Rebuild questions in reference to performance

[Anonymous]

Well the engine is out and ready to come all the way apart now. I am looking for opinions on what should be done to increase hp.
1.- I have considered flat top pistons but at 17 a pop i don't know if it makes sense to raise the compression ratio just a little by adding them.
2.- I have considered a higher performance cam but I don't want it to be a dog off the line, and I have a c-4 automatic and am not planning on a stall converter, only a shift kit.
3.- I do not think that head work is a cost efficient performance modification and I have heard that a 3 angle valve job will be beat back into a curved form in a short amount of time, is this true.....

I will be installing hookers dual outlet headers on an otherwise stock 1979 200 ci engine. I am planning on a 2 barrel carb on an adapter in the future, and a better flowing air intake. I just wanted you to keep in mind what I already have and wondered what you thought I might do to make it a respectable 6.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

Hopefully it will be fully assembled and back in 2 weeks .

 

[Asa]

have you checked the articles under the tech section? i know there are a few in there about making power out of sixes...
are you looking for more info on what to put into your six?the more info you can give us the more we can help you, what kind of budget do you have? what would you like it to be able to do?
check this thread for some more info:
http://fordsix.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4393

good luck, keep us updated!
evan

 

[MustangSix]

Cams up to about 214@.050 work fine with the stock converter.

Keep the compression to 9.0:1 or less so that you can use regular fuel.

A little pocket porting makes a big difference. Once you have the valves out you can how badly the ports are cast. You can barely get a finger thru a stock exhaust port.

 

[Anonymous]

Well my dad finished taking apart the engine tonight, I had homework thus I missed it. He said it was the worst for six cylinder he has ever taken apart. Every thing was coated with black including the crankshaft where oil had been burnt on, the timing chain was ready to go, the cam is iffy and there were 3 cracked/broken pistons . Oh well it will nice to be driving a rebuilt car here in a bit, hopefully it will be a much more reliable ride. :roll:

 

[Anlushac11]

8)

LOL

Since you and I have almost identical engines and cars you could run something similar to my setup.

1) Your engine most likely will have a steel shim head gasket. My '80 did. By running the Tempo flattop pistons you kee p compression up close to what it had originally. Otherwise you will have close to a 7.0:1 or 7.5:1 CR. You will lose a bit of power.

2) IIRC stock cam is about 247deg duration and .350" lift(I know thats not exact but I think it is very close). A good hipo cam for auto would be a 252deg or 260 deg cam. I will be running a 260H comp cams. A good cam will net 10-15hp and this one will work fine with an automatic.

3) I want the high stall converter for mine but about all I can afford will be a shift kit. And i have a C4 also.

4) You already have the big log head and the big valves. My recommendation ios to adapt a bigger carb like a Holley 350cfm 2 bbl or at minimum a Holley 5200. The engine now is trying to breath through a straw. Exhaust divider reduces turbulence in the two center exhaust ports and enhances exhaust port flow. And the headers your getting is a good choice. Dont go too big on the pipes.

Nice setup, you need to post pics when your done.

 

[Anonymous]

You might run into ground clearance problems with the dual header, the transmission crossmember isn't set up to have two pipes running side by side. My father's Fairmont had a Cliffy dual out header and the pipes were down low to clear the crossmember and would scrape across speed bumps, actually lost part of the pipes this way.

IMO a higher stall isn't needed until you get higher than the 260 deg cams. A good shift kit and upgrading the 2.74 gears will improve your launches. Check to see what kind of rear end you have, most Fox sixes came with 6 3/4 rears. Haven't found anyone who makes better gears for this weak rear, if you want to upgrade the gears consider swapping in a 7.5 or 8.8 rear. These are stronger, the 8.8 moreso than the 7.5, but the 8.8 weighs more.

Have fun with it! Thses cars are real light and don't take a lot of work to make them even more enjoyable.

 

[Anlushac11]

8)

My '80 came with a 7.5" 2.73:1 rear. Just about any 7.5" rear manual trans 79-93 4 cylinder car should have a 3.45:1 rear and 90-93 auto trans cars should have a 3.73:1 rear.

I would go with a 3.45:1 rear.

I however bought a 8.8" rear out of a 89 LX 5.0L ( first time guys at yard saw someone raid a V8 Fox body car for parts for a inline six car )

It is a 2.73:1 traction lock rear. Sometime this summer when I get another $300 I can get it rebuilt with 3.55:1 gears. I wouldnt go higher than this as the I6's are not suited to puling revs. They can but most tests have shown not much power over 4800rpm.

 

[Anonymous]

Well For christmas this year santa brought what I wanted, I got 3.45 gears and a posi unit for my 7.5 rear end, and a set of 4.11 but those are way to big but that will be a later project. Just a quick question I wondered where is the best place to buy cams. Thanks again I truly appreciate the help, and sorry if my old signiture offended you.

 

[Anlushac11]

8)

AzCoupe said he could get them pretty quick. Check with him.

And the Aussies IMHO have a much better selection.