Hi fellas,
I’ve been lurking here on FordSix for about a year and I’ve read so much I’ve got blue ovals pouring out my ears. I’m starting to feel just cocky enough now to begin making a mess of things, so here goes.
I’m trying to nail down the roadmap for upgrading the 250 in my ‘76 Granada, and just wanted someone to look at my general plan and point out any glaring mistakes – or offer suggestions of how to best spend my money. I recently got out of another hobby and as consolation I'm using the money I made from selling my gear to get this car pepped up.
DUI ignition is the first task, and it’s on order presently. I have maybe $3 grand left after that but also some limitations: I live in an apartment with no garage. I recently moved to a new state so the garages of my friends and family are a thousand miles away.
For that reason, and also due to my budget, rebuilding the block or installing an aftermarket cam is probably not an option. Heck, for all I know, maybe changing the head is more than a one-man job or can’t easily be done with the engine still in the car (I might be able to get my 100 pound wife to help me sometimes?). I’ve never swapped a head so I don’t know. This is kind of what I’m hoping maybe some of you can help me with. Please tell me if what I’m planning is unrealistic for an inexperienced, one-man operation.
So here’s my plan:
- DUI ignition: on its way
- Get a ‘78 head on the side and send it to CI
- Have them do a:
- Headers
- High ratio rockers
I’m pretty sure that list will blow through my money in short order, even not counting the DUI. Here are some specific areas I’m still unsure about:
High Ratio Rockers: There’s a $250 difference between the stock-rebuilt high ratio rockers, and the full roller rockers. Either way I’m getting the high ratio, but are the rollers worth an extra $250? Could that money be better spent on something else that would give me more power, for example, more head porting?
Headers: It seems there are some fitment issues to overcome with the CI headers on a 250 with a low mount starter. I also have an AC compressor on the passenger side, down low. My alternator is on the driver's side so that isn't a problem. I’m not sure if the “modifications” are something I could do myself with my limited tools. Is my mechanic going to be swearing at me trying to mod these things around the AC and starter? Should I consider a different brand of headers or are they all going to require these same adjustments?
Exhaust: I don’t know too much about exhaust. I do know this is a Granada, so the sound needs to be stately and understated. In other words, I can’t have it too loud. In my mind it seems like if I used a dual exhaust, I could increase exhaust flow but still keep the sound down since I would have two mufflers – is this an oversimplification? Any suggestions on mufflers?
Rear-End: I have the C4 transmission and a 2.8 rear-end. Should I be thinking about changing to a different ratio in the back as a performance upgrade? I see lots of guys prefer the 3.5 or something ratio, but I don’t know how much of a difference this would make in my situation, or if a change would be appropriate for the relatively mild nature of my engine upgrade?
Any and all advice or comments are more than welcome!
Luke
I’ve been lurking here on FordSix for about a year and I’ve read so much I’ve got blue ovals pouring out my ears. I’m starting to feel just cocky enough now to begin making a mess of things, so here goes.
I’m trying to nail down the roadmap for upgrading the 250 in my ‘76 Granada, and just wanted someone to look at my general plan and point out any glaring mistakes – or offer suggestions of how to best spend my money. I recently got out of another hobby and as consolation I'm using the money I made from selling my gear to get this car pepped up.
DUI ignition is the first task, and it’s on order presently. I have maybe $3 grand left after that but also some limitations: I live in an apartment with no garage. I recently moved to a new state so the garages of my friends and family are a thousand miles away.
For that reason, and also due to my budget, rebuilding the block or installing an aftermarket cam is probably not an option. Heck, for all I know, maybe changing the head is more than a one-man job or can’t easily be done with the engine still in the car (I might be able to get my 100 pound wife to help me sometimes?). I’ve never swapped a head so I don’t know. This is kind of what I’m hoping maybe some of you can help me with. Please tell me if what I’m planning is unrealistic for an inexperienced, one-man operation.
So here’s my plan:
- DUI ignition: on its way
- Get a ‘78 head on the side and send it to CI
- Have them do a:
- 2V conversion
- Valve job and porting
- Mill the head to compensate for thicker gasket
- Should I spring for oversize valves?
- Headers
- High ratio rockers
I’m pretty sure that list will blow through my money in short order, even not counting the DUI. Here are some specific areas I’m still unsure about:
High Ratio Rockers: There’s a $250 difference between the stock-rebuilt high ratio rockers, and the full roller rockers. Either way I’m getting the high ratio, but are the rollers worth an extra $250? Could that money be better spent on something else that would give me more power, for example, more head porting?
Headers: It seems there are some fitment issues to overcome with the CI headers on a 250 with a low mount starter. I also have an AC compressor on the passenger side, down low. My alternator is on the driver's side so that isn't a problem. I’m not sure if the “modifications” are something I could do myself with my limited tools. Is my mechanic going to be swearing at me trying to mod these things around the AC and starter? Should I consider a different brand of headers or are they all going to require these same adjustments?
Exhaust: I don’t know too much about exhaust. I do know this is a Granada, so the sound needs to be stately and understated. In other words, I can’t have it too loud. In my mind it seems like if I used a dual exhaust, I could increase exhaust flow but still keep the sound down since I would have two mufflers – is this an oversimplification? Any suggestions on mufflers?
Rear-End: I have the C4 transmission and a 2.8 rear-end. Should I be thinking about changing to a different ratio in the back as a performance upgrade? I see lots of guys prefer the 3.5 or something ratio, but I don’t know how much of a difference this would make in my situation, or if a change would be appropriate for the relatively mild nature of my engine upgrade?
Any and all advice or comments are more than welcome!
Luke