Engine interchangability 1962 221 Vs 1963 260

[doberdawg]

I know it is a step backwards but I just bought a 63 Ranchero with a factory 260/4 speed. The motor just spun a bearing. While looking for a good 289 or 302 I am considering putting in a 221 from my 62 Meteor parts car.(equipped with 3 speed OD tranny). I will use the T-10 4 speed.

My questions are: Is anybody familiar enough with the 221 & the 260 to know if I am looking at any modifications to be able to use the 221? Will exhaust manifolds swap? (the 260 has dual exhuast). Will the T-10 fit the Bell-H & are the flywheels likely to be the same size? Or is there reason to use the Bell H & Flywheel from the 1963 260???

The 221 has only 40K original miles is the reason, that & nobody seems interested in buying it at any price, but if the EZ swap I anticipate should have me up & running a cool rust free ride, while I find $$$$ to build or buy a permanent replacement. Also, I have heard that the 260 is not a worthwhile engine to build (if this is not accurate, I have a couple other 260's worth looking into) Unfortunately here in California machine shop charges make building engines only for the rich:((( Thanxxx this might be an enlightening thread:))))

As the 62 Meteor is still drivable, I hate to pull first to compare if some of you have the answers to GO - or STOP.

[w2zero]

just be sure that the hole in the bell matches the bearing collar on the transmission. That is about all I can recall being a possible problem other than keeping the flywheel and front pully/balancer with the original engines.

The 260 doesn't lend itself to much upgrading in part because of the heads. The tiny bores won't accept much bigger valves without machining the cylinder. It can be done but I would only do it for a concours restoration on a 260 Cobra. Shelby was very happy to bump up to the 289 and get rid of the 260 because it had far greater potential to work the heads amongst other things.

[doberdawg]

If the main advantage of 289/302 over the 260 are heads, wouldn't one just put different heads on from 289 or 302? I had heard that the 260 had a weaker Crank?? Do you know & How is the 221 different other than cubic inches? thanxxxxx

[w2zero]

221 is internal balance. The 289 and 302 heads would drop the compression a lot. Plus the valves would hit the block. Keep your original heads on the engine put a small 4bbl carb on it. Beyond that it gets more expensive and the return isn't that great. Rear gear selection would have a bigger impact with the 4 spd and a 4bbl and free flowing exhaust.

[doberdawg]

I was afraid to do much to the 221, but you think it would be ok to put a small 4 barrel on it? The only thing I had planned was to put the dual exhaust from the bad 260 on - BUT - the 260 does have a small 4 barrel.

 I thought the mention of swapping to 289/302 heads was on the 260 (not the 221) - you said that the heads were the problem of hopping up the 260 so I asked about 289/302 heads on a 260   Is that doable, or also a bad idea???

The 221 is very low mileage & I hadn't planned on messing with the heads. I do like the idea of the small 4 barrel since I have one handy. But you did mention something that troubles me, & that was keeping flywheel on original engine. I thought one often swapped flywheels to enable bigger clutch/p-plate. I am guessing - just guessing - that the 62 221 with a 3 speed OD tranny & the 63 260 probably have the same size clutches & flywheels, though the 260 was rebuilt & hopped a bit so may have a bigger than stock flywheel or clutch. I will ask tomorrow. Car was bought new by John Brookes, then to Jr. then to the 3d, & his son (the 4th??) was driving it when the bearing spun, so family knows it's entire history. I had planned on using whichever Flywheel allows the bigger (probably still small) clutch. You say not a good idea?

In about 18 hours the 63 Ranchero with the spun bearing in the 260 is being delivered. Then I can actually compare the 221 & 260 & all components. I haven't heard it run, seller says it needed full re-build even before spinning the bearing. He would not allow me to start it until after I bought it, then why bother. The exhaust pipes were full of dry hardened oil deposits so I was not concerned with the engine, just the VERY rare original 63 V8 4 speed Ranchero. It's 260 had one full rebuild several years ago. I am looking for a good strong used 289 or 302 instead of cost of rebuilding a 260. California Machine Shop charges precludes me building an engine. Heck, I may (probably not) even be satisfied with the 221, especially with the dual exhaust & 4 barrel. Mostly, I cruise in my 100% original 53 Mercury Monterey If I want fast, my 57 Ford Custom 300 with a 428 Cobra Jet/C6 is my ride.

