A Ford 300 inline six would be a beast in that car. Unfortunately, it's too large (too tall, too long) to fit in the engine bay (unless, possibly, a lot of sheet metal mods were made).

A 250 will be about 2" taller than the smaller 200, 170, etc. six cylinder engines.  Using Maverick engines mounts will drop the 250 low enough to fit under the hood. The 250 is also a little longer than the other smaller sixes and likely to necessitate the use of an electric cooling fan.

Just a vehicle of interest... High 10 second turboed 250 in a '63 Falcon. Turbos make everything faster. 


http://www.myrideisme.com/Blog/green-gas-runnin-ford-falcon-turbo/

Stick to the 200! What the heck, it'll be unique (these days), an easy fit and plenty fun with plenty scoot! Build it right & tight and balance it good and 7k+ rpm is easy-peasy with that bottom end (7 vs. 4 main bearings). It's only maybe a 3000lb car, even loaded with Dynamat, AC, etc. Those current gen M-whatever Bimmers are running straight sixes and weigh a lot more'n that - smoke 'em with a antique! Just don't over-carb it...

Last edited by McStang (8/06/2014 8:43 PM)

5.0 or 200.  Nothing else will change much.  The 200 with a five speed will cruise along at 80 MPH very smoothly and get great mileage.  Any six you put in there will be heavier and still sound like a six.  I think you will spend at least double what a good used 5.0 roller would cost you...

I love the 63 Falcon Sprint.  Great looking cars.

And a KILLER 63 from Cali:



http://www.carcraft.com/featuredvehicles/ccrp_0807_63_ford_falcon/

Butt (TS&T) I still think a six could be bad-axx...

For the intermission: A great on-track vid of the owner/builder of the above with a happy passenger = mucho smiles per miles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vtiBHqgeqKQ

Butt finally the feature-film / real deal on-track opus featuring epic battles is at the link below. The passing of two at 9:20 is as good as it gets and after that the rest of the carnage is just icing on the cake. I would like my next build to be a '63 Falcon. If it were hyped by a six-banger that dusted the big guys that would be pretty eff'in OK butt I might wimp out and install a v-8.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gmcBNJgtQts

I agree with most of everything that is being said, and I know I could throw a 5.0 in it, shoot theres one of those sitting in the corner of the shed right now, but i have the 5.0 (331) AFR heads and all sorts of go fast goodies in the 68 coupe. I want something different that may also be more effecient while still being fun to drive.

Mustang Steve did we really need the aluminum 427, heck no, but its different from all those other windsor based motors. I may be suprised when done, but i know i wont save any money but i THINK i can do the six banger project for the same money as the V8. From what i have read the six is about 85-100 pounds lighter, and once i change to an aluminum head and intake that will help some more (I know I could do the same to the V8), trying to be different.If I build it with a V8 it really wont be any different than my Mustang.

I am not looking for 250 horsepower or more, I want 175-200 Horsepower to the rear tires, 200-250 lbs TQ, all at a low RPM range and with a flat curve. I want a silky smooth idle, set at 180 degrees in traffic, and while maybe unrealistc, with the 5-speed and about a 3.00-3.50< I would like 25-30 MPG at 70 MPH. 

I want to focus on Steering, braking, reliability, handling, and the different/cool factor.

I have been on and off this site for years, and part of others. This site has the best group of people I have ever seen, everyone is mature and more than willing to help, and able to tell someone there is a better way to do something without talking down to them. This is the only car site that i will let my three sons have access to, and my 12 year old reads it daily.

By the way guys, my wife (Martha) says i'll swap the six out for a V8 with-in six months of finishing the six banger, may haft to stick with the six just to prove a point.

I am picking the car up this weekend, my thoughts are as follows:

The car looks fairly well from 10' away, so I will work on the mechanicals this fall and winter, so its ready to drive by spring. Then I can drive it next summer to work the bugs out, maybe make next years Bash trip.

After next summer, take everything apart and repaint, and freshin up the interior.

Why not consider the best trashed out running late model Mustang v-6 you can find and transplant the entire drivetrain?  

I think that would be different.  And cool.   And fufill all your requirements to boot.  

Ive always wanted to do it.   

I took my drivers test in 1965 in my brother's shiney new Mustang coupe with the 6 cyl and 4 speed. That car was just flat out fun to drive because it handled so well. We did the Shelby drop and stronger springs (lowered) and sway bars. That thing would turn out from under you. We added a panhard bar to keep the rear tires off of the fenders and such too. When I finally got to drive a friends 289 HiPo, I thought this thing is a pig! With all the weight up front it just wasn't the same. I would stick with the 6 and the 5 speed.

Maybe a straight 6 BMW or Nissan engine.  Something modern that will really move and get some mileage.  Don't forget the Fast N Loud 63 Falcon race car...

You'd start with something like this:

http://www.cumminsdieselspecs.com/4bt.html

Here, they're mating a cummins 4BT with a vintage Bronco...

http://www.dieselpowermag.com/tech/0905dp_cummins_diesel_engine_swap/?__federated=1

How about a crown vic? We're getting closer..

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LYAnvSEVLBY

And finally, a mustang, kind of... Not really...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C7KpE_ag0Us

You wanted non-conventional... :-)

I'm really lik'en that diesel idea!! Huge torque curve and tall rear gears= great MPG!
Plus when you stop at a truck stop for FUEL....all the good old boyz will be all over it!!
6sal6