Articles
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Flow Testing the "Log" Cylinder Heads
This tech article is a "work in progress". Information will be added as it becomes available. Over the past few years we've flow tested several Australian 250-2V cylinder heads, as well as our own Aluminum cylinder heads. However we've always wondered how the cast iron "log heads" stacked up... -
Selecting the Proper Valve Springs
Selecting the Proper Valve Springs Valve springs are one of the most critical components of your engine. It is very important to match the camshaft and it's potential RPM range with the correct spring rate. We will attempt to explain it in this article, but first lets go over some valve spring...
Valve Adjustment Guide for the Ford Inline Six: Hydraulic and Solid Lifters
Solid or Hydraulic? Know What You Have
Before you touch an adjuster, you need to know which type of lifter your engine uses. The Ford inline six family was produced with both solid and hydraulic lifters over its long...
How to Degree Your Camshaft: A Step-by-Step Guide for the Ford Inline Six
Why Degreeing the Cam Matters
"Degreeing the cam" means verifying that the camshaft's position in the engine is properly synchronized with the crankshaft — so that the rise and fall of the pistons precisely matches the...
Camshaft Installation Tips for the Ford Inline Six
Avoiding the most common mistakes that lead to premature cam failure
A camshaft swap is one of the most impactful performance upgrades you can make to a Ford inline six — but it is also one of the most commonly botched. Premature cam failure...
Jenvey Individual Throttle Body Setup Guide for the Ford Inline Six
A complete guide to linkage, balancing, TPS installation, fuel rail plumbing, and maintenance
Individual throttle bodies (ITBs) represent one of the most rewarding fuel delivery upgrades you can make to a Ford inline six...
Idle Air Bypass Valves for Ford Inline Six Throttle Body Installations
One of the most overlooked details when building a multi-throttle-body EFI system on the Ford inline six is the idle air bypass (IAC) circuit. On a conventional single-throttle-body or plenum-based EFI system, idle air...
Engine Management Systems: A Complete Technical Guide for the Ford Inline Six
The Ford inline six — whether you're running a 170, 200, or 250 — is a fundamentally sound engine that responds well to modern fuel injection and ignition management technology. While carburetion remains popular in...
Throttle Body Idle Air Bypass: Setup and Installation for Ford Inline Six EFI
Originally compiled from the Classic Inlines technical archive. Adapted and expanded for the fordsix.com community.
When converting a Ford inline six to individual throttle body EFI, one of the most important — and...
Engine Management Systems: A Technical Guide for Ford Inline Six Builders
Originally compiled from the Classic Inlines technical archive. Adapted and expanded for the fordsix.com community.
Modern engine management systems (EMS) do a fine job of ensuring that engines run cleanly and...
Throttle Body Injection — Q&A
Classic Inlines Technical Archive — Jenvey Dynamics Reference
Note: This article addresses general throttle body theory and Jenvey-specific products as documented in the Classic Inlines archive. The principles apply broadly to any individual throttle body (ITB)...
Weber Carburetor High Altitude Tuning
Classic Inlines Technical Archive
While there is no exact formula for tuning or re-jetting a Weber carburetor for high altitude operation (4,000 feet or more), the following guidelines should help you maximize the available power. Keep in mind that no...
Before You Touch the Carb
The secret to understanding the critical nature of Weber carb setup is the idle circuit — referred to as the low-speed circuit by Weber. This circuit is responsible for 80% of the driving operation. A properly set up Weber should give an improvement in fuel economy...
Overview
Triple Weber DCOE sidedraft carburetors offer an unparalleled induction experience, with throttle response and mid-range torque that is second to none. The first thing most people notice when they go to multiple Webers — beyond performance and appearance — is the ability to finely...
Overview
We get numerous questions each week asking how to build up a Ford inline six, so this tech article covers our recommendations from the ground up. This information is intended as a basic guideline for building a daily driver, a weekend cruiser, or an all-out performance engine. There...
What Is a Stroker and Why Do It?
A stroker engine is built by increasing the crankshaft stroke — the distance the piston travels in the cylinder — beyond the stock dimension. More stroke means more displacement. More displacement means more torque, and more torque is what makes an engine feel...
Overview
This article provides detailed camshaft specifications for the Ford inline six (170/200/250ci) engine family, with a focus on the Clay Smith cam lineup previously available through Classic Inlines. These specifications include part numbers, lift values at multiple rocker arm ratios...
Choosing the Right Camshaft for Your Ford Inline Six
The camshaft is the single most important decision in building a performance Ford inline six engine. Choose wrong and no other modification will save you. An improper cam produces an engine that either stumbles, stalls, and annoys you in...
Why Upgrade Your Transmission?
The Ford inline six is a torquey, willing engine — but the transmissions it was paired with from the factory ranged from adequate to genuinely limiting. A 3-speed manual or a 2-speed Fordomatic doesn't let a built inline six breathe on the highway or show its...
Introduction: Ethanol in Your Vintage Ford's Fuel System
If you're running a classic Ford with an inline six on today's pump gas, you're running ethanol whether you know it or not. E10 — 90% gasoline, 10% ethanol — is the standard at virtually every fuel pump in the United States. For modern...
Introduction
These are the most frequently asked questions about Ford inline six engines — the 144, 170, 200, and 250 cubic inch family. Whether you're brand new to the inline six world or returning after a long absence, this FAQ covers the foundational decisions and modifications that define a...
Introduction
This trouble shooting guide covers the most common problems encountered with Ford inline six engines (144, 170, 200, 250, and 300 cubic inch). Whether you're dealing with a no-start condition, rough idle, miss under acceleration, or oiling issues, work through the relevant section...