Throttle AND choke fully open.
Best Performance Modifications [200ci 3.3L I6]
- Thread starter wakeupsontae
- Start date
Do you have an automatic or manual trans? What is your axle ratio?
A good starting point could include a DSII ignition system, custom curved distributor, upgraded carb, 1968 exhaust manifold 2" attached to a 2" exhaust, and suspension and brake upgrades. All engine upgrades covered in the Falcon Handbook and suspension and brake mods in depth on this site.
Check out this hotrod:
All Small Six - 1963 Falcon wagon 200 six Gear Vendor overdrive I-80 freeway California foothills
This video is getting on a California foothills I-80 on ramp then heading uphill then to Old Auburn California. My Falcon is a 63 wagon with a a 78 200 six, .060 milled D7 head, stock 256 Enginetech cam, 68 2" outlet exhaust manifold, C4 Gear Vendor overdrive + 3.25 gears. I have 6 forward...
fordsix.com
One of my favorite videos! Basically a stockish 200 with overdrive unit which may be more than you are looking to do.
twentyover
Well-known member
And now, for something completely different, instead of the offy triple intake, try something a bit more european.
SU side drafts are almost impossible to overcarburate, Ak Miller used a pair on the falcon he built with Hot Rod back in the 60's. Generally yield pretty good fuel economy, too. Think I'd probably reccommend a set of HS-6 off a late 60's early 70's Volvo, or 3 pack of HS-4 off a late 60's MGB. Parts are readily available, most will requires throttle shaft replacement (cheap and easy), and for thems wanting a little bling, the dashpots will polish up really nice
SU side drafts are almost impossible to overcarburate, Ak Miller used a pair on the falcon he built with Hot Rod back in the 60's. Generally yield pretty good fuel economy, too. Think I'd probably reccommend a set of HS-6 off a late 60's early 70's Volvo, or 3 pack of HS-4 off a late 60's MGB. Parts are readily available, most will requires throttle shaft replacement (cheap and easy), and for thems wanting a little bling, the dashpots will polish up really nice
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Theys great lateral thinking - never seen a bolt on runner direct to the log
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"...the best starting modifications for the ..."
THE Best is a good description of whad ya got AND whad ya wann.
Like a straight line this helps one (& all yer forum buds) figure out elbow from a$$!
AND U cant steal a thread bender - as its wakeup's. Get more w/ur own thread, dont piss off others w/confusion, etc.
So the exact application (show, track, circle, 2 lane blk top, traffic light to light, grocery getter, 80% of the RPM with normal use, octane used...
I havent finished readin may B U did that.
EDIT:
so now I read the rest it looks as if 3 threads R here in one...
THE Best is a good description of whad ya got AND whad ya wann.
Like a straight line this helps one (& all yer forum buds) figure out elbow from a$$!
I differ a bit w/ur comment on the vid that a X-Flow head "Y bother, its just an intake/ex temp separator." and say "It's about the combustion chamber's "intake cross flow to exhaust" of gases. Tho I do like ur idea "Just hose clamp some motorcycle carbs on the exposed 6 intake tubes" as U slide ur fingers over the ports (AK Miller style in early '60s... but today I'd use Kiehins not mukuni).& the Brits have some pretty good equipment for a plum up.
AND U cant steal a thread bender - as its wakeup's. Get more w/ur own thread, dont piss off others w/confusion, etc.
So the exact application (show, track, circle, 2 lane blk top, traffic light to light, grocery getter, 80% of the RPM with normal use, octane used...
I havent finished readin may B U did that.
EDIT:
so now I read the rest it looks as if 3 threads R here in one...
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The best and what should be the first performance modification is to get rid of the Load'O'Matic distributor.
DUI Street/Strip Distributor 39820-144 (1/4" drive).
DUI-39820-200BK (5/16" drive)
• Custom calibrated timing curve for 87 octane operation
• Two wire connection (power and tach) with integrated coil
• 50,000 volts of spark energy
• Traditional vacuum advance that hooks to an intake manifold vacuum source. (This means it can be used with a Load'O'Matic carburetor if you plug the vacuum port on the carb.)
I don't run a header and have stock cam. A quick advance curve can make a small six run great.
A 68 point distributor or a China HEI will give greatly increase the performance of a log head six.
DUI Street/Strip Distributor 39820-144 (1/4" drive).
DUI-39820-200BK (5/16" drive)
• Custom calibrated timing curve for 87 octane operation
• Two wire connection (power and tach) with integrated coil
• 50,000 volts of spark energy
• Traditional vacuum advance that hooks to an intake manifold vacuum source. (This means it can be used with a Load'O'Matic carburetor if you plug the vacuum port on the carb.)
I don't run a header and have stock cam. A quick advance curve can make a small six run great.
A 68 point distributor or a China HEI will give greatly increase the performance of a log head six.
Years ago I did a T-5 swap to a friends 1st gen Mustang it was a 200, at the same time I did an 8" swap and and Granada disc brake swap. The T-5 I used was the Turbo Coupe box and he loved the car afterward making several cross country trips when before he was reluctant to take it on trips of a couple hundred miles. I can't remember if it was a 2.80 gearset or a 3.00 but it was 1 or the other.He said not only did it have better acceleration due to the Turbo Coupe gear ratios, it allowed him to run at interstate speeds for hours on end without the engine having to rev enough to be annoying.
Wayne clark
Well-known member
This is my personal experience on wakeing up the bone stock 200 / c4 in my 67 Mustang vert .
