A
Anonymous
Guest
New here, but got a Mustang Six history question.
Back about early in 1965 FMC was pushing the big six in their advertisements for the Mustang just for a few months only. About same time was a few paragraphs here and there that the new Mustang was going to replace the Falcon in European Rallies. Due to gas mileage, it had already been decided that the six was better than the V-8 for them. Those same magazine paragraphs mentioned several specially modified (and unique?) 200 engines were being built by some noted specialist engine builder, just for the European races.
I used to live within eyesight of Riverside Raceway, and one early spring day going to work I saw a bunch of notchback Mustangs going around the course, each with a number on the doors. I quickly rolled open the windows to listen, but did not hear the normal V-8 exhaust sounds. Racing section of newspaper mentioned that FMC was testing a few Mustangs in preparation in being shipped to Europe for competition. (Those at Riverside?)
Now decades later, my six was pooped. Looks to have been rebuilt a number of times by a sloppy machinist. My (now dead) friend from the old 1970's Ford Drag team did some telephoning and found a hottie six for me that only needed reburbishing. It was last raced in late 1960's then the engine pushed under a bench. Sold to several others time after time, one of which must have sold off the cylinder head.
What I finally purchased just a couple of years ago, was told to me to be one of those rally six cylinder (seven main bearing) engines, without the modified cylinder head. The seller was located only 20 miles from the Riverside Raceway, and did not know if it actually went over to Europe, or was considered one of the spare engines. Inside this engine was a work of art. Near everything was polished. I used my own standard head, carburetor, and oil pan which after painting sort of detracted from the appearance and effort put into it. But, it works good, bolted right on to my items, and installed just fine.
I would like to know if anyone has heard of these special six cylinders. I presume that not too many were built, for the V-8 was overall a better investment.
Am having troubles in setting valve lash now too. It has mush lifters, but with the solid type rocker arms. The rocker arms on a steel shaft with an adjustment at the end like as used on the 170 CID engines, not via the center individual stud so popular into the 1970's. Via an old FMC publication on how to modify the V-8 260, it says to set gap at about .100" and that will center the lifter into the range. I used this. Should I have? For never saw anything printed on this engine.
Too obscure?
Wm.
Back about early in 1965 FMC was pushing the big six in their advertisements for the Mustang just for a few months only. About same time was a few paragraphs here and there that the new Mustang was going to replace the Falcon in European Rallies. Due to gas mileage, it had already been decided that the six was better than the V-8 for them. Those same magazine paragraphs mentioned several specially modified (and unique?) 200 engines were being built by some noted specialist engine builder, just for the European races.
I used to live within eyesight of Riverside Raceway, and one early spring day going to work I saw a bunch of notchback Mustangs going around the course, each with a number on the doors. I quickly rolled open the windows to listen, but did not hear the normal V-8 exhaust sounds. Racing section of newspaper mentioned that FMC was testing a few Mustangs in preparation in being shipped to Europe for competition. (Those at Riverside?)
Now decades later, my six was pooped. Looks to have been rebuilt a number of times by a sloppy machinist. My (now dead) friend from the old 1970's Ford Drag team did some telephoning and found a hottie six for me that only needed reburbishing. It was last raced in late 1960's then the engine pushed under a bench. Sold to several others time after time, one of which must have sold off the cylinder head.
What I finally purchased just a couple of years ago, was told to me to be one of those rally six cylinder (seven main bearing) engines, without the modified cylinder head. The seller was located only 20 miles from the Riverside Raceway, and did not know if it actually went over to Europe, or was considered one of the spare engines. Inside this engine was a work of art. Near everything was polished. I used my own standard head, carburetor, and oil pan which after painting sort of detracted from the appearance and effort put into it. But, it works good, bolted right on to my items, and installed just fine.
I would like to know if anyone has heard of these special six cylinders. I presume that not too many were built, for the V-8 was overall a better investment.
Am having troubles in setting valve lash now too. It has mush lifters, but with the solid type rocker arms. The rocker arms on a steel shaft with an adjustment at the end like as used on the 170 CID engines, not via the center individual stud so popular into the 1970's. Via an old FMC publication on how to modify the V-8 260, it says to set gap at about .100" and that will center the lifter into the range. I used this. Should I have? For never saw anything printed on this engine.
Too obscure?
Wm.
