All Small Six 200 head swap question

[JD_67]

Hello
I’m very new to engines so bear with me. I have a ‘68 200, unfortunately the head is not in the greatest shape. I’m have been having trouble finding a head at wreckers etc. What I have found is agricultural swathers have the 200 and I can get a 1981-83 200 ci engine (from the casting numbers). From what I have read on the forums everything should bolt on etc after milling to get proper cr. My question is will I still be able to use the 1100 autolite that I have or is the port going to be different size and does that matter? The swather engine has a different type carb with a governor etc. Thank you for your time.

 

[bubba22349]

Hi JD_67, and welcome to the Ford Six forum. If the head has the 1981 to 1983 Large Log Head Design / Casting numbers than they are very good performer's compared to the older 1963 1/2 to 1968 small Log Heads. There should be no issues in bolting it on after Milling it so that it has 52 CC to bring it back to the 1968 factory 200 8.7 to 1 Compression Ratio or even more up to 9.2 to 1 on 87 fuel. Those Combustion Chambers on the new head are roughly about 62CC. The Autolite can be used with the new head there will be a difference of the Carb opening though the 68 head has a smaller 1 1/2 inch bore and the new head has a larger 1 3/4 inch you could make a 1/4 inch aluminum or steel plate adapter that tappers from the 1 1/2 Carb opening into the 1 3/4 inch opening. You could probably use the Swather Carb without the Governor unit too if you wanted, or a Carter YBA 1V Carb, and many will also open up the carb hole to a 2 inch with use of one of the 1V to 2V V. I. Carb adapter's to upgrade to a 2V Carb for another boost in performance. Best of luck

 

[JD_67]

Thank you so much for the advice. I was trying to stick with the Autolite as I didn’t want to upgrade the distributor yet. More of a get it running project right now.

 

[bubba22349]

If you engine has a 1968 distributor there is no real need to upgrade it would work good with any of the newer Carb's. Also if the Carb is a 1968 Autolite those will work good too and work with all the newer Distributors to. Could you post some pictures of those two parts so we can verify them?

 

[JD_67]

This is my current distributor and carb.

 

[bubba22349]

Looks like you have the 1968 Autolite Carb without the SCV (Spark Control Valve) these are good Carbs but its being used with an old Load O Matic Distributor not a good parts match up. You need a minimum of at least a 1968 to 1974 Points Distributor to go with it for a decent running combo.

Better still you might check out what that Swather 200 Six has installed it's likely a DuraSpark II Electronic set up that whole system is easy to swap on to the early points ignition cars. Its all mostly a plug play deal with only two wires to hook up to the ICM if you get all the stock parts (I.E. The Distributor with Cap, Rotor and Plug Wires, the Coil with Bracket, The ICM with its Two wire Plug and length of the White and Red Wires, and the complete Distributor wire harness on the engine and the coil) it would be a much better Ignition system for your 200. They are about my favorite setup to use I used to grab all those parts from the wrecking yards and then could install them in about an hour or so. Then Gap the Spark Plugs wider to .044. The system gives you faster engine start up, great performance, better drivability and excellent economy too. Best of luck

 

[JD_67]

The 68 engine is in a 67 mustang so I’m guessing they changed the engine but used the old distributor. Always an adventure when trying to figure out someone else’s mods. Thank you again. I will keep you updated.

 

[bubba22349]

Yes lots of people use the wrong Carbs and Distributors together because they just don't know that Ford used some different parts over the years. That's how they create these mismatched parts combs and then will wonder why they don't run as good as someone else's car or truck dose. Your very welcome will be looking forward to hearing how everything turns out.

 

[JD_67]

Hi Bubba22349 finally have got some time to work on getting another head. The head is in getting milled as we speak. I am not sure if I am any further ahead with the distributor and electrical system off the swather. From what I can gather from the tag number is that it is an industrial model. D3JF 12127 BA Not sure on differences etc.I would post a picture of it if I could but can’t figure out how.

 

[bubba22349]

Hi JD_67 pictures of the parts would be helpful, however going from memory long ago when helping my uncle on the Farm in North Dakota during the summers his Swather had the 200 Six as well as working on several other Industrial small six's over the years. They used mostly all of the same parts as the Ford Car and Truck's small Six's engines their one main difference was that Governor Unit on the Intake / Carb that just bolts on so is easy enough to remove it. I don't know all the details of their DuraSpark II Ignitions so would need to see the parts my best guess is that there would be very little change in them but maybe the amount of advance they have is limited some too but that would be easy to change.

 

[JD_67]

Found the attachment button.

 

[bubba22349]

This is the late style Point Distributor it's at least a Duel Advance Unit so its going to work lots better than that old Load O Matic did and also more like what would have been used with your 1968 Autolite 1100, so that's good.

 

[JD_67]

Do you think I could use my old coil and icm or would I use the one off the swather. Sorry for all the questions. I really appreciate the help.

 

[bubba22349]

Yes your coil should work fine, there isn't a ICM used with these Points type Distributors and all your stock Distributor wiring is also all the same as the old Load O Matic (unless you want to use an MSD 6AL with it). Did you get on of the DuraSpark II Distributors too?