Rebuild/Swap Nightmare... Get your kleenex.....

[MercuryMarc]

Thanks for all the input...
Here is the brief recap:
63 Comet ragtop
Has C9DE (C9 head) with C4 tranny (burns oil, smokes, tranny slips)
Acquired D8BE (E0 head) with C3 tranny (told runs well, plugs a little oily/wet)
Rebuilt the D8BE (E0 Head)
Have tranny rebuild kit for the the C4
Removed the C9DE/C4
Thought the D8BE was a "low starter"
Actually it is a high starter (higher than the C9DE)
Looking from the rear, D8BE starter at 2 O'clock, C9DE is at 3:30
Realized that the bell/flywheels were totally different, and units won't swap
Lost the flywheel/torque coverter to the D8BE (don't ask....)
C3 demensions are different from the C4 and to use on my car will need:
Torque converter, Flywheel, tranny mount, yoke, driveshaft
Speedo cable looks different, too
Also some electrical wires (Neutral safetyswitch?) need connecting...

Options?

1. Consider the D8BE rebuild good "practice"
Rebuild the C9DE and use the D8BE head
Rebuild the C4 tranny

2. Use the rebuilt D8BE
Rebuild the C3 tranny
Fabricate/work on the mounting of the C3 (see to do list above...)

3. Use the rebuilt D8BE
Rebuild the C4 tranny
Get a bell that mates the C9 C4 to my D8BE block (not sure how easy this is..)

Help!
Any input appreciated.

Marc, grounded in SF
63 Comet Ragtop, empty engine bay
2 engines and trannys in my garage
http://mercurycomet.net

 

[Asa]

first things first, what can your budget support?
this your only car?

 

[MercuryMarc]

Not my only car (so I am not really grounded). I'd like to keep the cost reasonable, under $1000 if possbile but I understand it may be more like $2000 if I get a long block and tranny rebuild (back up plan).
Looking to do most of the work myself, more to learn and have fun than to save $$$.
Marc

 

[Asa]

i think i would go with option 3
i wouldn't use the C3, and it should be the least amount of downtime of the three

 

[MercuryMarc]

1000 apologies.
I have a 250 in my Comet!!!
I finally figured this out when I realized the flywheel from my old engine would not fit on the 200 I had just rebuilt- the diameter on the old block is too large....Ahaa! That's because I have a 250!!! And I just counted the 4 bolts on the water pump, and, yes, the starter is just a tad below the oil pan. And the crank center to deck height is about 9 1/2 inches! No wonder I had such a hard time getting the starter to clear the center link on the engine removal.

So even though I just rebuilt a 200, I'm sticking with my 250! I am considering the rebuild of the 200 a great learning experience. I'm going to tear into the 250, rebuild it, maybe go with my 80 head, and stick with my C4 (must be the bell that goes with the 250/V8 hence all the issues with fit on the 200...).

Actually I am really excited to have found this huge motor in my car!

Sorry for the wild goose chase!!!

Humbly,

Marc in SF
63 Comet
250 six!!!!!
http://mercurycomet.net

 

[Ronn]

Ah yes, 250 is the king. You are endowed with the better of the falcon sixes in my honest opinion. My semi stock 250 gets equal times as a fairly built 200 so that says something.

Get a 274/450 lift cam from Mike (Az Coupe) right here at Ford Six Performance Parts by Clay Smith Cams, Duraspark 2 dizzy and control box, K+N air filter, High RPM flex fan, NGK Iridium spark plugs, MSD 2 Blaster coil, Accel high temp 8 mm spiral core part # 5040Bplug wires, Performance single out header with 2 1/2" all the way back to a flowmaster 2 chamber muffy, and if your ambitious enough a direct mount holley 350 cfm 2300 series carb or an argie/aussie head.

Those items and a fresh rebuild at .030 overbore and a .070 shave off the block deck with 100 lb valve springs from Mike and 2 angle valve cut on the head and back cut valves would sit you right pretty!

 

[Asa]

yeah, you've described a pretty nice engine there Ronn, but how's he going to get the car moving if he doesn't have a tranny?

 

[MercuryMarc]

I have been so confused in my descriptions that I need to end this post and start a new one with only true facts...
The 69 C4 tranny I have fits the 69 250 I have - they were on the car mated together. So I have the C4 tranny with the 250 I6/VeeEight bell (Case Fill, 2-Bolt Starter, 157 Tooth flywheel C5OP-7976-A). I checked it out at the this great bell housing site:
http://mmerlinn.bravehost.com/trans/fdc4f/fd6c4bhm.htm#default
So once I get the engine rebuilt, I'll fix the tranny, and I'm off!
Thanks everyone!

Marc

 

[StraightSixer]

Good that you have it worked out. A C3 rebuild probably would not be a good idea. They are not worth the time and effort. Next time the have a half off sale at the local junkyard I am picking up a C4 and 250 ci out of a 74 comet for pretty cheap. Tranny alone will only be about 30 dollars.