Help - need more power

[Anonymous]

Hello Everyone,

I just found this site today and am thrilled to finally have people to talk to about my inline six. I am 17 years old, and as a first car I have a 1966 Falcon Futura Sports Coupe, 200 with the c-4 automatic.

Anyway I love the Falcon, and have put many hours into restoring it and making it look nice, but I am getting fed up with the car having no power. I would love to put a 289 or 302 into the car, but my father refuses to pay the insurance on the car if I put a V8 in it. So I was wondering if anyone had any tips as to how I might go about squeexing some power out of the 200. It's a good little engine but the car just has no acceleration, or top end.

Whatever advice or suggestions you may have would be greatly appreciated, because I really do not want to give the Falcon up.

Thank you very much.

 

[gtm1086]

First of all wecome.

So were to start. Please read and check out the following links.

http://fordsix.com/recommendedmods.htm

http://fordsix.com/services.htm


Next buy this book which can be found at the following link.

http://falconperformance.sundog.net/
The Ford Falcon SIX Cylinder PERFORMANCE HANDBOOK

Then for all of your parts needs check out AZ Coupes web page

http://www.fordsixparts.com/

And most of all just hang around here and ask questions.

Gary

 

[CobraSix]

Just a word about insurance, so you get your facts straight, so if you really want a V-8...talk to your dad.

Insurance is based on the VIN number. They won't ask you what engine you have in it. The VIN tells them that. So what if you don't have the 6 in there anymore. At least my insurance company doesn't ask about the engines in my cars. They just want the VIN.

look around on a lot of the personal sites. Look at the parking lot in my signature...lots of brief car summaries there. That is only the tip of the iceberg. I have about 6 more cars to add this weekend. All member rides.

It is not too hard to get the 6 to rival a stock 289/302. Overall, would probably run about $1500 to get that kind of power without NOS.

Also, check out some of these sites:

www.mustangaroo.com
www.geocities.com/mustang_man_1966/index.html

just to name a few. They have links to other mustang 6 performance sites as well. I was overwhelmed when I first found this site, but after you sift through it awhile, you'll find a lot of information that will help the 6. Don't be afraid of asking questions. This is about the best group of auto performance enthusiasts as it comes.

Slade

 

[FastRonald]

8) The problem...at least in Illinois....is IF you swap in a V -8 and your insurance company does not know and you have an accident?...........trouble big time!

 

[rbohm]

8) have some fun and be different, instead of a 302, swap in a 300 inline six. you get monster torque that way.

 

[Anonymous]

Power? .... Where to start is right! There are all kinds of things you can do, headers, upgraded ignition, exhaust, carb, air cleaner, heads, etc. etc. etc. etc. etc! Just take a look around this site and you'll see EVERYTHING, from the mild upgrades, to the absolutely insane.
Check out my site if you want to look for some ideas, I have pics of my car (65 mustang with a 200 cid six), list of all my upgrades, Tech pages, engine buildups specs, etc. (the links to the other pages are at the bottom of each page)

www.geocities.com/levidodd7/65stang

 

[addo]

Engine swapping without due attention to details like registration and insurance can lead to anything from voiding a policy, to personal unlimited resposibility in an accident - it's your call.

Having said that, if you're young keep the car no more than a "wink and a nod" from standard looking if you wish to minimise trouble attracted. Be discreet in what you choose to do.

The later electronic ignition is a good starting point. Easy to install, the difference can be felt straight away and it saves fuel. Having the correct size tyres (outside diameter) is another issue. People often overlook the role of wheel/tyre size in affecting performance.

The springs age over time, the bushings collapse. Fixing all this up and slightly tweaking the suspension will add a handling "edge" to the car, making it more enjoyable to pilot.

As to the motor internals - do a hot compression test on the motor and tell us the numbers...

Regards, Adam.

 

[CobraSix]

I'm not saying lie to the insurance company, but if they don't ask...the fault lies with them. If they asked what engine I had in my car (if I did a V-8 swap...) I would tell them. If they only asked for the VIN, I would tell them. Otherwise...if they don't ask...don't tell. But maybe that is just me. I think insurance is a big rip off anyways. I've paid insurance companies thousands over the years...know how much I've gotten back? $500 for one claim...and that was because I got rear ended (and no, I have a clean driving record...no tickets, no accidents). But I digress...

The 6 can be built up to rival a stock V-8 fairly easily.

Slade

[edit]: Sorry, just on an anti-insurance rant. I had my basement flood out in early August. My insurance didn't cover any of the property damage because it was flooding due to "sepage" from the ground. I don't live in a flood plan, or any where close to one. I was like, "why in the hell am I paying you then if you aren't covering damage to my house and property". Plus, anytime a real disaster happens, (like Isabel), the insurance companies don't pay...they go running to Uncle Sam and Uncle Sam ends up paying the damages, which means me and you pay the damages, and the insurance companies walk away with all the money they collected and not paying much at all.

I once again apologize about my rant...Just had to vent.

 

[Anonymous]

Welcome.

Like the others have said, the inline 6 cylinder can become a very powerful engine. I just takes time (something I have a problem with and I'm only 30 ) and patience (again, I tend to lack some of that as well).

Yes it can be expensive but after many, many, many months, I feel the inline 6 cylinder is something to admire and appreciate. No, it was never designed for V8 power - that's why a V8 was designed but it can be quit impressive when built right and well taken care of. It's a perfect balance of simple design and reliable engineering.

I must admit that I too thought about a V8 but I'm not sure this is the best thing for me. Just check out my rant (thought I'd never bring this up again).
http://fordsix.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5077&highlight=#5077

So having said enough, do as the others have prescribed.

Oh, take your time!

Grasshopper, when you can take this pebble from my hand, you will be ready.

 

[strat1960s]

Ok, here it is.
I have been a vehicle mechanic in the Air Force for 10 years now. When I first got my 65 Mustang almost 2 yrs ago, everyone all the way up to my commander, a Lt. Col, told me to drop in a V-8. I almost went with their suggestions of a fuel injected 302, but I started to think about it. Everyone and their brother has bought a car with a straight 6 in it and dropped a V-8 into it. So where is the uniqueness in that. If and when I take my car to shows, I want people to look under my hood and say, "Wow, I haven't seen anything like that before, what all is in there?"
Secondly, I am not ashamed to say I have a little 200 / 6 in my car. When I am ready to start on the body work, I am going to look for 200 emblems or have them made. I want to be able to pull up the the stop light, next to some kid with a super tuned import and blow him away at the light. The way I look at it, I may not be able to take them in the race, but I sure as heck will get them at the light. (Not that I am build a race car)
As for the insurance, hey we are all paying more and getting less in return. We can look at the drunk drivers, un-insured drivers and under-insured drivers to blame. A lot of it depends on the population, more people = higher insurance. I am 33, my wife is 32. We drive an Explorer, Focus and soon a 65 Mustang. I pay $183 / month, for full coverage, with no tickets or wrecks at all. Is it a scam? Probably yes, but I won't be the one being sued for lack of coverage.
When it comes down to an engine swap and telling your insurace company, it's an integrity issue. When I insured my vehicles, they only asked for the VIN #. They didn't ask about motor size. Unless the insurance folks are mechanics on the side they will never know the difference. But I go by the belief that if I am up-front and honest, it may someday set a good example to my kids and fellow drivers. The Air Force has what they call core values. The first one is: Integrity, doing the right thing, even if no one is looking.
I will now step off the "Soap Box".

Ted