A
Anonymous
Guest
Anyone have any experiance with hot-rodding the 215/223/262?? What are the pro & cons??
A
Anonymous
Guest
Howdy BIGSIX I never hoped one up but I did have one in a 63 shortbed with a 3-spd, 3.50 rear, 3350 lbs and a good state of tune yealding 23 to25 mpg on the highway...These things aren't super powerhouses but they're ok, very smooth, and very quiet like most engines of this era. They are heavy castings, with deep skirt blocks, heavy crank, albeit only four main bearings,and a strange port layout, not exactly high perf design. If you want to rock&roll go with a 300...
A
Anonymous
Guest
Yes the port layout is peculiar on these engines; I had one in a 1959 f-100 nearly 20 years ago & it was very smooth & fairly powerful, the intake/exhaust ports are on the drivers side;very strange for a ford, 4 intake & 6 exhaust. I think Ford did the right thing by replacing it with the 240/300 sixes, it's unfortunate that they did not make them larger than 300 inches.
A
Anonymous
Guest
My father owned a 56 ford with a 223. Ran it at the Peach Bowl (lakewood fair grounds) in the early 60's. Ran up front a lot and won several races with it - Against 283 chevies. He wanted to run the 240 but, the track owner wouldn't approve it.
ChukM
ChukM
A
Anonymous
Guest
I would like to see one run on a circle track; staying ahead of 283's?! now that would be one the Chebby guys would not admit to!!! I think they also had solid tappet camshafts if memory serves me correctly(it's been 20 years since I owned one) I wonder what the RPM limit was on these engines??
A
Anonymous
Guest
Mushroom tappets in fact...
A
Anonymous
Guest
Yup, they had to be adjusted on a regular basis; IIRC the block had no dowels to position the head, you had to visually align the head or the pushrods would make a herendous noise,or not work alltogether, +misalignment would not allow oil to the rocker-shaft causing even more problems; but still a great engine. But the king of all sixes(240/300) de-throned all others when it was introduced in 1964.CURIOUS":mae5odl9 said:
A
Anonymous
Guest
I'm new to this site and and was happy to see the Vintage Six section.
I have set up the 215 in my 1952 F2 with an offy dual carb intake using 1954 Holley 1904's, a 1954 FAA-12127-C distributor converted to dual points, a Mallory 12000 coil and a Clifford dual exhaust header. I haven't had it dynoed, but the performance increase is pleasing and the increased gas mileage is also a plus. I can't give exact #'s on mileage but the trip from Kane County in Il to St. Germain, Wi. would require a fill up in Portage and arriving in St. G. on fumes. Now I don't refill until Wausau.
I have set up the 215 in my 1952 F2 with an offy dual carb intake using 1954 Holley 1904's, a 1954 FAA-12127-C distributor converted to dual points, a Mallory 12000 coil and a Clifford dual exhaust header. I haven't had it dynoed, but the performance increase is pleasing and the increased gas mileage is also a plus. I can't give exact #'s on mileage but the trip from Kane County in Il to St. Germain, Wi. would require a fill up in Portage and arriving in St. G. on fumes. Now I don't refill until Wausau.
A
Anonymous
Guest
Cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!! can you post any pics????
A
Anonymous
Guest
If I wasn't computer stupid, I would.
63redtudor
Well-known member
A
Anonymous
Guest
Thanks, Edwin. I would have gone goofy trying to post those pics.
BTW, The engine has been cleaned up and repainted since those were taken.
BTW, The engine has been cleaned up and repainted since those were taken.
A
Anonymous
Guest
I thought I was the only guy with a 215! I also own a couple 1952 F-1's, my first one which I bought in 1987 has a 239 cube V-8. This tk has 56k on the clock, six of which I added. Looked for 215 tk for years and finally found one. Going to use the 215 and all related parts for the first tk during the restoration. The old girl isn't eating any hay now, she's just awaiting restoration patiently, under roof of course...Also found a clifford 4bbl intake someware along the line, but I'd rather have the nostalgia of the two one barrel style. Gotta go now, enjoy those classic inlines guys. CURIOUS
I have a '58 Custom 300 with the 223 and decided it's time to put some cash into the engine. I'd really like to keep the 223 since it's original and just help it out with new headers/intake/carb for now and maybe some other modifications in the future.
