Just wondering if anyone here has messed around with the little 221, the 260, or even the 255 from the early '80's for performance and mileage... Pictures would be cool also.... Thanks!
Funny you should ask! I have a 221 that I wanted to use in the worst way! (as you say, 'mileage';...don't expect much performance, though. In my new '47 Four Door, I doubt that 221 would have enough power to pull a greased hat off a bald head!)
Nothing wrong with a 260, mine has an old crankshaft co. R8 grind cam, headers, 2 angle valve job, 2 390cfm Holleys on a Ford dual quad manifold. Goes well.
255 is junk for sure. I like those 221 and 260. those 260 engines have the smallest combustion chambers I have ever seen. other than diesels. I have an old 260 in the corner of the shop they only have the 5 bolt bell housing like the early 289.
honestly, i don't see the appeal of wringing the last ounce out of a marginal engine other than to say you did. Ford QUICKLY added cubes to that engine to get it to produce reliable power... and the '80's 255 is a step in the wrong direction IMHO. besides; they all LOOK like a SBF from outside. and if you break it.... you have to remember all the odd parts you put in that WEREN'T on the shelf at autozone. save the little ones for the restorers.
The 255 has the same 3.00" stroke as the 302.. But the bore checks in @ 3.680" I'm sure some of the better parts will make it last....
My brother had an '81 Capri with a 255 and automatic. The 255 didn't feel any different than the 200 I6, and was beat by 4cyl Corollas and the like. If you floored it, it just looked and sounded like you were taking off normally from a stoplight with all the other traffic. It was beyond pathetic, but it did get 30mpg on the freeway - if that in any way made up for it. -KK
Ford built an Indy 260? ci motor that made the cover of HOT ROD.... Anyone here have the picture???.......
'64 260 - 289 heads, lemans gt cam, flattops, dual point ford distributor, 2 450cfm holleys, lots of timing, 4 speed - runs real good if you wring it out
I think the 255 was the hollow crank motor. Might be interesting to play with one if you get it cheap.
That's the issue with the Chrysler Turbine Car and Jack Clifford's Hudson, isn't it? With the sweet review of the 'lightweight' full size Fords? I've read it a few times. JK
The original Mustangs came with a 260. I had one back in the '70s that I drag raced. I ran various small block Fords from 221 thru 289 all with 5 bolt bell housings. Weekly inspections proved to be interesting because they never knew what combo I would show up with.
Way back about '75 or so, I bought a ratty old '63 Merc Meteor that had a 260 in it. I DD it for some time and then bought my old '64 Ford Fairlane 500 S/W that somebody had dropped in a 221. Promptly torched a ring groove in one piston blowing it out on a 75 mile road trip coming back from work so I pulled the 260 outta the Merc and installed it in the S/W. AND this is when I learned as my now ex-B-i-L said, "Fords change things annually just for the fun of it because they can".. We had to pull the 260 back out and put the flexplate off the 221 on it to get the '64's converter to line up AND right both had 5-bolt bellhousings! Only got like 15 mpg out of both engines, but I figure the S/W was pretty heavy and the old 2-speed A/T was terrible! Boy, I miss that old beater wagon to this day! I DD it for years and even did a dingle-berry hone/Krylon $150 overhaul on the 260 and drove her years longer! BUT I never beat on it, never! Crank was untouched and you could feel the rings on all the journals. I put standard everything back in it and let her rattle on down the road.... He, he!! Paid $300 and $350 for each car..... Forget which was which tho??? pdq67
I had a '66 Ranchero that supposedly had a 302 in it. It didn't, turned out to be a early '80s 255. It was pathetic... Swapped a 302 into it ( and then later a 351W ). Huge difference. I also found out the hard way that the balance weight on a 255 flexplate is different than the one on a 302. The car almost shook itself off the jackstands, when I first fired it up.
I had a 260 in my 63 20' fibregl*** chris craft. It was the first I/O chris craft made and had a Eaton out drive.
I wouldn't look to any of those for any performance. I 've had 289s and 302s that ran like hell for what they were. As long as they breathe well and you don't go above 2 1/4 inch exhaust, the ones I had would smoke the hell out of the tires without power braking and get mid 20s for mpg. They can be a real snotty little engine set up right and if I have another Ford, that's what I"ll run. They're damn near bullett proof and hoave no problem turning 7 grand without hurting themselves. Course this is only my opinion and I'm a Chevy guy
I have a 260 in Deuce 5W, been in there since 1964.runs good, but I don't abuse it, mileage is poor, but who cares, looks good, fit good.
this is my old drag car it had a 302 with 289 heads, balanced and bluprinted it would turn 8800 with the factory crank, if your going to run a 260 you are going to have to turn it up to make power, it's just what these short stroke motors like.
The worst part of the 80's 255 was the cylinder heads, you could hardly put your finger in the ports they were so small. Just ad a set of early 289 heads to boost compression and improve air flow, then bolt on all of the stuff used on 302's and it should run real well.
I have heard stories of an old timer running a 221 in his drag car. I dont know what it was or how he made it turn so fast, but he was able t0 get it to rev to 10k...dump the clutch and go. When it blew up you rebuilt it with junkyard parts (including bearings) and did it again.
I have three cars with 221 c.i. engines (1962 Mercury Meteor (driver) - 2-speed auto, 1962 Ford Fairlane (project car) - 3-speed standard, 1962 Ford Fairlane (parts car) - 2-speed auto). With the 2-speed automatic they are a slug, but it doesn't stop me from keeping up with traffic on the highway (70 MPH doing about 3000 rpm). I can't wait until my 1962 Fairlane is on the road to feel the difference between a 221 V-8 with an automatic and a standard. Thanks! Tom - Gl***_Packs
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