Good evening, My son parked his 76’ Maverick before his deployment mid last year. It has a lot of blow by and we plan on rebuilding the 302 (or finding one). I have a friend with a 302 that we are likely going to look at and he also has a Clifford six cylinder. I don’t know anything about them other than what WIKI tells me, I was just curious how common or desireable they are? TIA Chris
for the people unfamiliar with "Clifford", there is lots of info bout this unique story - to start: 'Clifford' has been a supplier of after market speed equipment for inline six performance building of many different genres' for decades. . "Clifford" speed equipment appears on/in many unique performance builds of all kinds of six's. . The 'Clifford" organization has evolved. Originated by Jack Clifford a renown engine builder who consolidated supply of parts for six cylinder enthusiasts. Evidently Ford small block engines were built in the Jack Clifford shop. . . Any engine BUILT by Jack Cliffords' shop is very unique and to a small society are most desirable .. . '61 Comet 'rescue' was built around a Jack Clifford shop built Ford small block 250 - was still in crate - originally built for clients' Maverick. Artwork to me ... . . . . . . . . . hav e fun
Which 6cyl is it? Small ones are 170, 200 & 250 with the big boys being 240 & 300. The large 6cyl were never used in Maverick. Many have converted to V8 but rarely, if ever to 6cyl. In either direction, there are several differences in mounting the I6 vs v8.
might be just a 'Clifford' valve cover or full tilt race build . unknown what was actually built by the Clifford shop, definitely 'small block six' 250 - always wonder what else ...
Ford products include 200(apparently 250 as well), 240/300, and the 223 that was discontinued in 1964. If I remember correctly, there was a 261 truck version of this engine. https://cliffordperformance.net/store/ols/all
Thanks for the great info. My son still wants the 302 power, I was more curious about getting both engines and selling the Clifford six. Thanks again. Chris
Ford products include 200(apparently 250 as well), 240/300, and the 223 The "Big Block Sixes" are dominated by the 'universal' 300 and similar earlier 240 and 223. . The "Small Block Sixes" started with Falcon/Comet 4 Main bearing 144 , and 170 upgraded to 7 main 200 used from @ 65 thru Fox Body Mustangs in all Ford lines . The Small Block 250 is a Stroked version of the 200, uses same cyl. head on almost 2" more deck height with V8 block Bell/FW/starter/trannys ... 200 and 250 rods:
I'm familiar with the various Ford 6cyl. Had a '57 Courrier with the 223. Buddy had a '61 Falcon with the 170 & three on tree, for the time, a peppy little car. Traded it for a '63 Futura Fastback with 170 & the two speed automatic. While it was sporty looking, as far as power, horrible. Next door neighbor bought a new '64½ Mustang with the 170. Another friend had a '61 Falcon with the 144 and three on tree, not exactly a ball of fire(we replaced it's short block). In HS, I took a job after school at a TV shop, service truck was a '63 Econoline van with 170 and again three on tree. When I went to Sears in '69 all the service fleet were 6cyl. They did have a few '66/'67 small Econolines with the 240, those things would scoot. Due to one of the techs getting fired, I lucked into a new '69 Dodge with the 225 slant 6. Was OK but couldn't touch the 240 Econolines. About three years ago my wife wanted to look at a '62 Comet with the 144 & automatic. She'd owned a '63 S-22 as her first car. I couldn't convince her some memories were not to be relived. Anyway, we rode about 75 miles to see the Comet and it had some issues but not horrible. Of course, it had manual drum brakes and manual steering, basically a chore for a 64 year old woman to drive. After a five mile drive on a twisty country road, she didn't want any part of it.
My Maverick was originally a three on the tree 170. Gutless. Upgraded to a 250 with a Clifford cam, dual outlet headers and a Weber DGAV. Headers eventually burned through. It wasn't bad on power, but not great. Stroked and injected '89 Mustang 5.0 was a huge improvement. Should have went V8 instead of 250. Up in the attic is a set of Clifford headers and a reground cam for the L134 in my '47 CJ2A. Micah
