250 head on a 200?

[Jamie Miles]

I've got a 200 out of a 1972 Maverick. The head has several bolts broke off in the exaust ports and one of the intake studs is almost stripped. I also have a 1973 250 that is locked up but has a good head with no broken off bolts or stripped studs. Would there be any positives to putting the 250 head on the 200? Seems to me that the 250 would have better flowing ports. I realize I would loose a little compression, but would it be enough to matter on a stock daily driven engine? Seems the increased flow would somewhat make up for the loss of compression.

I don't have the time or money to get any work done on them other then putting new valve seals in and what I can do in my garage, so I'm talking about just bolting stock parts together.

Thanks.

 

[Lazy JW]

Just bolt it on and go! Might advance your timing a bit and see how it responds. High compression is often over-rated.
Joe

 

[Anonymous]

do you have machinery to work on the head yourself...meaning opening oil passages and backcutting valve and opening up air hole some more?

and do you ahve the carb for the 250? I think that would be good to have on there..

nice maverick by the way...I am starting to really dig them for some reason...

has to be Josie's influence!

 

[JackFish]

You saw the sticky, right?
http://fordsix.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1027
Without milling the head I guess you would be losing compression as a result of the gasket change.

 

[CZLN6]

Howdy Jamie:

The two heads should be identical if they are factory original. The lose of compression comes from the fact that factory engines used a steel shim head gasket at .025" compressed thickness. These gaskets are no longer available. The ones that are available are a composite type that are closer to .050" compressed thickness with stock torquing. The good news is that the new gaskets seal better, the down side is a lose of about a half a point of CR.

The 250 should have had an Carter RBS one barrel. This carb is rated at 215 cfm as compared to 187 for the '72 200 with a Carter YF. Tuned correctly, mileage should be about the same. The bigger carb is the only difference in flow between the two heads.

If you're going to the time, trouble and expense of swapping heads, you should, at least, make sure the valves and seats are in good shape and seating tightly.

Adios, David

 

[Jamie Miles]

Not anymore time or trouble, the head was already off the 200 when I got it. I don't have the time or money to mess with getting machine work done on the head, new valve seals and a little grinding compound on the seats should be more the enough to make sure they are sealing good. The car will likely be getting a 302 down the road, just need this to get me around town for now.

Thanks.