All Small Six 200 Rebuild Opinions

This relates to all small sixes

escaper

Well-known member
Supporter 2021
I recently purchased a set of headers and sniper 1100 to go along with my DSII/MSD setup I plan on adding this winter. I've been thinking of having the engine rebuilt since compression is pretty low, but within 10%, with sort of decent plug colors. A couple cylinders show signs of oil on the plug threads, porcelain and rest look okay. Also needs a timing chain and rear main. The PO said he never did anything to it in the previous 26 years and I believe it. I had to replace a ton of things to make it reliable. So short term is an Holley 1100 EFI with a set on headers. Long term, I would like to snag one of Matt Cox's heads when they become available and fuel inject it since the tank, pump, etc are already in-place, not a lot of extra work there. I decided to to go the 250 route since I already have the sniper. Now for the question: Should I stick with stock setup? I assume the Sniper would run best off a stock cam. What about valve springs?Zero-decking the pistons?

I also have a builder working on a 289 for my wife's 67 vert I am working on and was thinking about having them go through my 200 this winter. They have a great reputation and have quite a setup in Roanoke, VA. https://waltersengines.com/

All thoughts gratefully accepted.
 
the only issue I have heard come up with the holley 1100 EFI system is the ECU going out, and registering a bad O2 sensor as the only indicator it has gone out. I haven't used one, however have been looking into the 1100 for my 82 Fairmont.... even though holley says it can't legally be used on emission controlled engines produced after 1966 :p
 
I recently purchased a set of headers and sniper 1100 to go along with my DSII/MSD setup I plan on adding this winter. I've been thinking of having the engine rebuilt since compression is pretty low, but within 10%, with sort of decent plug colors. A couple cylinders show signs of oil on the plug threads, porcelain and rest look okay. Also needs a timing chain and rear main. The PO said he never did anything to it in the previous 26 years and I believe it. I had to replace a ton of things to make it reliable. So short term is an Holley 1100 EFI with a set on headers. Long term, I would like to snag one of Matt Cox's heads when they become available and fuel inject it since the tank, pump, etc are already in-place, not a lot of extra work there. I decided to to go the 250 route since I already have the sniper. Now for the question: Should I stick with stock setup? I assume the Sniper would run best off a stock cam. What about valve springs?Zero-decking the pistons?

I also have a builder working on a 289 for my wife's 67 vert I am working on and was thinking about having them go through my 200 this winter. They have a great reputation and have quite a setup in Roanoke, VA. https://waltersengines.com/

All thoughts gratefully accepted.
Yes it sounds like your engine is ready for a rebuild. So which engine are you going to use a 200 or 250 though they are very seemular and even use the same head but they will each use a few different parts (mainly the rods and pistons) and a few differances in the build Technics for the short block, Best of luck.
 
the only issue I have heard come up with the holley 1100 EFI system is the ECU going out, and registering a bad O2 sensor as the only indicator it has gone out. I haven't used one, however have been looking into the 1100 for my 82 Fairmont.... even though holley says it can't legally be used on emission controlled engines produced after 1966 :p
Yes depending on the emission rules in the state you live in, for example the Sniper EFI wont pass in a state like California on anything newer than 1974. Good luck
 
Yes it sounds like your engine is ready for a rebuild. So which engine are you going to use a 200 or 250 though they are very seemular and even use the same head but they will each use a few different parts (mainly the rods and pistons) and a few differances in the build Technics for the short block, Best of luck.
I was planning on using my original 200 as-is.
 
Yes depending on the emission rules in the state you live in, for example the Sniper EFI wont pass in a state like California on anything newer than 1974. Good luck
My state Emissions inspections are decided on a county by county (parish by parish) basis. however the state safety inspection requires all factory installed Emissions equipment to still be installed and not bypassed in order to pass the safety inspection; however even that is kind of iffy as its not hard to find shops that do not properly safety inspect vehicles. its actually a problem in a neighboring county/parish as the three inspection shops have all passed cars with gross safety issues (one of the test cars had the ABS bypassed, another had one brake line blocked off, another had no exhaust {Open Manifold}, all three passed and shouldn't have)

My specific area does not do an Emissions inspection.
 
I was planning on using my original 200 as-is.
Hi escapee, You said above that the compression is low (how low is low?) and there is sign of oil use I personally wouldn't stat spending much on bolt ons with at least doing some work to the short block like a minimum of a re ring job, Rod and Main bearings, new timing chain set, & new seals and gaskets. All that is fairly inexpensive at around the $350.00 to $500.00, range, that is if the cylinders are not to worn out to take rings. Please note that I am not trying to spend your money and time only trying to advise that bolting on a fresh head and other parts may exacerbate your current troubles.

