Cylinder Head Gasket...

Discussion in 'Technical' started by Buck62, Jun 17, 2017.

  1. Buck62

    Buck62 Member

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    I get all your points. But, we would still have to build a V8 motor because we're not throwing an old engine in the car without completely redoing it.
    That means we have to rebuild the trans. Which means we also have to get a better rear end.
    That means we will go down the endless Road of constantly chasing more power and spending more and more money to get it.
    Not to mention all the down time of the car sitting in the garage.

    Another thing to consider is that I bought this car for $2,900, and we may not keep it after a few years.
    So, why would we want to spend 7 or $8,000 on the mechanical part alone? Nobody ever seems to recoup their investment.
    Right now, we have a nice running inline 6 with only 68,000 riginal miles. We intend to keep that original motor and nothing is going to change that.
    Everyone and their hair stylist swaps out the motors in these cars. We don't want to be like everybody else.
     
  2. Krazy Comet

    Krazy Comet Tom

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    Install a 4:56-4.88 rear gear...

    It'll feel like you added 50Hp(well maybe 35), lay large patches of rubber but probably won't run over 70-75 mph...
     
  3. Buck62

    Buck62 Member

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    I agree!!

    That's something that would be on our radar after the initial mods because it's affordable and a relatively easy swap.

    Good call !!
     
  4. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

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    there's a reason why they they do this...:huh:

    "we're not throwing an old engine in the car without completely redoing it."

    I thought you said you're not building the old 250, just adding performance mods.
    without a cam and gear change with that head and carb change, that 250 will be less than it was to start with..JMO
     
  5. Buck62

    Buck62 Member

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    I took a massive beating in a divorce 3 years ago. So we're doing what's affordable and what is within our mechanical limitations.
     
  6. Powerband

    Powerband Member

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    ---- 1976 Comet --- 1974 Maverick- - '61 Comet T'Bolt Six ---- 'quite a few projects ...
    I run a 170cid and two 250' small block sixes in varying degrees of modification.

    Enthusiastic engine builders , machinists and fabricators are using alternative inline sixes & eights', diesels Turbos, Superchargers and even hybrid setups and may soon become the real performance build challenge. Pricey crate or V8 build option is a simpler alternative but yields yet another Ford 302/C4 or GM 350/350 car in the shiny but monotonous show/cruise displays.

    The 250 has similar torque capabilities (rubber patch ability) as the 302 in stock trim. Fords' small block six inline was built for maximum MPG with least amount of emissions and Ford money spent on warranty repairs. With a littel inexpensive help the 250 can be re-tuned for maximum performance with some sacrifices on MPG and MTBF. Getting the questionable 'factory tuned' 250 to meet original performance specifications may release a lot of power hidden by poor tuning. The anvil strong 250 can take a lot of 'upgrade' power before needing big money extensive mods. Matching the capabilities of the torquey sixes to the drivetrain is the real key.

    Simple 4-Main Maverick 170 in my daily driver can accelerate and cruise at interstate speeds with ease with stock internals and stock camshaft. Modifications made to 170 are cyl head worked with back cut valves., V8 springs and .070 milling for @ 9.5 SCR. Completed with Hooker long tube headers and progressive 2bbl (H/W 5200) the torquey little 170 spins a T5 Overdrive tranny through 3.50 rear gears.

    I run a NA 250 in an early Comet with extensive performance mods including AMC 258 pistons, 274' cam, Holley 3X1 Tri-Port with 2300-4412 500cfm on a hi-rise tunnel ram or 3 Holley singles, dual out Hooker headers, extensive porting with oversize valves and extensive internal's beefing. With a 3.80 posi , T5-Z and traction devices the car is built for smoke at the burnout-box, launches all day and still driveit home with the 250 .

    My current small block six project is a Mav' 250 with a Vortech Supercharger. Stock block and cam with the head simply freshened but not milled yields @ 8.7:1 SCR with composite gasket. I first built the project with a Buick derived Turbocharger on the original 250 in the Maverick. With the T3/Draw-thru/Quadjet setup, I increased the boost incrementally until the piston lands broke off at @ 20PSI of boost. Current 250 SC blo-thru setup uses stock 250 internals with the freshened head and I keep boost to @ 10PSI max until I can afford forged pistons. I use a heavily modified (inexpensive) Holley 2300-7448 350cfm carb with a PV operating only with boost. Ignition advance control and stock exhaust with sensor for mandatory AFR gauge keeps detonation destruction at bay. Still have the 3.03 3OTT and 2.79 rear while completing engine tuning but can "lay rubber" in any length or gear.

    A stock 250 with careful tuning and mild carb and ignition mods and reasonably sound drivetrain is a good start to finding out how far - and how fast ($$) you want go....


