New guy, probably old questions....

[Anonymous]

Hi all. I've got an 84 LTD with a tired 302 in it, and I'm looking to install an inline six. Reading the forums here has been helpful, but I've still got a few questions.

In what models/years of car would I find the 250? I'd like to hang on to my AOD, but I don't want to get into modifying the bellhousing for the 200. Well, that, and I've always liked having the maximum number of available cubic inches.

I suppose that's the question du jour. I'm sure I'll have more real soon.

Thanks
Jim

 

[Anonymous]

I have to ask, why run a 6 cyl?

It seems to me it would be less of a head ache to rebuild or swap out the 302. The 6 cyl engine and the weight of the LTD is going to combine for doggy performance. It may even be more expensive to swap over to a 6 cyl.
Doug

 

[Anonymous]

Well, seeing as it's the midsize fox LTD, it's not all that heavy. It weighs in at around 3200, with the 302 in it. So, I don't figure weight is that much of an issue.

Secondly, I've built enough V8s to choke a amsll herd of elephants, and I need to build something a little different. This will also give me experience for when I build a straight six to go into a 32 Ford. (V8s are just plain too easy and common)

And third, this car is more of a cruiser than a quarter miler, as some of my past cars have been. I'd like to get decent mileage in and out of town, but still have decent pickup. I had considered a turbo 2.3, but I really don't want to deal with that complexity. Also, the 250s torque curve would probaby be better suited to an AOD with 2.73 gears behind it than a 4 banger would.

Jim

 

[Anonymous]

when i go to the car yard i see a lot of station wagons with inlines although i'm not sure they are 250's i think they might be...but alot of monarchs and granadas will have them, i still havent seen a monarch or granada in the car yard here with a vee-eight. my car also weighs around 3250 lbs, and i cant complain about mileage or power (unless i wanna race)..it passes well and still can hit 180 km/h..i get about 15-20 MPG...although i think the carb i got on now is a bit better (same kind, but better condition.) so 20 MPG isnt unexpected...although mine was rebuilt with 20K on it...my last engine which had over 300k on itstill got about 12-15 MPG though...the 250 should bolt right up in there, though u will need different motor mounts...just grab those when u get the engine...it would be best to get 78 or newer since the valves are larger...and that would be one less mod u have to do...as for the belhousing...it may not be too much trouble...not sure so dont take my word for it...but since your pulling the 302, pull the tranny out with it, a smallblock tranny usually fits right on to a 250, so u should be fine...just bolt on the tranny to the engine before u put it in just to be sure...and its kida a pain to put in a tranny afterwards...i swapped my 250 and tranny in 2 days, then it took another 2 or 3 just to get it together and running...hope this helps

 

[rbohm]

8) since this is a fox body, i think you are going to have more work than you realize, as you will have to change the K member to one for an inline six cylinder car like my fairmont. second you will have to custom make the oilpan as the 250's were all front sump pans. hood clearance will also be an issue, but that is solved fairly easily.

 

[Anonymous]

Aaaah, the oilpan, never even thought of that one! I thought the primary difference between the K-members on the fox platform cars was the location of the engine mounts.

(EDIT: hang on, do you mean that all the 250s as opposed to 200s were front sump? Couldn't you just use the 200 oil pan in that case?)

My thinking was that I either swap in the inline 6 K-member, or fabricate a set of mounts to locate it correctly, then I could use the stock pan from an early 80's Mustang or Fairmont.

In any case, fabrication isn't an issue. I've bolted things into cars people said were impossible, or that required a kit of some type. EG: twin turbo 2.8L V6 Chevette. We kept getting told that you'd need these certain engine mounts, and all the modifications...but no. We made it fit, and it runs like a top. Or, how about a 302 in a Mitsubishi mini truck? That was (and is) loads of fun!

Thanks for your suggestions guys, you've been very helpful so far, and I'm sure I'll milk you for tons more info in the near future!

Jim

 

[xctasy]

The 250 cube is over 10.25 inches wide at the pan rail, while the 200 is only 9.125". The sumps won't swap, although you could cut an shut the 200 sump into the 250 item, or just run a cut and shut sump from some 302 bits.

The X-member and motor mounts are the main issues.

 

[Anonymous]

You`ll need a flexplate ford never made too

 

[Anonymous]

Actually, a 300's flexplate will work fine.

 

[Anonymous]

It'd be kind of fun to stuff a 300 in there, but from what I've gathered so far I'd have hood clearance issues, and I'd like to maintain a stock hoodline.

So, a 250, with a 300 flexplate, and a custom oilpan.....sounds like a challenge!

As for the 200, I take it that it was the stock inline 6 for the fox body cars? That could be fun as well, though I'd have those tranny issues with the top two bolt holes being in a different location, and I'd have to do something about the flexplate as well......hmmmm, decisions, decisions....

Jim

 

[Anonymous]

Realy ? wow I didn`t know that they made a 164 tooth flexplate for the 300/aod , learn something new every day I gess

 

[Anonymous]

So, what automatic trannys were used behind the 200 inline 6 in the early 80's Mustangs, etc? I figure that if I wanted to do this the easy way, then I'd just pick up the tranny too. I'd probaby have to get a driveshaft cut for it though.

The reason I might be looking for an easy way out right now is that my daily driver just started having some serious tranny issues, and I might need to get this other one built sooner rather than later.

Jim