So, what's available for the 144, 170, 200 Ford sixes? I know that in my '62 Comet, the 144 has a head with the intake cast right in. That sort of limits things a bit. I know that I can at least get a 2bbl adapter for it, but I would like to be able to entertain the idea of doing more. From what I know so far, I really like the motor. It runs well, gets decent mileage. It's just a little anemic. And I can never leave well enough alone, anyway. Anybody have ideas?
there ain't a whole heck of a lot! cams are available, as are tube headers, single and dual. that's about it for "bolt on" stuff! oh, and like you said, adapt a holley/weber 2bbl carb, or even the carter carb from a later 250 would probably help the smaller motors. with some machining, 3 carbs can be adapted to the log manifold, i just picked up a 3x1 setup i'm throwing onto the GF's falcon wagon. if theres interest, i could copy the adaptors, they're pretty simple, but it would still require cutting holes into your existing manifold. what i've done to the falcon, i trashed the 144, stuck in a 250 six from a 70's maverick, backed by a t-5 from a 80's t-bird, and an 8" rear from the mav. just a little shoehornin required to get the 250 in there, not bad though. i split the exhaust manifold and ran tiny pipes with no muffs, currently running a stock carb from the 250, and as far as 250 CI econoboxes go...it hauls ***! i drove it to texas and hauled a triumph motorsickle in the back, amazing i didn't get busted, i was p***ing everybody, even had no problem overcoming modern traffic on steep grades hauling a load. it's torn down now, getting the 3x1 setup soon. you could also consider a turbo or blower, thexe sixes are begging for one!
I might be interested in trying out the 3x1 set up. I might try it on a different head so I don't put the existing one out of commision. Have you had a chance to mess around with the conversion yet? I'd be interested in a 'tech post' on that once it's done. I've been thinking of something to replace the 2 spd auto, too. Is anything in a 3spd auto a bolt on upgrade?
The 144 is the weak sister of the bunch. Four main bearings, smaller displacement, and not a great reputation for reliability. The 200 or 250 motors are common, not expensive, mostly fit in the same space, more reliable, and will probably make as much power/torque stock as a modified 144 has hope to. Most 200 and 250 motors have three-speed automatics, and five-speed manuals are also an option.
Ditch the 144", and get a seven main bearing 200" or 250"; put on an Aussie 250" 2V 12 port head, or maybe one of the Argentinian Ford six heads. Look at #4554875294 and #4553665113 on Aussie eBay, and look around in the tech archives over on FordSix.com for more head option ideas.
There is more available then most people think. There's a guy named Mike that is importing Aussie 250-2V heads which have a removeable intake and are pretty much a direct bolt on. I think his business is called Ford Six Performance Parts. Also check out http://www.fordsix.com for lots of info on the Ford inline 6's. If you want to get ahold of Mike he hangs out on the Fordsix forums his username is AZcoupe.
You can replace the 2-speed with a C-4, but the best upgrade is the T-5 five speed. I wish I would have done that instead of the C-4. The Holley webber 2bbl is a good cheap upgrade if you get the carb from stovebolt. I have a 79 200 with 2bbl and C-4 in my 63 wagon and I can burn the tires with it....but the combo makes for low gearing.
Thanks for the link to the six site. That's some cool stuff. That Aussie head looks pretty neat, but I think I'd have to sell a kid to get it. I have a lead on a 200ci in a late Falcon Ranchero for short money that I might track down. Pull the motor, build it over time, then make the swap. Maybe put the 144 in the Fal-Chero and sell it to make some of the money back. Whatever. It's all speculation. I'm not looking for gobs of power, but I would like a car that got out of its own way. And looked good under the hood. I would really like to find a set of those 15" 4 lug wheels from the wagons, too...
Most everything you can imagine is available for the Falcon six now. www.fordsixparts.com Reproduction SP heads in aluminum should be available in a month or two. www.southerncrossperformance.com
Here's some pics out of a 1960 Best Hot Rods book tech article on a 3x1 set up that Edelbrock and Offenhauser offered back then. This one is and Offenhauser. From what the article showed, it's a top half/bottom half design with the base o-ringed on the outboard carb bases. The installer uses a hole saw, cuts the two outboard holes, bolts the base to the stock carb pad, uses u-bolts at the two ends and bolt the two manifold sections. It used stock ford 1 barrel carbs. It would be a cool e-bay or swapmeet find.
I never would have thought something like that would last this long. Dam.. I just looked on Offenhausers web site and there it is!!!
Beautiful looking motor!! What about some high temp/high pressure aircraft O-rings. Or is just the overall design?? Either way I looks cool.
Offy dont have one... they keep a low profile from what i can gather... any and all sales go through thier distributors
i picked up a 3x1 setup last week, but the one i have requires a little more work to your existing manifold, it has two small adaptors instead of the big long one, you have to mill flats on the log, and tap four holes for bolts for each adaptor in addition to the carb hole, but i think it's a better design because each carb bas is independant, and you don't have to rely on o-rings to seal, you have nice flat surfaces to bolt together.
not real sure about how much stuff they have for the later I mills... but clifford also has a ton of **** for sick bangers Clifford performance
PTL, that's a great looking motor! Very cool. What is the valve cover? Is that an Offy part, too? I can't believe Offy still makes that intake either. I wonder if they made too many about 40 years ago, and they're still around, or if there is actually a market for them still. I know I want one.
Offy is a one of a kind operation for sure. I used to work in a shop and Tay Offenhauser would deliver our parts to us personally. Nice guy. We were SMALL! and he would still take our orders and deliver our stuff. One of teh few vendors we had that was the "real deal" their product remains prettty much unchanged and they still cast stuff with low demand..... FONZI
The offy setup is sweet. I run one on my daily Ranchero. I'm using a 170 with a 75 200 head, the Offy with three Holley 1909s, a custom ground cam from Racer Brown, split manifold, and a Mallory dual point. When I step into the outer carburetors, it spins the dinky 8.5 inch clutch.....tons of fun!
does anyone know if the trip card intake is available for 1960 ford fairlane? Its got the original straight six in it.
i believe ANYTHING offy EVER cast can be gotten through phethean racing ... if you wanna wait for offy to cast it www.offyparts.com
Check out Cl***icinlines.com. This used to be the Ford Six website and they have changed. They are offering a new aluminum head for the small sixes. Not to bad at $1300.00 with valves. You would have to put your own intake on it as the head is designed with six intake ports and six exhaust ports. They may offer an intake for it, I do not know. It is definately worth checking out.
Six in a row sure makes it go ... Jack Clifford, legendary six cylinder racer, record holder and engine builder's, performance built Ford 250 six engine- 10:1 Pistons, Clifford rods, Clifford 272H Cam, line bored mains, balanced bottom end, ARP Fasteners, Cloyes timing set, Fisher balancer, 1.88 int. valves, Ported and relieved, Offy 3X1 w/3 modified Holleys, Re-curved distrib., ****** dual out long tube Headers, Lightened flywheel, Centerforce weighted clutch, the works, a few mysteries... Powerband
Sorry for digging up such an old post but if anyone has a video of their SPLIT MANIFOLD for a FORD 144,170,or a 200ci? and if anyone is running the old split 4-2 split with gl***packs, send me an email tonicklopick@gmail.com thanks, nick.
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