Seeking a good 200 inline six head from a running engine. Ideally something that was swapped out for a performance upgrade. Stock valves and basic machine work are fine. Looking for a reliable street head, not a high dollar build. Price negotiable and would prefer to pickup in the midwest but US shipping is fine too.
Wanted Seeking a good 200 head from a running engine.
- Thread starter 65musty
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TrickSix
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What's wrong with your old head? Before you pick up a different one you should probably confirm what head you have now. In cars this old stuff gets swapped all the time. There were two basic versions of the 200 head. "Small Log", referring to the smaller volume cast-in intake manifold with a 1.5" inlet, and "Large Log" heads with a slightly bigger manifold and a 1.75" inlet. The heads can be swapped but some engine accessories like carburetors would require adapters. On the rear half of the top of the intake manifold will be a cast in number beginning with a C, D, or maybe E. That number will tell you what year the head was made.
It WAS a small log from my 65. I can pick up plenty of replacements locally but was just seeing if anyone had a "good one" they pulled just for a large log upgrade to save me from buying and unknown.
I can get a head locally easy, just have to buy the whole engine and then find out if it is any good. Just feeling out if someone had one already gone through that they didn't need and wanted to sell
That is good if you have plenty of 200 engine in your area to choose from and what location is that? Have you found any 200/250 in the 80-83 range? Those had the largest cfm log at 1420 and the block may be the large bell that can be made to accept sbf transmission although the block would not be of interest to you. Someone else might want it.
The issue with buying a cast iron head from elsewhere is that they weigh about 50lbs and that costs a lot to ship. I found a 1969 large log head locally on Facebook Marketplace for $100 so they are out there. I drove about 40 miles round trip to get mine but shipping would have probably cost more depending on where from and I would be worried about it getting dropped and abused during the ride.
As @bmbm40 mentioned, get yourself a later model. I think it was 1977 when they switched to the largest log and as a bonus, they increased the size of the intake valves to 1.75” and of course it’s going to have hardened seats. According to the Falcon Performance Manual, they had 2 large log heads from 77 - 83. The flat one with 1345cc log and one with a hex shaped log with 1420cc.
Not sure what your level of info on upgrading The top end is but I’m in the middle of doing a large log upgrade for my 66 Mustang and here are my “Cole’s Notes” on it…
Regardless of where the head came from, you’ll want to magnaflux and vacuum test the head before spending any time installing it.
Also, check the size of the combustion chambers. All large heads have larger combustion chambers which means your 200 loses compression ratio unless the head is shaved or the block is decked. Your stock 1965 head would have around 52cc combustion chambers and the large log heads have around 62cc combustion chambers so there’s a big compression ratio loss if you don’t do something about it.
Additionally, when you shave the head or deck the block, you change the required pushrod length and either need custom sized pushrods for a non adjustable valvetrain or you need adjustable rockers. I have seen a 200 with adjustable rockers in a 65 Falcon so you might have adjustable rockers on yours. That would save you a bunch of hassle if you already have that. Then you can just shave the head and dial in the appropriate valve lash with the adjustable rockers.
