200 ford strait six

Will a 3 speed transmission from a 1970 200 ci inline six bolt up to my 144 ci motor

 

It should.... They are pretty much externally the same


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to the best of my recollection, it will work. you'll probably need the earlier bellhousing.

 

It may - if you can find the correct bellhousing. But not with the original one from behind a 144 using the small Falcon transmission some call a 2.77.

I have a 200 in my 1960 Ranchero. I used a bellhousing and flywheel from a 1967 Mustang and have a toploader overdrive transmission from a late 1970s pickup behind it. That transmission mounts the same as the 3 speed you are talking about.

 

Cool thank you guys for the tips much appreciated

 

It depends on a couple of things. The 200 is a two bolt pattern block. It has a small bolt pattern for a 8.5" clutch and a larger pattern for a 10" clutch. Whether or not the 200 trans with fit depends on which bell housing it's using. The 144 just has the small bolt pattern. Transmission is different as well. The big bell trans has a longer input shaft than the little bell transmission. So, you can't just bolt the 200 trans to the 144 bell. Hope this helps.

Duane in Tennessee

 

So if it has the smaller bell housing on the 200 transmission it should fit ?

 

That is right. But, Most 200's I've seen have the big bell. Seems the 200 likes the 10" clutch.

Duane in Tennessee

 

Okay well lets hope I get lucky and find one with a smaller bell housing haha what's the best way to measure them and figure out which is which?

 

NOPE! After '67 Ford ran the big bell and 10" clutch across the Falcon and Mustang and later Maverick lines. The late engine would have both patterns so it would be possible to fit the earlier bell housing to it, but not the other way around. The best way to go would honestly be to ditch the 144 and buy both the 200 and it's three speed and bolt them in. you'll want the trans mount from whatever you got the trans from as well.

As a side note, there is actually one way you COULD do the deal the other way. Early "heavy duty" Ford Econoline vans used a small bell housing with the larger late trans bolt pattern on it... Now just try finding one of those! Trust me, you are much farther ahead going with the 200 swap...

 

I also vote just changing over to the 200.. I have one in my daily driver truck and it is a great motor... I drove a 140 car one time and was not impressed, and it was a WAY lighter car.

 

Best part of a 200 swap is you can make them look like their 144,170 siblings with just some paint and decals. All oil/air filters, and essential gaskets match up.


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