Pretty simple looking engine, thought i could build some custom headers and maybe an intake to replace that measly 1 barrel. Anybody do anything else with these engines, any performance secrets or cheap enhancements that i could do to give it a little more kick. I think i'll also have to find a 12 volt conversion for it a little later on. Brandon
I have a 223 Im holding onto for a future project. They did (and still do) make dual and tripple manifolds for them, and I think Offy made valve covers. Maybe even some split manifolds but Im not sure on those. You can get hipo cams for them as well as hi-rise lifters. Good luck! -Dean
Fenton 2x1 just sold on evilbay for $155, there's a guy selling NOS hi-lift lifters for $65 all the time, he must have a boxcar full.
Wasn't able to find cams or lifters on the Offy site, but got a sweet triple carb intake. Also, 4t65rd, what did you look up on ebay to get those hi-lift lifters. Brandon
Bizarre rocker arms? The rocker set up on a 223 is the same as a Y Block. As for speed parts, Fenton made dual single manifolds, finned valve covers and a cast iron header (header is super rare). Offy currently offers dual single and triple single manifolds, and finned valve covers. Clifford currently offers several manifolds (2bbl, 4bbl,etc.), tube headers and a bunch of other stuff.
DO IT! I have a 215 with a offy 3 x 1 intake, fenton header and offy valve cover...sure does look nice. It also has some stuff inside... Rgrind your cam and do some head work and your good to go with a rebuild.
The biggest problem is that you have a huge heavy engine with small displacement. Not a bad engine, just heavy for the size. I had a 215 in my old modified, looked neat and almost nobody could figure out what it was, most thought it was a Chevy at first look. You certainly can add some power with better flowing intake and exhaust. Unless you split your stock manifold, you probably should just go with tube headers and get the biggest benefit. Our old buddy Germ was big into these engines and had a set of the rare Fenton split manifolds on his 52(?) Ford. Also had the dual carb manifold, real neat looking set-up in his car.
The only one I have owned I still remember was a 64, the last year. It was a low milage car that had sat most of the last 20 years, valve train was noisy. When I went to adjust the rocker arms I found some very strange 2 piece rockers with a spring in them. Maybe they didn't all have those.
Hmmm...maybe they changed the rocker set up on the later 223s. My engine is a '55 with a '57 head on it.
The rockers had a spring loaded eccentric that was supposed to eliminate a lot of the valve train noise due to the solid lifters. My '62 was like that, I don't know if there was a change sometime in the production of the engine.
Your right, i don't know if hot rod is the best term, especially since it's in a '62 Galaxie 4 door, i'm just lookin to get some more power out of the little guy.
I have a Fenton 2x1 on my '64 223 I got from Zor, a pair of gl*** bowl Holleys and a pair of split tube headers. I'll probably try a set of those high lift rockers. It's going in light "A" frame with the '27 T RPU cab and a 4.27 rear. Even with my fat *** in it it should scoot pretty good around town.
I don't know what gears my 64 Custom 300 had with 223 and a stick but it got around real good in stock form. I never did get it licensed and on the highway though.
those hollow tipped rocker arms were called "zero lash" rockers, and as described were used to quiet down the valve ***embly. it also made it MUCH easier to set the valve lash at the same time the rockers you want that Mike was talkin about are called "Hi-Lift" rockers, made by barker machine co. and thats just what they do, open the valves a little more than stock. that guy usualy has two sets on E**** every other week or so. fenton DID make a split manifold, but they are some RARE mugga fugga's and spendy when you find em. offy still makes the intakes for em, and they used to make a cast valve cover as well. not sure if they still cast those tho. there is a place online you can find em... gotta check my links folder to see if i have it marked. Clifford Performance makes a 1x4 intake for em, as well as a nice set of tube headers. and they also have a cam they sell... or at least they used to. there is a shop in Green Bay WI that regrinds your stock cam for around $100 from what i remember if you REALY want an off the wall hopped up 223, your gonna want the rotating ***embly from a 262cid ford HD truck I-6 from the early sixties... takes a ****load of machine work to relieve the block for the con rods, and i believe the mains and seals need to be reworked as well. one word of caution, you are gonna play HELL locating one. and when you do, the guy that has it is more than likely going to know DAMN well what you want it for so its gonna be spendy. .060" overbore, Cam, shaved head, rockers, tube headers or split exhaust, and a 2x1 or 3x1 intake... they dont make much power, but they look KOOL as all hell when you dress em up nice
here ya are,,, a few of the links i have for 223 partz Clifford Performance Cam John Mummert's 223 performance parts hope these help some
Clifford Performance makes a 1x4 intake for em, [/QUOTE] Anyone have a link to this? That would be freakin' cool. -Dean
My Clifford catalog is a few years old, but it has quite a few speed parts available for the 223. I had a 57 F-100 with a hopped up 223 for a long time. The 4-bbl intake, headers, and cam all came from Clifford. The dual point distributor was from Mallory. I ran a 390 cfm 4 bbl. carb, with a little head work, a manual trans, and 4:11 gears it really screamed for a six. I blew up three of them and two three speeds before swapping in a y-block and a 4-speed and sold all the speed parts to a local guy who might still have all of it, including the chrome dress up kit. PM me if you want his #.
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