If you decide to rebuild your 200 six then by all means zero decking the short block with the stock type 6.5 CC dished piston and the right camshaft is the easy way to get the very best performance out of a 200 Six. You mentioned about going with a 250 so I wasn't fallowing that you were still going with the stock 200 short block. So now l am assuming that you might of been talking about using a later model 250 large log head? If so this is an excellent upgrade these heads stock will out flow and out perform any of the 1968 or older 200 heads stock or ported with larger valves. There are also a few things that you can do to these depending on the year of the head to improve them even more. The first basic step is to mill them down from their stock 62 CC chombustion chambers to atleast match the old heads 52 CC chambers, then depending on your local area condistions i.e. Weather, Altatude, Air Temps etc. you would go even further on the milling you want a 9.0 to 1 to up to 9.2 to 1 Compression Ratio (C.R.) max for use with 87 fuel and more if your going with higher grade of fuel. Good luck with your Mustang repairs
 
My state Emissions inspections are decided on a county by county (parish by parish) basis. however the state safety inspection requires all factory installed Emissions equipment to still be installed and not bypassed in order to pass the safety inspection; however even that is kind of iffy as its not hard to find shops that do not properly safety inspect vehicles. its actually a problem in a neighboring county/parish as the three inspection shops have all passed cars with gross safety issues (one of the test cars had the ABS bypassed, another had one brake line blocked off, another had no exhaust {Open Manifold}, all three passed and shouldn't have)

My specific area does not do an Emissions inspection.
HI R_Calins, ok that's excellent, then for now at least you can do about anything you want to get your car going again. I say this as someone that has had to battle all these changing emissions rules in California since the mid 1960's. Best of luck on getting your 1982 Ford Farmont running again.
 
If you rebuild your 200 six then by all means zero decking the short block with the stock 6.5 CC dished piston and the right camshaft is the easy way to get the best performance out of a 200 Six. You mentioned about going a 250 so I wasn't fallowing that you were still going with the stock 200 short block. So now l am assuming that you are talking about using a late model large log head? If so this is an excellent upgrade these heads stock will out flow and out perform any 1968 or older head stock or ported with larger valves. There are also a few things that you can do to these depending on the year of the head to improve them even more. The first basic step is to mill them down from their stock 62 CC chombustion chambers to atleast match the old heads 52 CC chambers, then depending on your local area condistions i.e. Weather, Altatude, Air Temps etc. you would go even further on the milling you want a 9.0 to 1 to up to 9.2 to 1 Compression Ratio (C.R.) max for use with 87 fuel and more if your going with higher grade of fuel. Good luck
Sorry, my bad. I'm pretty certain I will NOT to go the 250 route since I already have the Sniper 1100 and really want to be ready for an aluminum head if I can snag one. I'd gladly upgrade to larger sniper, but was hoping to avoid going from 1v to 2v to 4v and just go 4v Sniper if I can score a head. Any suggestions on the cam? I am unsure how the Sniper will handle anything much different than stock. Clay Smith 264-110 or Schneider 270 maybe?
 
Thsts great opens up lots of choices, in the 264 to 272 duration cams. What rear axle gear are you gotto use?
 
Right now it is the stock 7.5" that came with the car. I would like to replace it with at least an 8", but preferably a 9" (if you are going to do it, do it as well as you can) with a 3.25 to cruising speeds will still be nice with the T5.
 
the 9 is over the top. 8, 8.8 may B...
 
You can also look into doing a ford 8.8. It's what I run in my 61. with a t5- 3.73 ratio, I'm turning 2200rpm at 70. The holley sniper systems will handle anything you can through at them. I wouldn't be to concerned about maxing out a larger unit. I think it would be possible to max out a 1bbl unit. Since you have a sniper, look into the hyperspark system for your ignition. Allows for better timing control and easier tuning( no more turning the dizzy).
 
Yeah, I've been going back and forth on the hyperspark. Love the idea, but already have have a DSII and MSD, although I could reuse the MSD on my wife's 67 convertible I am building or hold it for the next 6 I want to pick up.
 
It is not a crime to over the top, at least not yet...The8.8 has merit but it is nice to work on it, on the bench with the 9' 'Go with an al. center section and paint it black...Less unsprung weight is a good thing...Less weight is like adding more hp with less stress on parts...With the 9'' if you happen to do a drag type of a start with a couple of guys from the football team in the back seat, it won't blow the pinion out the side like what can happen with an 8''.:(
 
Sorry, my bad. I'm pretty certain I will NOT to go the 250 route since I already have the Sniper 1100 and really want to be ready for an aluminum head if I can snag one. I'd gladly upgrade to larger sniper, but was hoping to avoid going from 1v to 2v to 4v and just go 4v Sniper if I can score a head. Any suggestions on the cam? I am unsure how the Sniper will handle anything much different than stock. Clay Smith 264-110 or Schneider 270 maybe?
I would skip the Clay Smith cam if your planing doing this soon. Like lots of others they were having some supply issues on cam cores lately and they have also changed their 264 grinds lately I haven't heard any word yet on how those new grinds are working out. They were a great company for many years and I sure hope they will get everything back under control again soon. Recently went with a Howards 280028-08 cam and lifter kit on a new 200 build the blocks in the shop currently waiting for machining to be done. I also really like the Scheinder Cams too so if you have the time to wait you could also call Jerry and see about a standard grind or even a custom grind usually at no extra cost.
 
Yeah, I was looking hard at a Schneider Cam based on what I had been reading and was planning on giving him a call. I will probably pull the engine after the Christmas parade when I start my winter updates. No lack of work though as my wife's 67 convertible is pretty much a blank canvas waiting for me to start the renovation process.
 
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