Simple 200 six power gain

[Anonymous]

Hi all, I'm new to this group. my daily driver is a 81 fairmont I-6 and I want to make some basic upgrades. Is the big can (gutless) converter that bolts to the manifold a power gain or loss? I have already replaced the carb with a 250 yf version with no gain in power. Will the 2.3 two barrell and adapter fit and will it make any power gain? I know that if I put in the port divider it will help but witch exhaust manifold is best? I'm getting good mileage (24 highway) but it seems it could definitly run better because my 78 zepher did

 

[LEROY POLL]

HELLO TOM K

.....WELCOME TO THE FOURM...!!

..... I HAD A 1983 3.3 MOTOR WITH THE CAN THINGY. IT IS A VERY BAD THING FOR CARB. HOSES, ANYTHING CLOSE TO IT. MY CAR ALSO GOT VERY GOOD MPG. UNTIL THE SUMMER, WHEN IT BOILED ALL THE GAS OUT OF THE CARB. YOU COULD HERE IT FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE HOOD DOWN.

.....I DON'T KNOW WERE YOU LIVE..... BUT I HOPE IT'S NOT IN CALIF. I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE POWER VALVE. TO GET MY GAS MILEAGE BACK. THE POWER VALVE WAS MADE REPLACEABLE IN 1983. I WONDER WHY THEY MADE THE CHANGE UNLESS IT WAS A PROBLEM....IT WAS. I BELIEVE THIER SHOULD BE AND UP GRADE TO THIS SYSTEM. IN CALIF. THE LAW IS UNMOVIBLE UNCHANGEABLE AND UNLIVEABLE.

.....WENT TO A JUNKYARD AND TOOK OFF THE CAN & PIPE PART AND TOOK IT HOME. WHEN I LOOKED INTO THE CAN PART FROM THE TOP ALL I COULD SEE WAS A LARGE FLAT PIECE OF SOMETHING THAT HAD MELTED. IT HAD ABOUT EIGHT VERY SMALL HOLES TO LET OUT THE GASES. IT WAS VERY CHOAKED OFF.

.....I BROKE THE MELTED PIECE UP AND TOOK IT ALL OUT. I TRIED IT ON MY CAR. TO MY SUSPRISE THEIR WAS NO REAL DIFFERENTS IN POWER???? THE CAR DIDN'T GET BETTER GAS MILEAGE. THE ONLY IMPROVEMENT WAS THAT THE HEAT WAS MUCH LOWER UNDER THE HOOD. (IT ALSO RAN LOUDER). I ONLY RAN IT FOR A WEEK. I BELIEVED I WOULD SEE MUCH BETTER OPERATION OF THE MOTOR. I DID NOT AND I DON'T KNOW WHY. ALSO MINE WAS NOT AS BAD, BUT HAD STARTED TO MELT AS WELL. I GAVE THE PIPE TO THE PERSON WHO TOOK THE CAR. I DO BELIEVE,... THAT A HEADER SHOULD MAKE SOME DIFFERANCE. I HAD A C-5 AUTO. I REALLY LIKED THE CAR BUT DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE WITH THE CANNY THINGEEEE..!!

.....I DO HOPE YOU CAN TAKE IT OFF OR MODIFY YOUR EXHAUST SYSTEM. IT WILL HELP ON THE REPAIRS THE HEAT CAUSES.

LOTS OF LUCK....LOL

LIVE IN GRACE

LEROY POLL

 

[FastRonald]

8) My oldest Son's first car ( he still has it ) is an 1981 Granada GLX with a 200. We removed the muffler and welded a section of exhaust pipe in it's place. A modest gain.

I rebuilt the carb and used a larger jet size, very nice power gain.

We added a conical air filter with a 3" intake tube, more power.

We'll be adding a dual exit header with new 2" i.d. convertors and stainless exhaust.

The car runs much better. At one point it would smoke the tires down the driveway! HOWEVER.........that jet size bogged the car at city driving speeds as when the e.g.r kicks in, it went way rich.

We plane to add later model Mustang spindles and larger disc brakes and maybe rear discs too.

We have converted the car to five lugs front and rear with Ford parts.
( we can help with getting the parts cheap )

We'll be adding a carb from a 250 sometime soon as well.

 

[CZLN6]

Howdy Tom:

You '81 has three ( or more) major problems that will limit performance. 1 the restricted exhaust manifold, 2. retarded cam timing, and 3. reduced compression. Each can be addressed and resolved, but will require an effort.

The exhaust can be retrofitted with a stock type cast iron exhaust manifold from a '68 to '72 piece and a new 2" exhaust system with a turbo type muffler. Or, better yet, at greater expense, a header system.

The cam itself is probably the best stock cam available for a 200. The problem is in the cam gear and timing. FoMoCo chose to retard the cam timing by altering the cam gears. The solutions is to replace the cam timing gears and chain with a set from a pre '72 200 engine.

The final hurdle is the compression- or lack of it. This solution is a valve job type fix requiring the removal of the head. This is a good factory head, but can easily be made better with a 3 angle valve job, back cutting the intake valves, milling to compensate for the new, thicker head gasket and to increase compression to the 9:1 neighborhood (stock is listed as a very optimistic 8.2:1). A mill cut of .025" for the head gasket and another .050" to get back to the 9:1 range. I'd also add an exhaust port divider while the head was off. Doing the head will make the single biggest improvement of all!

With these issues out of the way the next issues will be dealing with the rather restrictive #1946 Holley carb, by replacing it. I'd probably opt for a Carter RBS for an increase in cfm and an easier configuration.

The final issue is the TALL, TALL, gearing in these cars. Most came with a 2.79:1 or so, rear gear. A 3.08 or 3.27 would be much more performance frendly without ruining the highway cruise experience or mileage. Fox bodied Mustang stuff is a good source.

Maintain your ignition system and air cleaner system as these are hard to improve on.

Enjoy the journey.

Adios, David

 

[Anonymous]

I have already replaced the carb with a carter from an older granada that had a 250. I have the timing up to a slight ping when I put regular in it. The engine runs smooth, dosn't smoke or make any weird noises. This car makes a 350 mile trip on weekends and has been very reliable. besides that I like this futura sports coupe. Its black with red interior. I just can't get it to run as good as my old 78 zepher with the same engine, tranny and rear. The only difference that I know of between these two cars is the exhaust converter and manifold that now has no insides in it because I thought that was the problem. It will barely hold 55 on steep hills, 65 in passing gear (or second) I'm planning on some upgrades soon but I want to find the problem first. Is it possible that the big manifold is causing the problem? I can look in it and see the center exhaust ports. In fact I could probably stick my fingers in them! also, I've noticed that the center spark plugs were running lean at the last plug change. What should the compression be for this year 200? Is it still possible that I need a valve job?