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1/01/2015 12:37 AM  #1


six cyl. ford motor identifying

i have a 65 fore mustang coup base  model with a six cyl. that i was told  was a 200 when i bought the car  and the vin  id is a t which is a 200 ci.  however i want to know what other way i can determine if it s a 200 or a 170 or 144 with out tearing it down.  liike  what numbers i should look for on the block or other ways to identify  the motor.   any information you guys can send my way  will be greatly appreciated.
thanks jim 

 

1/01/2015 12:23 PM  #2


Re: six cyl. ford motor identifying

Well, the only visual I can think of offhand without tearing into the engine at all, is look at the side of the engine and count the freeze plugs.   All the 144, and 170 blocks only have 3 freeze plugs, but so do early 200 blocks.

However, starting in 1965, the engine was redesigned a bit to give it 7 main bearings instead of 4, and all these engines have 5 freeze plugs.  

If your engine is stock and original AND a 200, it should be one that has 5 freeze plugs.


If multiple things can go wrong, the one that will go wrong will be the one that causes the most damage.
 

1/01/2015 1:12 PM  #3


Re: six cyl. ford motor identifying

As I recall all the straight sixes from the 144 to the 300 are interchangeable.  If its not a 200 it might be a later model engine like a 250.  Personally I think there's no replacement for displacement, but if you want it to be the original engine that might kink your style. 

 

1/01/2015 2:28 PM  #4


Re: six cyl. ford motor identifying

The 144, 170, 200, and 250 are interchangeable. The 240 and 300 sixes are a different series and do not really fit into the vintage Mustangs. If you have a row of 5 freeze plugs down the side of the engine, you probably have a 200. Might be a 250, but that requires Maverick motor mounts to get the hood to clear since the 250 is an inch taller than the 200.

Edit:
I missed the '65 part. If the engine is original, it could be a 200 and be a 3 freeze plug (could also be a 170). In that case, you will have to check the casting numbers. I don't have my reference books handy, but if you can find the casting numbers we can look them up for you.

Last edited by Hornman (1/01/2015 2:35 PM)

 

1/01/2015 5:41 PM  #5


Re: six cyl. ford motor identifying

You learn somthing new every day.  What were the major differences between the two series?  Just curious really.  I always liked the 300.  We had a couple in trucks, and I swear they made more low end than the 302 V8s.  The last one we had was EFI, and that one was a real torque monster.  I always thought it would be cool to see an EFI 4.9 in an early Mustang.  I know, V8s make more power ultimately, but everyone has a 289-347 (myslef included, no judgement).  I just love seeing cool, unusual swaps. 

 

1/01/2015 7:39 PM  #6


Re: six cyl. ford motor identifying

.

.
the 5 freeze plug 200 has 7 main caps the others have 5.

scroll down half way to block casting numbers

http://www.classicinlines.com/SmallSixSpecs.asp


.

 

1/01/2015 11:56 PM  #7


Re: six cyl. ford motor identifying

The 250 is a larger block with a bell housing with the same bolt pattern as the V8's. I had a 200 in my 68 and I put a 250 out of a 79 Mercury Monarch in. I had to get different engine mounts out of a 69 which were very hard to find and the block was so long, I couldn't put a fan on my water pump because it was too close to the radiator so I installed an electric fan in front of the radiator. I tried a set of mounts out of a 74 Maverick and they didn't fit. Best thing that ever happened was I spun a rod bearing in it. I pulled it and installed the 351W. Much better deal all around.

Last edited by Ron68 (1/01/2015 11:59 PM)


68 coupe - 351W, 4R70W, 9" 3.25 -- 65 convertible - 289 4v, C4, 8" 3.00
 

1/02/2015 1:03 PM  #8


Re: six cyl. ford motor identifying

TKOPerformance wrote:

You learn somthing new every day.  What were the major differences between the two series?  Just curious really.  I always liked the 300.  We had a couple in trucks, and I swear they made more low end than the 302 V8s.  The last one we had was EFI, and that one was a real torque monster.  I always thought it would be cool to see an EFI 4.9 in an early Mustang.  I know, V8s make more power ultimately, but everyone has a 289-347 (myslef included, no judgement).  I just love seeing cool, unusual swaps. 

The 240/300 are significantly different from the 144/170/200 series, a visual difference is the integral head/intake manifold of the 144/170/200 series.  The 240/300 was used in Ford's full size cars and trucks, the 144-200's were used in the Falcons, Mustangs, Comets, etc.


65 Fastback, 351W, 5-speed, 4 wheel discs, 9" rear,  R&C Front End.
 

1/02/2015 6:14 PM  #9


Re: six cyl. ford motor identifying

So likely not a bolt in swap.  Good to know.  A project I'll never get inovled in anyway (probably have enough unfinished ones now to last the rest of my life and maybe my kid's).  But its always cool to daydream. 

 

Board footera


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