Does anyone know of any differences that would hamper a swap of a 55' pickup 223 into a 63' car?. Just wondering if everything is straight forward. My 63' engine is tired (or a turd) can't start it, compression very low and look like at least one valve stuck down and struck a piston. The 55' engine runs and is inexpensive. Down the road I am looking to either rebuild original 223 or swap in a period correct 260 or 289 V-8 but I don't have the time to get into a rebuild right now. Thanks for any guidance guys
Ford did the OHV 223 in 1952, 51 was the last year for the flathead. I always assumed the 223 was the same throughout and was replaced by the 240/300 in the Trucks and the 170/200/250 in the cars. Have been wrong before though....
Yes same same. OHV with a combustion chamber that eerily resembles the flathead and 4 main bearings. If you’re going to keep the period correct 6, look for the 262 heavy truck motor.
The 52 ohv six was actually a 215. It was enlarged to a 223 a couple of years later. There was eventually a raised deck 262 for use in trucks, based on the same architecture. The 215/223/262 four main bearing family was replaced by the 240/300 seven main bearing six cylinder family in trucks and full sized sedans in 1965. The small six, ie 144, 170, 200, and raised deck 250 family first came out in the 1960 Falcon(144), and was ultimately offered in the small and intermediate cars, Fairlane, Mustang, Maverick, first series Econoline, and fairmont / Granada. It was never offered in full sized sedans.
Where I am out right now is I would like to keep current 3 speed w/OD and have been looking at engines that share the same bellhousing(5 bolt). This is the 215,223, 260 v-8 and early 289 v-8. I have been unsure of the 262 but likely it would also have the same bellhousing. Have not found a 262 yet and I have been looking. Bought an early 289 engine with the 5 bolt housing and also a 260 block will be purchased soon as it gets out the Falcon it is in.
Yes, the Y blocks may also have the 5 bolt, not sure. I would not want to go further back in time with a Y block v-8 though, or further back than I am already with the 223.
As far as I know, only the 215, 223, 262 engines shared bellhousings. I have never heard of the 260, early 289 having the same bolt pattern before. I would be interested in knowing if you find that to be true. To answer your original question, yes. The cylinder head is different but should create no problems, the block should have everything needed to bolt it up. Save everything from both engines until you are finished. In swaps like this you never know which part you are going to need off which engine. Lou Manglass
What about mount bosses - how many locations over the years ? I gave a guy a '54 pickup 223 for the '59 Edsel he was "working on" & he said it wouldn't fit ....
I believe you are correct, the 3 sixes you mentioned did share same 5 bolt bell housing. The 260 and early 289 engine blocks were also 5 bolt bell housing engine(s) and will work neatly with my tranny but they are different as far as 6 vs V8 due to starter, flywheel. At least this is my understanding. I would like everything from bellhousing back to stay the same.
Yes, I did note the valve cover and head were different. Also I have a "silent lash" valve train apparently which the earlier one did not have which is not really relevant to a straight engine swap I guess. On the 5 bolt housing, I have already bought a early 289 with the 5 bolt block , as opposed to the 6 bolt block. That will be down the road project. They discontinued that particular 289 block in early 64' but some still made it into Mustangs. The 260's which only made it into early Mustangs before the 289 replaced it always had the 5 bolt block
All of the truck 223's used a bolt on hoop style single front mount. I don't recall how they were mounted in cars but both the early and late style engines have threaded mount bosses on the sides of the block.
The cars have L&R side engine mounts located pretty much in the middle of the block. That’s why the Patriot truck header won’t fit in a car unless you modify it… which I’ll be doing this summer
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