Help Rethinking my 78 Swap

[MercuryMarc]

Got the 69 200 + C4 out of my 63 Comet (engine smokes on decel and burns olil like crazy, tranny slow to engage in reverse).
On my engine stand is a 78 Fairmont 200 that I rebuilt, but it is a Low starter.
I found the tranny that came with the 78 bock- it's not like my C4.

Any clue what tranny I have?
Questons:
Need help with options:
1. Rebuild my C4, fabricate bellhousing, use rebuilt 78 block, lower center link
2. Rebuild the "mystery tranny," use the rebuilt 78 block, fabricate tranny mount and get proper yoke, and new driveshaft (buy new starter plate, starter, torque converter), lower center link
3. Rebuild my C4, keep my 69 block, resleave/bore pistons and new rings, add the 80 head from the 78 block (requires the least fabrication)

I am leaning towards number 3. Darn- I was sure the 78 was a going to be a high starter!
Marc in SF
63 Comet

 

[x21]

I have a 78 200 block in my 68 and i dont recall the guys that put it in for me (because I was away at college during the engine swap) mentioning needing a different bellhousing for my C4. I dont notice any difference in the position of the starter either

Wait- is the 78 block u have a 250?

 

[MercuryMarc]

The distance between the crank center and the deck is 7 3/4 inches, so it is a 200 (the 250 is taller). I am just "lucky" that I got a 78 that was one of the first ones to have the low starter.

 

[Anonymous]

The easiest way to tell 200 from 250 is 200 has a 3 bolt water pump-250 has a 4 bolt water pump and the oil pan is wider on a 250. I was under the impression that the low mounted 200 used a v-8 bell-I have a high mount 78 200 and it has the double bolt bell mount--uses either early l-6 or larger l-6 bell pattern. Does the c-4 not bolt to the bell that came with the new engine? Perhaps it may be as simple as finding a v-8 bell(like 302 or even possibly late 200/ 250) bell for a c-4. Finding a bell really shouldn't be too hard.

 

[MustangSix]

Check the casting number on that block. The engine may have come out of a 78 Fairmont, but the only blocks that have a low starter are E1-BB castings, a 1981 casting number.

The transmission is a C3, identified by the 13 bolts and the little kickout on the side.