I didn't even know Shelbys ran a 260, or that 4 barrels were ever available (from Ford) on 260's.

[roy]

My first Fairlane was a 62 Sport Coupe, one owner 36,000 mile beauty, I knew very little about Fords & their motors, thinking I had a 289 I dropped a 650 Holley/cast iron intake on it, with 1.5" dual exhaust, bumped the timing a bit & the results?
Terrible fuel mileage! turned out to be a 221 c.i., bolted on a tiny 4-barrel, 4-something cfm & it was a sweet running little mill,
but you couldn't say it was quick by any stretch of the imagination.
I think you have the same issues with either the 221 or 260, bores just aren't big enough to bolt on a good head with larger valves as they will hit the top of cylinders.
Plus, Fords thin wall casting design back then, means you can't over bore these little mills very much, start having cooling issues.
Buddy has a 260/4 speed Falcon sprint, did some head porting & with a little 570 carb, duals its a pretty quick little Ford

[doberdawg]

Roy, my big question right now is: Can the 221 handle a small 4 barrel - or am I better off with the original 2 barrel? I don't care about a power house, but I have many carbs/manifolds. I intend to drive while I look for a good deal on a good used (not for rebuild as California Machine Shops are not affordable)289 or 302. Even then not looking for a race car. It is going in a 63 1/2 Ranchero 4 speed, (factory 260 - 4 speed). I have a couple running half wore our 260's but the 221 is lower mileage by far. thanxxxx

[w2zero]

Like Roy said, a tiny four barrel would be okay but barring that, just stick with a deuce and dual exhaust. Biggest problem with an aftermarket manifold on those heads is the intake runners in the manifold will be way bigger than the intake runners in the heads. Pretty much stuck with improving the breathing in a couple of low key inexpensive ways. Open element air cleaner and dual exhaust. There is really no cost effective way to get much more out of it in my opinion since even the itty bitty four barrel is going to cost an arm and a couple of fingers unless you get really lucky and stumble across one.

[doberdawg]

I will probably be ok with the 2 barell - what is an open element air cleaner? I will try & google "open element air cleaner". thanxxx

[doberdawg]

Oh, I guess my Edelbrock is open air. So, I alreadyl have dual exhaust & open air A/C Think I will stick with the 2 barrel at least for awhile.

[roy]

Dober- Actually, if you can find a 450-500cfm 4 barrel for your 22l, you will be good to go.
Surprisingly, with the little 4-barrel, you will get better throttle response & better fuel mileage
with the 4 barrels smaller primaries, that is, as long as your not flooring it all the time,
Duals, glass pacs, a 221 sounds pretty sweet!
I gave my 221 to a guy with an early Falcon, this was 10 years ago & he;s still cruising with that 221!

[doberdawg]

How can I tell what model a Holley is? We think a 260 came off of the 260 with spun bearing & surprise the car has roller rockers!! I am 90 % sure the engine & heads are the original ones rebuilt ground up 20 year ago. I understand 260 is not the block to go with for rebuild, or much modifying. That said, what do I do with the rockers & possibly heads? What do I keep with them -numbered (for exact location)push rods or just roller rockers in a box??? Never saw any before??

[roy]

Holley carbs all have a List # on them, get thjis & you can go to Holleys site & find your exact carb you have
Itso n the face of the inlet horn, when your facing the carb
Tells you year, CFM, size
Are you talking about keeping your valve train parts in order?
I know its common to keep pushrods, lifters, rockers to the cylinder they came off
wear patterns I guess, personally, I always loose track after a few months !
Other than a hi-performance motor, I wouldn't worry to much re -your 221 or 260