Crossflow in a Ranchero?

[papawfalcon]

I have a 250 crossflow in my '62 Ranchero. The Ranchero came with a 170 six.I was told that if this was a US 250 that the center link would need to be flipped over and the idler arm and pitman arm will need reamed.Anyone know if this is true of a crossflow? Any help woul be appriciated Thanks Ken N.

 

[rocklord]

Ken,

Are you presently running the Ranchero with the crossflow in it? If you are, then you don't have any interference with the center link, and you won't have to flip it over. If you're just installing the crossflow, then the only way to find out is to install the center link and check for interference.

The Aussie 250 Crossflow is narrower than the US 250 and will sit lower; so you shouldn't have to worry about hood clearance.
The engines have the same stroke, so the crossflow oil pan will have to be deeper than the 170's to clear the crank.

Hope this helps some.

 

[papawfalcon]

Thanks Dan, the motor is in the car but the centerlink is not.

 

[aussie7mains]

Im in Australia and have a 65 falconute, like your ranchero, Ive got a crossflow in it. Ive set it up using the original engine mountings which I believe are the same in the USA, the front stabilizer bar and the steering crosslink (track rod) will interfere with the oil pan, the stabilizer is easily dealt with by spacing it down 25mm with a couple of pieces of RHS and some longer bolts.
The track rod isnt so easy, I dont know how you can "flip it over" as the ball joints tapers are now upside down, and I dont see how you can ream them to make them fit. By the time the reamer has made a new taper it wont be a taper any more, there isnt enough metal in the idler and steering pitman arm to do this. However all is not lost, what I did was make up 2 tapered to parrallel bolts which went into the pitman arm and idler and fitted a new spherical plain bearing with a 19mm solid rod connecting the idler to the pitman arm. This drops the track rod enough to clear the oil pan, dont forget that the track rod rises as the streering goes away from center.
Hope this helps
A7M

 

[papawfalcon]

A7M, Thank you for the imformation.I don't know what RHS is.I understand about the taper would be just a straight hole.The center link is the track rod,I sorry then I'm lost.Thanks Ken N.

 

[aussie7mains]

RHS= Rolled hollow Section, Square or rectangular tubing.

 

[papawfalcon]

A7M. I can see the spacer for the stablizer bar.But have you got pics of the track rod changes.or a diagham. Thanks Ken N.