Technical 1960 Ranchero inline 6 questions

The 200 idled well and cruised pretty good at slow speeds. But the trans wouldn't shift into 3rd and at high rpms in 2nd it would start to sputter and backfire and shut off.

 

It's an Autolite.

 

See if you can find the part number on the 250 head. It is on the log of the intake manifold.

It will start with a letter, followed by a number. For example C9, D8, E0, etc. Those are really the only characters that are needed to identify it.

Let's see which 250 head it really is.

Also, post a picture of the p***enger-side of your 200, with part number. That will give you the version of the 200 you have.

I can give you the short path to a alarmingly powerful 200.

 

Take the distributor cap off, and pull the rotor. Take a picture and post it of what you find underneath.

 

The 250

 

The 200

 

The 200 was in a 66 mustang

 

They are all date correct to their origin.

I was checking to see if you might have had a later 200/250 head.

While it is not a later-model 250 head, per se, if you look at the shape of the log on the intake manifold, you will see that the one on the 250 is flat, while the one on the 200 is round."

That 250 head has a larger log, and larger runners than the 250. You already own your first performance upgrade. Even later heads have even yet still larger logs and runners, but need 0.090" machined off of the mating surface to put them on an early 200 short block.

Keep that head. All it will need is a decent set of 302 valve springs to support a decent cam.

See if the short block can be honed and re-ringed. If not, overbore pistons and rings are not a ton. Re-bearing, re-seal, and put the 250 head on it.

 

I will get the log and runner specs when I get to the shop next.

 

And, bore 2 more holes in the top of the logs and braze tubes and carb flanges to it.

Then it gets the "cool factor" bonus points for having a triple-carb setup
Way cooler than common old V8's

 

Is the carb on the 250 any better than the one I have on the 200? And do the hoses look correct on the 200 carb?

 

Not really any better.

I am more concerned with which distributor you have.

 

It's a newer modern distributor. Not sure what brand.

 

The distributor on the 200

 

The distributor on the 250

 

Ewww! Is that what I think it is?

 

A GM hei! No wonder it is the good running engine!

 

Because the load 0 matic was such an awesome distributor.....

 

Do not lose that.

You absolutely do not want a period original one.

The two that you have interchange. Choose whatever one suits you best.

 

I do like that T-bird dash! That was nicely done!

 

There are frequently rebuilt 200s on Marketplace, often in the early Mustang user group pages. A lot of early six cylinder Mustangs are out there, recently restored, and much cheaper than an equivalent A or C code V8 car. People buy these and subsequently pull the six to replace with a small block Ford v8, or even a Coyote..

The Same engines often turn up on the FB Falcon sites.

There were literally millions of 200 sixes made, and the survival rate of those cars is probably higher than average, as is the interest in powertrain upgrades, so the 200 shouldn’t be all that difficult to find.

 

There is fully rebuilt 200 6 cylinder on e-bay right now with a $400 buy it now price. As mentioned they can be bought pretty cheap as most would do a v8 swap.

 

If a 250 won’t fit you must not quit! Put the radiator in the bed and plumb it to the engine in 1-1/4” and 1-1/2” emt conduit.

 

Thank you. I have a 66 bird with the same interior. I also used tbird quad headlights. I call it the Ranchbird I was planning to use the bodyline flares from the 64 66 birds on the ranchero. Same way it is on the birds, where the bodylines flare out at the ends of the doors and run down the sides of the bed tapering out at the end. Doubt I'll actually do it though.

 

My room mate said the same thing
I don't have room height wise unless I cut the hood. My entire engine compartment is body dropped an inch.

 

A BBC won't fit in a model A either. But it's been done lots of times. The cheapest easiest way doesn't necessarily make a cool car.

 

Yep, but it doesn't necessarily make a car not cool either......

 

If your not looking for more performance, I can't see doing a swap. You could pull the 200 apart and see what it needs. The cylinders on the small sixes didn't wear much as I remember. when I was a teenager my dad gave me his worn out 65 mustang with a 200 six in it. I pulled the head and pan with the engine still in the car, pushed the pistons out, replaced the rings, did a valve job and replaced the valve seals. It was running again in a couple of days. It had a little blow-by but ran fine for several more years.

 

That used to be a common thing. An "overhaul".
Rings, bearings, gaskets. And maybe lap the valves as well.

 

Does anyone have any experience, good or bad, using one of the cheap stainless headers sold on fleabay on their 170 or 200? My stock exhaust manifold is warped, and my local machine shop wants $100 to make it flat again. Any pro’s or con’s would be welcome. My 170 is a stock rebuild, not fired yet, in my 60 Ranchero.