Got a 200, Need help with Questions for small modifications

[Anonymous]

First I'll start off with saying Hello.

Hi.

I’m new here and recently I purchased a 1964 Ford Ranchero with the intent of re-building and lightly modifying the engine for the purposes of daily driving and occasionally towing a small trailer and car. (Car weighs less then 2000lbs)

When I originally ran all the numbers for the car on the door plate I was disappointed to find it was a 170 (stock) but after checking the engine it turns out I have a '65 200. Which if just fine with me


The questions I have are purely for the sake of making the engine strong enough for towing with out switching to a V8 and not degrading the normal, every day drive-ability I would like from the engine. (I currently drive a 1966 Sunbeam Alpine with a 1725cc engine that’s about as modified as you can get with out having insane compression)

Dose anyone know how much or how little work I need to do to the exhaust ports to help benefit the breathing with out sacrificing any or very little low end torque?

Do the ridges in the intake log help with fuel atomization, would going though and smoothing out the inside of the log be beneficial or harmful?

Would re-shaping the combustion chambers benefit me in the long run, or would leaving them near stock with adjustments made just to adjust compression be the best way to go?

What would be a good cam option for daily driving / towing on the 200?

Dose anyone know if I would be better off with an Automatic or can a T-5 conversion with a heavy pressure plate / clutch stand up to the demands of towing?

Thanks for any responses?

Alex

 

[gtm1086]

Hello Alex

Here is a good place for you to start. http://inlinefever.homestead.com/RamAir.html

Updating to a larger carburator will help. Also updating you exhaust and ignition system. Another recomendation would be to buy this book
http://cquesttechnologies.com/fspp/prod ... SP-200-FSH

And be sure to check out Ford six parts

http://www.fordsixparts.com/

 

[pedal2themetal45]

HI AND WELCOME TO THE BOARD
A newer head would be a good upgrade like a 78 or newer. It well have bigger valves, a bigger log, bigger carb hole so it can breath.. and of course a header well help. as well as all else that has been mention.
tim

 

[MustangSix]

The exhaust ports are a real weak spot. They are barely big enough to stick a finger thru and they are very convoluted under the valve. Some pocket porting and contouring in the valve pocket helps a lot. Also removal of the air injection bump on some heads will help a lot. If you decide to enlarge the port itself, make it taller, not wider.

A chamber valve relif will improve flow on the intake and exhaust. Same pocket porting for the intake side. Finish the whole job with a good three angle valve job and high quality valve seals.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the responses so far.

Thanks for the Links I went over them and saw lots of intresting stuff

As for if I will personaly be doing the work to the head or not, Yes I will, i have expearance from my Alpine job which im proud to say was pretty good


I still have to go and CC the combustion chambers on the head and find out how far off from each other they may or may not be.


As for the later head I was thinking about finding one but I decided I would rather attempt to modify my existing head.

My current question is on the '65 log can I bore out the whole between the bolts safely to allow more air to enter? Or would i be better off with an adaptor plate if nessacerry.

Also I'm trying to keep the spending down so I'm planning to make modifications myself, or atleast as meny as I can myself.

Thanks

Edit: here is a picture of the block and Head
Block:
http://www.pumpgasracing.homestead.com/ ... 131276.jpg
Head:
http://www.pumpgasracing.homestead.com/ ... 131277.jpg