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    HAVE FUN
     
    Last edited: Jun 28, 2017
  7. Buck62

    Buck62 Member

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    Hey Powerband... Thanks for the EXCELLENT informative post!!
    You totally nailed it about people dropping a small block V8 into just about everything. My son and I recently attended a car show where 90 percent of the cars had V8 motors and we liked the inline 6's better because they were less common and more creative.
    I've done my share of V8's in my lifetime.
    Being dIfFeReNt has a nice appeal to it.

    I love what you did with those sixes!!
     
  8. maverick5.0

    maverick5.0 Member

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    250 with a Vortech Supercharger !!! neat, love it !!!
     
  9. Buck62

    Buck62 Member

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    Okay, so I'm resurrecting this old thread because we're going to be doing some mods this summer to our 250 motor.
    A year ago I had bought a Granada with only 70K miles with a great running 302 with an Edelbrock hi-rise and a Holley carb for the V8 swap, along with the engine and frame mounts. But my son wants to stick with the inline 6 and put money into the front suspension and steering instead. But the Granada yielded a nice disc brake set-up for us, which we've already done the conversion. Definitely an improvement!!
    We've already swapped out the pig and the Comet now has a 3.80 posi and it's no longer drivable on the highway. But, I also have a rebuilt AOD (sitting in my garage) that's ready for installation, which should make the car more drivable.
    The only thing is that I can't run the Comet with a mostly stock 250 (save for the Pertronix ignition) with that big gear in the back and no HP to push it. (You gotta draw the line somewhere!)
    We already have the I-6 headers and I also found a '78 big log head from a Fairmont that I got for cheap.
    I'd like to do the following to the motor...
    *Better cam
    *Port and rebuild the big log head, including the 2V conversion
    *New carb (or possibly EFI)
    *Headers

    But, I have to admit that I'm intrigued by the Holley Sniper 1100 EFI on the big log head. I'm just curious about the reliability issues.

    What do you guys think???

    Oh, btw, we got a nice, low mileage 302 motor + new engine and frame mounts for sale! ;)
     
  10. dyent

    dyent Member

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    For all the money you have spent or will spend on the 250, should have just installed the "great running 302" with all the goodies from the Granada and be done with it! You already had the 302 and monies already spent on the 250 could have went towards the front suspension, JMO..............
    David
     
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  11. Buck62

    Buck62 Member

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    I know... but a LOT has changed. The car had a fender-bender and we had the chance to get an awesome custom paint job for an incredibly cheap once-in-a-lifetime deal, so we went for it. Now that the car has been completely redone on the outside, my son, (who was a high school junior at the time, but now a college sophomore) said his priorities changed and he just wants a nice, reliable running good-looking car.
    We both want the practical things.... suspension and steering upgrades... but we don't want to take a chance at banging up the fenders and destroying the nice body and paint work by doing a full engine swap. I've been down this road before with prior builds, and it's nearly impossible to do a full engine swap without accidentally dropping a wrench on the fender or whatever.
    Anyway, I'm the one who's pushing for the engine upgrades, because it should run "decently" and not be a slug as far as performance goes. Doing the top end of the 250 would be a nice compromise and I'm not as financially strapped as I was 4 years ago.
     
  12. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

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    Doing the top end of the 250 still leaves the same chances of messing up the paint job...:huh:
    do the V8 now or later, it's going in anyway.
     
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  13. Powerband

    Powerband Member

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    2017 >>> 2021 !!!

    Encouraging to hear you also are still running on 'only' six cylinders. There is no explanation for keeping the 250/4.1 six except for your own satisfaction. You can still 'drop a wrench on it', but I'd be more worried about a splash of brake fluid which appears is already upgraded.

    Upgrades to the top end only will limit the capability of the six but will enhance drivability without diminishing the 4.1's reliability. Since this old post, my SC'd 250 Maverick has had the forced induction tweaked to optimize 'capabilities' no matter how hard I've hammered it!. Nicer driving with '76 disc brakes, suspension lowered and alignment tweaked, and overdrive T5-Z tranny .

    With the better wheels and TA's, clean original bench seat interior, 'tucked' big bumper, and false Grabber striping ( PO done), real interest is often shared with ' builders' as they yawn past the endless 350/350 and 5.0/C4 clones.



    [​IMG] . [​IMG] . [​IMG] .. [​IMG]. [​IMG]. [​IMG]

    Hav E fun

    .. also added a project '66 Ranchero 289/C4 that I'm building a radical turbo' 200 to drop in.

    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Apr 16, 2021
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  14. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

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    my opinion of a hopped up 6 banger is...they're trying to make it run like a V8...:huh:
     

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