Pistons&Cams

[bmcgc1960]

Next week Im tearing the 200 down.

My C5 block has a D0 head. Ive owned the car for about a month and have no idea what is hiding inside the block/head.

Should I use flat top pistons to help make up the difference in cr that I lose with the bigger chambers and thicker head gasket, or should I mill the block/head?

Im not a fan of zero decking the block, in the future I ever need to true the block, there is nothing left to mill.

Its not like there are a bunch of available 200 blocks lieing around.

Until I get everything apart, I dont know what I need, Im just thinking ahead here.

Comp has a 252 and a 260 cam. Which is better for my application?

200/AT, D0 head, Holley 1940, DSII, oem exhaust manifold, single exhaust. If I can find a later exhaust manifold, I will run that with a 2in single exhaust.

I would consider milling the log for a 2v but Im not seeing any good how to's on linkage mods and I dont want to screw around trying to figure it out myself.

 

[rocklord]

I recommend purchasing "The Ford Falcon Six Cylinder Performance Handbook" either from Classic Inlines here http://www.classicinlines.com/products.asp?cat=73
or from the author here http://falcon6handbook.com/

Read it several times. This handbook will answer a lot of your questions.

 

[bmcgc1960]

Rock, I have been meaning to buy that for years.

It should be in the mail.

 

[CZLN6]

Howdy Back:

IT would help to know the casting # on the head and the exhaust manifold. The D0 casting is from the beginning of the transition years, so even with the casting # there is no way to know, for sure what you're going to find. So, as you said, get it apart and inspect, measure the Chambers and the valve sizes. Be on the lookout for signs of a previous rebuild also.

What trans will you be running? What vehicle? What rear gear? All factors in selecting a cam. What is your compression ratio goal?

Keep it coming.

Adios, David

 

[bmcgc1960]

Its a 65 Mustang 200/AT, 2.75 gears.

My goal is to keep it oem looking to the untrained eye (my wife). Its her car and she wants to use it as a DD.

Im keeping the oem single exhaust, I just replaced everything from the manifold back.

I want to keep the cr at 9.0-9.1:1, bump the cam up, convert to DSII, and run the best 1v that I can.....for now.

I found a complete 200 out of another 65 Mustang for $350 that is getting a V8 conversion. The seller says I can drop it in and it will run just fine. I can do that swap in a day.

Im considering that because it has the correct head/carb/dizzy. I could then pull the 200 out and take my time on a rebuild, she actually likes the Offy tri-carb and that may be an option down the road. She has car show fever and wants a nice car to show. The last show we went to her six got more attention than the V8s, it seems a bunch of old guys had a 200 back before they could afford the nice cars they have now.

For now she wants it running with a minmum of downtime, but I have to address the head issue. I have to add oil everythime we drive it.

I just sold our Harleys so we have the means to do whatever we want to with this car.

I found a 67 in mint condition for 7k that I really would like to have, but we sold the Harleys to downsize and we already have 2 F100s, the Mustang and a Dodge Caliber, so she isnt onboard with adding another Mustang right now.

 

[vssman]

FWIW, tri-carb and DD aren't typically used in the same sentence very well. They look great. The car show crowd just love 'em and they give a good jump in performance but you have to like to tinker with them.

 

[bmcgc1960]

Im not good at tinkering with carbs, but I can learn.

I would prefer a homemade setup vs the bolt on Offy setup.

Im sure I can find someone who can braze the two carb mounts on the head, then use the Offy linkage.

I also like the idea of a direct install of an Autolite 2100 on the head.

The misses thinks we should buy the used 200 for $350 and take our time rebuilding the orginial engine. I think thats a good idea. I have found that if you take a running vehicle off the road there is a good chance it will never get back on the road.