Yet, from the tone of this thread, it seems to be a lost cause and at least a grand gone out of my pocket for the bolt on's.
Is the 223 really not a good idea to put money into?
Yet, from the tone of this thread, it seems to be a lost cause and at least a grand gone out of my pocket for the bolt on's.
Is the 223 really not a good idea to put money into?
A
Anonymous
Guest
Well, I would(if it was mine) keep it original. Look around, you can find deals on old speed parts floating around. It is really your call; but, you could probaly put a 300 in it, but it most likley will be hard to do..
A
Anonymous
Guest
Having already rodded one 215, I would do it again.
You're not going to dust a built 300, maybe not even a stock one. The four main bearings will limit the redline. But your drivability will be improved, your mileage will increase and your cool factor at the local cruise night will soar. (I think some people are tired of looking at sbcs')
I think the most expensive thing I did to my 215 was the valve job; new valves and guides, hardened seats, umbrella seals, and a .015 shave, just under $400.00. The dual carb Offy manifold and Clifford header were about $330.00, but there was a 5 year spread between the two. The carbs, $10.00 for the pair at a swap meet. $10.00 for two carb kits at the same swap meet.
I guess if you don't mind hunting down the parts, and aren't in a hurry to get the engine built, some can be had really cheap. (7 nos pistons w/pins and an nors set of rings for $27.00 for example) The same with speed parts.
I'm still looking for a set of Baker Hi-lift rocker arms (someday)
You're not going to dust a built 300, maybe not even a stock one. The four main bearings will limit the redline. But your drivability will be improved, your mileage will increase and your cool factor at the local cruise night will soar. (I think some people are tired of looking at sbcs')
I think the most expensive thing I did to my 215 was the valve job; new valves and guides, hardened seats, umbrella seals, and a .015 shave, just under $400.00. The dual carb Offy manifold and Clifford header were about $330.00, but there was a 5 year spread between the two. The carbs, $10.00 for the pair at a swap meet. $10.00 for two carb kits at the same swap meet.
I guess if you don't mind hunting down the parts, and aren't in a hurry to get the engine built, some can be had really cheap. (7 nos pistons w/pins and an nors set of rings for $27.00 for example) The same with speed parts.
I'm still looking for a set of Baker Hi-lift rocker arms (someday)
A
Anonymous
Guest
I agree, keep the 223. Everybody & their brother puts SBC's in EVERYTHING! Besides, you will get plenty of attention with that 223 hopped-up;actualy more than a V8 would.People around this area rareley get to see a sot rod inline 6;mostly imports & V8s...
Thank you everyone for your input. I've decided to keep the 223. In addition, I've decided to do my absolute best to go with all vintage parts. I guess I sort of came to the conclusion that I'd like to make this car as true as a rod (if you can call it that) that a kid would have in that era.
This is my first 6 so don't kill me if I ask some really dumb questions in the future. I haven't had the best of luck finding info on the web for the 223 and all buddies around here run V8's are almost as clueless as I am.
This is my first 6 so don't kill me if I ask some really dumb questions in the future. I haven't had the best of luck finding info on the web for the 223 and all buddies around here run V8's are almost as clueless as I am.
A
Anonymous
Guest
Well, back in those days a well preped inline 6 could whip most V8s within it's CID range.I have seen vintage footage of inline sixes blowing the doors of V8s on the 1/8th mile strip!!! Food for thought.....
A
Anonymous
Guest
Adding to bigsixs' last post, two of the best sixs' against the v8s in the 1/8 were (I know this is a Ford site) the Hudson Twin-H in the 50s and the Pontiac OHC in the 60s.
