel, intercooler, Mustang 11 front end. Can you say "Go fast?", I knew you could...
Hi guys, First I wanted to say thanks for your answers to this question. I also wanted to make kind of a "public record" of my findings on this deal. It might help others in the future. I got the two motors for our Ranchero today, thanks very much to previous owner, Brad. One is the original 170 for our '62, the other is a '66 170. My original post dealt with the previous owner saying that he had problems putting the motor in, and my vague recollection that there were a couple of different bellhousing configurations on sixties Ford small six motors. Well HE did have firewall clearance issues, Ya wanna know why? The bell housing that was attached to '66 170 is from a Bronco! The first thing that threw a flag for me, was that the bell was made of cast iron. Every falcon bellhousing I can remember whether early or later was aluminum. I ran back in my shop and grabbed a bell that I know to be from a '66 Ranchero, that I have had hanging on my walls for ever. There it was - the cast iron bell has a raised rounded bubble on the top rear edge all the way around. almost as if it's cast with some extra room for a larger clutch assembly. The aluminum Falcon bellhousing was just a smooth, straight incline down to the face of the trans mount. A quick look under the trans tunnel in our Ranchero confirmed what I knew by that time, lots of scratches of red paint where he tried to raise it up and it wouldn't clear. A quick check with the previous owner confirmed that the engine was pulled from a good running Bronco, bellhousing and all. So, long story short, if your putting a later than '65 170 or 200 six in an early falcon, a bronco style larger bell isn't going to fly. Hows that for some dumb luck detective work?! Now, onto bigger things, like putting a five speed on this thing!!! P. S. If I know my "Fordees", (and most time I'm in the ball park at least), I would be willing to bet this would rule out Econoline bellhousings as well.
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