260 Performance

[jay123]

OK everyone. if you have a good running 260ci in your Meteor and would like to pump up the horses, read on..

My '63 S-33 has a good 260ci which I would like to improve the ponies on. The factory 164hp is OK, but more power is always good.

I did some searches for ford 260 in Google and remembered that Shelby beefed up a 260ci for the Sunbeam Tiger. This little car had a version of the 260ci that produced 245+ horses.

According to my research, the 260ci was basically a HiPo 289.

It used:

-bigger valves,
-solid flat-tappet cam,
-cast iron headers (HiPo 289);
-hirise aluminum intake, and
-four-barrel carb

Everything that Shelby used in the HiPo 289, was first done on the 260ci.

I hope to update my 260ci with E7 HO heads, an aftermarket cam similar to the 289 HiPo, but hydraulic-not solid, maybe some HO factory headers, a Performer intake, and a 450 - 600 CFM carb.

These upgrades should bring the ponies up to at least 225+.

Just an idea for all to contemplate....

[ca]

they had the advantage of REAL gasoline in those days and bumpin the compression ratio really bumps the HP.without gettin crazy you could clean the heads up in the combustion chamber,clean the throats up just behind the valves n do a little polishin.then shave the heads a little and you'll probly get over 260 with the right manifold

[STU]

E7 heads on a 260, I wonder how the 3.80" bore would handle the chamber setup for a 4.00" bore....hmmm.....My vote's for HP:

Hooker super comp headers - A MUST - I love mine
Ported heads - even the stockers - screw in studs too
Mild cam swap, maybe even a roller swap.
Weaind action plus or stealth intake
Holley 600 carb.
Electric fan - save a few ponies there too. ;D

[ca]

shoulldnt be a problem,but make sure the valves clear the top of the smaller(3.8 instead of 4.00) cylinder bores

[w2zero]

I think Shelby had to put valve reliefs in the extreme upper cylinder walls to clear the bigger valves. Once the 289 was available he dumped his 260's. You might consider a Professional Products intake that is a clone of the Performer, less expensive and polished too.

You can't do much with the original heads except throw money at them and when you are done.......they are still 260 heads. A rumpety cam requires screw in studs and a lot of much cheaper late model heads will make more power than the 289 hipo's with less work and cash. Milling the heads is a great way to get more power for less cash and you aren't tossing $$ as a head without hardened seats.

[jay123]

I had some time to do some surfing and found this link. This guy did some work on his 260 and got some pretty serious numbers out of it.

Check it out:

hometown.aol.com/bigpunmic/

[ca]

you know this guy lives bout 20 minutes from me. probly seen the car at shows, Route 66 etc.

[eflow]

There is some serious work and a few bucks on that 260. For one thing it's closer to a 302 since it's been stroked. I would say more than some work.

Not quite "restored" though.

[merc63]

my old 260 had 65' 289 heads on it. it ran ok