The car ran great for a slug when I got the car . First thing to realize when you say I want to make it a better cruiseing, running car it IT COST MONEY to get there & for the most part the oem parts don't cut it .
I made a long range plan & started working toward that goal ,not an all out power, tire burning machine just a better car .
First thing I did was install a 2300 Sniper with a 2x1 adaptor on a small log head ,small stock 67 exhaust system, point dist stock eng along with a Msd 6AL ign box .
In all honesty for what most people say they want out of a 200 that is plenty . Instant start up, smooth idle & way more power. Mine ran about 50 in low ,70 in 2nd & still pulling when I hit Drive & was pretty quick about it .
Since then I have moved thru a Dura Spark dist which is a tremendous upgrade to a Holley Hyper Spark . Put a e bay split header with 2 1/4" duals on.
Easy pretty much. Problem free ? Not hardley. Expensive ? You know it . Worth it? Every penny it cost . Run like a v8? Don't be stupid .
But my car was a 6 & I never plan on her being anything but a 6 . The car has had pretty much everything on her modified except the body .
In the beguinning i said i had made a long range plan . This is coming in near future, its all sitting there waiting on me
The car ran great for a slug when I got the car . First thing to realize when you say I want to make it a better cruiseing, running car it IT COST MONEY to get there & for the most part the oem parts don't cut it .
I made a long range plan & started working toward that goal ,not an all out power, tire burning machine just a better car .
First thing I did was install a 2300 Sniper with a 2x1 adaptor on a small log head ,small stock 67 exhaust system, point dist stock eng along with a Msd 6AL ign box .
In all honesty for what most people say they want out of a 200 that is plenty . Instant start up, smooth idle & way more power. Mine ran about 50 in low ,70 in 2nd & still pulling when I hit Drive & was pretty quick about it .
Since then I have moved thru a Dura Spark dist which is a tremendous upgrade to a Holley Hyper Spark . Put a e bay split header with 2 1/4" duals on.
Easy pretty much. Problem free ? Not hardley. Expensive ? You know it . Worth it? Every penny it cost . Run like a v8? Don't be stupid .
But my car was a 6 & I never plan on her being anything but a 6 . The car has had pretty much everything on her modified except the body .
In the beguinning i said i had made a long range plan . This is coming in near future, its all sitting there waiting on me
Wayne clark
Well-known member
For most people who want a better running small six they encounter a few issues . # 1 they can't go to summit & order up a multitude of after market speed parts, it's a shallow pool .
# 2 is even if they find those unicorn parts , for most people they can't get past what it's going to cost them to buy them. For instance man that head cost more than I gave for my car .
I think #3 is the unrealistic expectation they have for a six cylinder . Like boy I can't believe that I spent all that money on a modified head,cam,header &converted to a 5 speed & my car won't lay down rubber for a block like my buddies v8 car will .
But maybe this is just my take after visiting the many Mustang 6 cylinder sites .
I guess the worst for me is what I call the beat down people. .
That car is only a 6 it's not worth spending all that money on . Or the oem carb,dist is the best parts for it ,that's what it came with after all .
# 2 is even if they find those unicorn parts , for most people they can't get past what it's going to cost them to buy them. For instance man that head cost more than I gave for my car .
I think #3 is the unrealistic expectation they have for a six cylinder . Like boy I can't believe that I spent all that money on a modified head,cam,header &converted to a 5 speed & my car won't lay down rubber for a block like my buddies v8 car will .
But maybe this is just my take after visiting the many Mustang 6 cylinder sites .
I guess the worst for me is what I call the beat down people. .
That car is only a 6 it's not worth spending all that money on . Or the oem carb,dist is the best parts for it ,that's what it came with after all .
Crustang to Mustang
Well-known member
Get yourself some dual outlet headers. They're cheap and an easy thing to start with. I'm probably going to do a 2v conversion if I don't chop off the log and make an intake for a 4v. Flat ground overbore pistons are expensive but well worth it, so I hear.
Get an alloy head crossflow!
I understand why you guys in the US want a 2v head, but they are getting very expensive and very old now. For less money you could have a really good 250 crossie that would wipe the floor of a 200-2v, Ive had both and the crossflow is definately a better thing. By "kent" your talking of the 1600cc pomme 4 potter in escorts/cortinas? They are good things and unbreakable.
Crustang to Mustang
Well-known member
I don't know about the rest of them, but where I live there aren't really any crossflows.
Yeh I know, you guys lucked out on the ford six front. Mustang six in Florida got 2 many years ago. They are starting to get a bit scarce here, especially if your looking for a standard bore block. the SOHC and barras are two a penny here, 350bucks for an NA barra, and 3000 for a turbo.
Listening the other people's negative opinions, unless it is from someone you really trust to tell you what you really need to hear (usually about a morality issue) is folly. Most opinions a like anuses. We all have one, and they serve a purpose - but it is import to understand the other person's motivation in telling you about theirs. Most of these people are just looking to appear as subject matter experts (self-appointed). Truly, who cares what someone else thinks about the cost effectiveness of what you want to build - unless they are paying the bills. Build whatever you like, for no other reason than it is what you like.
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All the input ("opinions") are good from my perspective. Data is useful for making a decision. A person of sure mind will make their own decision and build what they choose for themselves, unaffected by other's opinion. Up front, all the various input is acceptable- once the choice is made and the build done, then any alternative input is criticism and is out of bounds.
Let's not forget that this is why we keep these old vehicles: we have options, something that the new vehicles have made very complex to effect.
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