Anybody else have a soft spot for the lowly Ford Windsor 260 engine?

Seems to be quite a bit of interest in 289 & 302 Ford small blocks. My first car back in the 60's had a stock 260. Most all the 289/302 stuff fit that engine. After upgrading the intake, exhaust, cam and valvesprings, it spanked quite a few larger ford motored cars. Eventually that 260 expired and all the good stuff was transferred to a 302 long block, but it wasn't as much fun as beating guys with the itty bitty 260. Still yearn to get an old Falcon or Comet again with a souped up 260. Maybe I'm nuts lol. --- Steve ---

 

I love the SBF's I have a few 65 fords and older. I keep thinking I will have a 260 but the older I get the less there are out there. I have had a 65 fastback since 82 but am sure it had a 289 in it. It had a later 302 in it by the time I purchased it.

 

Ive got one in a 63 fairlane. 2 bbl engine . hasnt been started up in 25 years. they have a 5 bolt bellhousing. the 221 260 and early 64 289 engines all have that now rare as hens teeth bellhousing. I also have a 64 289 with the odd bellhousing. I once had a 221 that engine put more blowby smoke out the oil fill pipe than the exhaust and the exhaust was great clouds of blue smoke. I tore it down and every piston had burnt to where the top ring was visible. Probably caused by incorrect ignition timing. I hauled the 221 off for scrap. wish I would have kept it.

 

I just bought a non-running 1963 Fairlane with a 260 and 3 on the tree. I am told and believe it to only have 24K original miles. I am hoping to grow to love this old thing. I know I love the look of the car just need to kill some surface rust and get her back on the road.

 

Everybody was telling me there was nothing you could do to get any decent power out of a 260. Just yank it out and put a decent 289 or 302 in it they all said. You know how a challenge like that is for some of us. The old 260 got .040 milled off the heads & bigger valves installed. An Edelbrock F4B aluminum intake and 550 cfm Holly 4bbl were added, along with a TRW .480 lift cam, anti pump up lifters, dual point dizzy, Cyclone headers and dual Thrush mufflers. Lost horsepower under about 2500 rpm, but would sing from 3000-7000. Shut up all those guys but one who barely beat me in a 289 271hp hipo Mustang. 260's could be built into nice little mills, 29 cubes isn't all that much to make up anyway IMHO. --- Steve ---

 

I've got one sitting under my workbench, together with the 2 speed automatic.

The 5 bolt bellhousing is a major drawback.

 

The 260 has a pretty good racing history and was also used in a few European sports cars...

 

Good Point ... I had almost forgotten about that. I got a local round track racer & fabricator to help me convert from 3 speed auto to a Cougar 4 speed. He had to redrill the bellhousing and fabricate an adapter plate. Cost me a few coins, but it really helped the little 260 get moving quicker from a stop. --- Steve ---

 

I worked at a Ford dealership in 63-64 and got to drive a lot of the very first 260 powered cars Ford was putting out. Falcon Sprints and Fairlanes. The ones with four speeds were surprisingly quick and one got me fired because I got caught running it wide open down an access road behind the car lot. But it sure was fun.

Don

 

I still have 2 - 260 SBF's under my work bench sitting beside a old 283 SBC.

I keep saying I gonna do something with them but the keep gathering dust. HRP

 

Been enjoying mine for 300,000 miles now!!!

 

My 260 took me a lot of miles.

 

Had a '64 Ranchero with a 260 and 3 speed. Ran like a bandit and got 20 mpg. Really a great driving vehicle.

 

My friend Gary Williams bought a Falcon Sprint with a 260. Replaced it with a 427 hi rise motor. It was a lot faster. I dragged the 260 home and it sat in my garage until Aug. 2011 when I took it to Bonneville and gave it to Dr. Mayfield. Who has the worlds fastest Sunbeam with a twin turbo 306 inch SBC. A little over 200. This year he is running the 260 to make E/BFMS. So if you want to see a fast 260, see you on the salt. PS I have the stick bellhousing for the 260 still and it's for sale.

 

I'd love one sitting in the engine compartment of an AC Cobra or a Tiger.

 

This is my Falcon. 1963 1/2 260, 4 speed, Factory over the counter Tri Power.

 

Bonneville aside, I seem to recall those first Sunbeam Alpines were plenty peppy - being such light car and all. I'd even bet a 260 would be fun in a short little 100" WB modified. Heck, I think I'll add the 260 to my list of mills for my A coupe. Gary

 

They're not that rare. I've seen three or four 5 bolt standard shift bell housings at the swap meets so far this year, and last year, I paid a guy $25.00 for two of them.

 

My wife had one in a '63 Fairlane wagon while we were in College. Then one summer, I swapped in a 271 HP 289. I also had to swap the trans for a C4. The motor had been rebuilt and her Father paid $300 for it. Then she traded it in on a new car. The dealer gave her $150 for it. I was pissed.........

 

I can't count how many 260's I had and tossed, but that was when they were all over the place..I even had a 5 bolt 289 HP, spun main..I managed to sell one head and lose [ya, when I was 40 years younger too!] the other..

 

Didn't the first Cobras have 260's or were they all 289's?

 

Thats where mine came from---AC COBRA

 

I am currently rebuilding one for my 63 Meteor. I also bought a back up core motor for $40. Before the original decided to lose a bearing it made decent power and mileage. I plan on keeping it as long as I can.

 

Yes they did.

My friend has one for his 64 Ranchero, and one in his restored Sunbeam Tiger

 

i once had a 5 bolt bellhousing for a c4 automatic. Came from a 64 galaxie wagon. I sold it to a hamber.

 

On my way home from work today I seen a beautiful red '63 with a 260.. We both gave each other the "thumbs up" as he passed me up..

 

Here's another look at the Ford small block tri-power intake setup...

 

These 260 pics are making me drool. 260's around here were just considered the little red headed step sisters to the almighty 289's back in the day. Nice to see you guys giving them the love they deserve. --- Steve ---

 

Drooling over this car & engine too. Don't know why the pic didn't come through from page one. --- Steve ---

 

This is how I fixed that.





The adapter plate makes a T5 bolt up to the early 5 bolt bell.

I had it in my wife's '63 Falcon.

But she wanted an automatic, so I had to start over to again to get a C4 in there.

( the 5 bolt C4 bell and converter are a little hard to find, but I was able to piece a set together )