Projects Worst Engine Ever. *update on why I dislike Fords*

Hello and greetings,

10+ year lurker here. Own a couple AMC Ramblers recently picked up this gem of a 52 ford customline. As you can read by the title, this is by far the worst engine I have ever seen in over 16 years of working on cars.

Does anyone know if a ford 300 I6 will swap 'easily' into the old car?

 

The image you posted does,nt show up. Maybe to big . I take it your cusso is a straight 6 then and not a V8.

 

Welcome.

Searching usually yields something on the subject...whatever the subject is....

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/300-6cyl-in-a-shoebox.1081901/

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302 V8 is a bolt in.

 

Since the image didn't display..is it a 6cyl, or V8?
If you are referring to the Flathead V8, I'm sure some would say "worst engine ever"..just as I'm sure many would say it's the "best engine ever".
Isn't traditional Hot Rodding great?
Like everything else in this world we all have our own opinions, which of course is as it should be.

 

I have changed the permissions on the image, I hope it shows up now. It is the old 215 inline 6, by worst engine ever I mean to say its rusty. Owner said it was running 25 years ago and parked in a barn.

 

Blow the rust off, a couple cans of PB Blaster and some ATF and Diesel fuel, soak 'er down and bust 'er off! Should run like a top! (equivalent to "that'll buff out!)

 

is it stuck? or does it turn?

(yeah, silly question...but.....)

 

Looks like brand new carb on it. Hmmmm, putting the cart before the horse on this one.

 

I'd run it.



The 302, that is.

 

Not quite. There's just a little more to it.
A 223 would be a direct bolt in. Sometimes you can find a good 223 almost free. Then again, the cheap running 223s are like cops. You only see one when you don't need one.

 

Looks can be deceiving. The rocker assembly may be toast but it could be a viable engine that needs less than you think. It's worth pulling and going through, or at least pulling the head and trying to turn it.

 

Yeah, a little Bardahl's will fix that right up. Tell 'em Ed Justice sent ya!

 

Looks more like he parked it in a boat house...

 

Truth.

I would vacuum that out, and tear it down. It won't take that long.

It might be better than it looks.

 

You can have a lot of fun with the first generation Ford OHV Six.

 

Love um or hate um…..no middle ground.

 

289 or 302 would be my first choice but a y block would look great in that compartment.

 

Don't know about worst, but it sure is ugly.

 

Under the boat house

 

I'll take the carb! Seriously!

 

or it could be worse than it looks.....like this DeSoto a friend picked up 20 years ago. Looked great on the outside.

 

What do you plan for the car to look like when its done? What do you plan to do with it when its done?

 

Engine patina. New carb, but someone had some difficulty with the fuel line?

 

Check the oil before you crank it over.

 

Yes, sir that is one ugly engine, however it's not a 215. It's a 223 which may have been an option or probably a replacement part. The 215 had half the valves in the block and half in the head. It was only used in '52 and as a "service replacement" for a few years if memory serves. They weren't much good. My neighbor has a '52 F-1 with one of the 215 engines. It will run but it's no good.
You should make up a display and take it to shows. You would surely win a prize of some kind. Or be kicked out.

 

that motor is perfect for a 'patina' build. Do what they do... just cover it with oil and display it proudly. Remember, it's only original once. Any other option won't be considered HAMB friendly.

 

Say WHAT????????? I own a '52 215 and it does not have anything like that. Are you thinking of an F head Jeep engine? Please post pics of said engine....

 

Man, that's pretty rough. How does the rest of the car look? Like has been said a 289 or 302 is a good swap or sometimes you can find a good 215 or 223 someone is pulling out.

Either way you should be able to part some of that engine out. The carb looks like a newer replacement. The intake and exhaust manifold if not cracked will probably sell.

 

At least someone has gone to the trouble of numbering the plug leads so that will make getting it going a lot easier LOL.