I have a 63 fairlane with a 260 and a 64 with a 289. Both have the 5 bolt bell Under the valve covers 289 is cast in the head the 260 engine dont have those cast just blank. The 260 has the oil fill in the front cover the 289 has it in the valve cover. both have generators. OldWolf
The official engine code for a 260 in a mustang was the letter F, but I am mistaken in suggesting that it was a regular production piece for 1965. If one were to look in the factory shop manual for 1965 there is no F engine code listed, although there was some production overlap there was no 260 actually listed in the shop manual. As far as factories needing to get units out during mustang mania, I doubt they twittled there thumbs waiting for 289's in those early days of 1965 production.
If it is and an automatic, it'll have a ford-O-matic (2-speed) attached to it. It's a one piece automatic tranny case. I think 289's came with a C4. If the engine is still in the car just check the shifter detents.
You are mistaken. For 63 1/2, the Falcons got the 260, the Fairlanes got the 289 hipo and the Galaxies got the fastback and the 427. Falcon didn't get the 289 until at least 64, maybe 65.
You are correct on the "F" code for a 64 1/4 Mustang 260 2V. The 64 1/2 Mustang owners manual is different then the 1965, in that the 64 1/2 lists the 170 6 cylinder, 260 and 289 V8s. The 65 lists the 200 6 cylinder, the 289 2V and 4V V8s, and the Hipo 289. As for the Falcons and Fairlanes, I'm not sure what they had or not. I know my dad had a 64 Ranchero with a 260 2V
perry i couldn't send a note to you, don't know how, it doesn't matter what motor is in a car, the big thing is to drive and enjoy, i have had a lot of fun with my ford in a ford, and i am not sure what will happen to my brothers stuff, it shocked all of us, i still keep expecting him to drive up. talk to you later.
So can someone confirm that the 1962 221's had red valver covers for a fact and were the air cleaners painted the same color? Also what color valver covers and air cleaner did the 1962 260s have? Pictures would be great, I did a search and couldnt find much..
All the 221 l have had which is a fair few did not have red covers. the 221 had light blue covers. in some fairlanes they had a green/gold type of colour. The 221 and early 260 had 2 welsh plugs. both of these had very large water jackets and are not good for reboring. The later 260 with the red rocker covers has 3 plugs and went to the smaller water jacket which is the same as the 289. so infact the late 260 engines can be bored to 289 to make a standard bore 289 !! The quick way l have always checked was 221 and 260 had no cast marks on the head. 289 and 302 were cast into the head.
Mercury had different colors than Ford. The Mercury 221 in '62 was yellow. The Ford 221 in '62 was light blue. The I6 for '62 was red (almost looks orange) 260 didn't really come out until '63.
Thanks for the info guys! I thought that most the early 221's had light blue valve covers as well, thats why I was questioning when someone said red.. I have never seen that green/gold color or yellow, pictures would be cool if anyone has them. However I thought that some 62 Fairlanes had an option for the 260??
The 260 used in the Sunbeam Tiger had 3 freeze plugs per side. They were made by the industrial division after the passenger car 260 was discontinued. You are unlikely to come across one of these, however. Steve
My brother had a 63 1/2 sprint. No chrome valve covers. I had a 64 Fairlane with the hipo 289. Gold covers. The casting numbers and the mount measurements are the sure way to tell.
just curious - has anyone ever heard of or seen a 260 mated with a three speed auto from FoMoCo? I have heard rumours of 1963 & 1964 Galaxies with the combo, pre-1965 Comets with them and, today, Falcon vans with the pairing. Does anyone have firsthand experience with the combo or is it just a myth? I seem to remember 1963 1/2 Falcon Sprints coming with the 260 and a four speed standard so I'm thinking damned near anything might be possible?
Can't say for sure about the automatic question, but I owned, and recently sold, a '63 1/2 Falcon Sprint with factory 260/4 speed trans. The trans in it is an iron case Borg Warner T-10.
If every thing is original look at the carb it will be a 2100 and behind the carb the spacer will say 221,260, or 289. You may have to raise the tab on the gasket.
You can't go by valve cover color. Both 260's, our 63 Fairlane's are red and our 64's are blue. 260's are thin wall blocks, so prior to any boring a sonic check for wall thickness is highly recommended.
Firsthand experience here. My dad dealer ordered a 1964 Mercury Comet with a 260 V8 and 3 speed Automatic Transmission. The car was handed down to me in 1968 after he bought another new car. I had to replace some burned pistons, and it was definitely a 3.80 bore 260 cu. in. engine. The air cleaner and valve covers were both blue. Not the darker Ford Blue, but the lighter shade Ford Blue. Hope that helps some.
The first (64.5) Mustangs had a 2 bbl carb 260 as the base V8. It could be equipped with the 3 speed cruisomatic (C4). These would be the early generator equipped cars. The 65, alternator equipped version had a 2 bbl 289 as the std v8.
I bought a 63 fairlane wanted the engine thought maybe a 289. Had a 6 bolt bellhousing that I also wanted. When I got the engine out had a c4 trans. The top end heads and front had oil fill. Then to my surprise I pulled the starter and found it was a 77 block 302. so you never know for sure.
The 260 showed up mid year in 62 the 289 mid year 63. The 5 to 6 bolt change Aug.64 not to say there were not hold over units used in 65 production.
There's your answer, as the Mustang never got the Ford-O-Matic. I had a 64 Comet, factory 4bbl 289/Cruise-O-Matic 3 speed. And it was a 5 bolt bell. Rebuilt both and put 'em in a '64 Falcon. Hadda change the column for proper shifting. Cosmo
FWIW, circa 1973, for a while at least, there was a red '65 Mustang running around Oakland, CA with a '65 Tiger 260" in it. I built a 302" for my Tiger and swapped in the 260" for a guy to finance the build. Fast forward forty years and the Tiger has come home again, still with the same 302" block and crank in it, so the Mustang may be out there also.
The 260 V8 was introduced mid '63 for the Falcon. You could only get it with a 2 barrel carb, single exhaust and of course, the generator. (I drive a '63 1/2 Falcon Sprint.) The V8 also got you 5 bolt wheels. The "Sprint" 260 came with chrome valve covers (Sprint decal on drivers side only), a chrome, open, air cleaner (similar to the later 289 HiPo) and if it had power steering it also got a chrome lid.
Took delivery of a 64 1/2 Mustang convert in May of 64.. Had a Ford blue 260/2V and 3 speed trans and 5 lug 13" wheels.. All black and wish I had it back...
Pretty sure the 221 and 260 were introduced with the Fairlane in 62. The 260 followed in the Falcon application a year later. An earlier post alluded to a 260/3 spd auto option in the Econoline. The early, first gen Econolines never had a V8 option. The 302 was an option in the second generation econoline (68).
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