Jamie Miles
Well-known member
I am trying to decide what engine to put in my car. I am building a Maverick from a bare '73 shell up. I originally was going to go with a 250/T5, single out header, Duraspark II dist. with MSD 6 box. Carter RBS carb. Then a buddy of mine had a very low mileage 5.0 from a '94 Mustang Cobra come up for sale with everything needed to run the fuel injection, so I was going to go that route with a T5. Well I decided not to go that route with the high gas prices. So I decided to go with modern V6 and 5 speed automatic out of a Ranger. I located a low mileage total wrecked 2001 Ranger and bought it. Dropped the engine in the Maverick to find that it fit great, but he only problem was the rear sump oil pan didn't clear the steering linkage. Took the pan off to find it is impossible to convert it to a front sump like I had been hoping to do. Short of a Mustang II front end, this engine won't work. No biggie, I got a killer deal on the Ranger and can easily double the cash I have in it.
So now I've come full circle back to the original 250/T5 idea. My current daily driver '72 Maverick has a low mileage internally bone stock '71 200/C4 in it with Duraspark II dist., MSD 6AL box with a TFI Blaster II coil and MSD wires with platinum NGK plugs. Single out header splitting into dual glass packs. Carter YF carb. 2.79 rear gear ratio in the 8 incher. My daily drive to work is 33 miles one way, interstate the entire way. I usually run about 70 and lately have been getting very high 20's for gas mileage, have almost broke into the 30's before it got real cold outside. I know, I'm having a hard time believing it myself, but I've checked it over and over and that's what I've been averaging the last few weeks.
For my next car I am thinking stock 250/T5 (I have a low mileage '74 250). Either MSD ignition same as above, or DUI ignition. Single out header splitting into duals with some quiet mufflers on the car (I've driven 57,400 miles in two years with dual glass packs on the '72, I've had quite enough of that). 3.55 gear out back with the T5? Not sure what carb, Carter RBS? I would like for it to at least get mid-high 20's on the interstate. I'm not after a power house, just a daily driver that has no problem merging into traffic and running 70-80 mph on the interstate. Anything you would do internally to the '74 250? I was thinking '69 spec. timing set as I have read there is supposedly a difference in cam timing. I'd run a 200 in it, but the bell housing issues is the only thing that would stop me from it. I want to run a cable clutch for the T5. Tell me what you think. Sorry for the long post.
So now I've come full circle back to the original 250/T5 idea. My current daily driver '72 Maverick has a low mileage internally bone stock '71 200/C4 in it with Duraspark II dist., MSD 6AL box with a TFI Blaster II coil and MSD wires with platinum NGK plugs. Single out header splitting into dual glass packs. Carter YF carb. 2.79 rear gear ratio in the 8 incher. My daily drive to work is 33 miles one way, interstate the entire way. I usually run about 70 and lately have been getting very high 20's for gas mileage, have almost broke into the 30's before it got real cold outside. I know, I'm having a hard time believing it myself, but I've checked it over and over and that's what I've been averaging the last few weeks.
For my next car I am thinking stock 250/T5 (I have a low mileage '74 250). Either MSD ignition same as above, or DUI ignition. Single out header splitting into duals with some quiet mufflers on the car (I've driven 57,400 miles in two years with dual glass packs on the '72, I've had quite enough of that). 3.55 gear out back with the T5? Not sure what carb, Carter RBS? I would like for it to at least get mid-high 20's on the interstate. I'm not after a power house, just a daily driver that has no problem merging into traffic and running 70-80 mph on the interstate. Anything you would do internally to the '74 250? I was thinking '69 spec. timing set as I have read there is supposedly a difference in cam timing. I'd run a 200 in it, but the bell housing issues is the only thing that would stop me from it. I want to run a cable clutch for the T5. Tell me what you think. Sorry for the long post.
