Auto History – Page 10 – Average Guy's Car Restoration, Mods and Racing

Engine Mini-Series Ford’s Small Block V8s Part II – 260 CID

By Tim Sweet | June 15, 2016 - 1:54 PM |June 15, 2016 Auto Restoration, Car Technology, Carbs, Classic Car Restoration, Classic Cars, Ford, Muscle Cars, Mustang

2 Comments

Welcome back. I’m continuing on with the Engine Mini-Series – Ford’s Small Block V8s. This post covers the 260 CID.

I did mention I’d touch on the 255 but that is really out of chronological order and was merely a muted 302 used on for 3 years. It was dropped for poor performance.

So following the 221 engine (to see the post click here) was the 260 CID. This came about after the poor performance of the 221 and even with the release of a tweaked version. Enter Ford’s 260 CID. It retained the same intake and exhaust ports as the 221, the valves were larger (intake was now 1.76 and exhaust was 1.45). With it’s bore increased to 3.80 with no change to the stroke the engine put out 164 hp (about 20 more than the 221). It had a plane jane hydraulic cam and a compression ratio of 8.7:1 and capped off with a two barrel cast iron intake and carb.

The 260 was the engine Carrol Shelby used in his original Cobra and it was selected by the British car maker for the Sunbeam Tiger.

Shelby’s 1962 Cobra

1962 Sunbeam Tiger with Ford 260

The 260 was in service from 1962 to 1964 and it powered the likes of the Fairlane, Meteor (at least as an option), Comet(at least as an option), Falcon and in 1964 even the Mustang 64 1/2 (F code cars).

Engine was an overhead valve, Cast iron block with a bore and stroke 3.80 x 2.87 and Compression ratio 8.8:1 with 164 hp. It held 5 main bearings, hydraulic lifters and Autolite 2 bbl carb (Model C40F-9510-B) (Mustang configuration). The 260 was also called the Challenger 260 and could to be found topped with a Holley 2bbl Carb vs. the Autolite.

1964 Ford 260 V8

Next up the Engine Mini-Series Part II the 289!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

STangATWork

Engine Mini Series – Chevy’s 283 Prt1

So far my writings are about engines have been ones I owned and the 283 was the engine in my very first car. It was a 1966 Chevy Impala. It was a gift to me for my 1976 high school graduation. The car was restored by my father, who was …

Engine Mini Series – Chevy’s 283 Prt 2

Oh yes, believe it or not, the 283 put the Corvette at the cutting edge of performance in 1957, fitted with the RamJet FI (fuel injection) system (“fuelie” was the gearhead term for that). In 1958 the 283 was the base engine for the Corvette, but the 283 that use …

Engine Mini Series – Chevy’s 283 Part 3

This is the part of the engine series where I list the uses for the power plant. The 283, as I mentioned, carried Chevy engines to the next level, by being the first engine that car manufacturers were able to coax out the same horsepower as the displacement. From 1957 (its …

A Couple of Mustang Things – Line-Lock and Mustang Crossing

By Tim Sweet | June 13, 2016 - 7:17 PM |June 13, 2016 #ProjectSportsRoof, Antique Cars, Auto History, Car Restoration, Classic Car Restoration, Classic Cars, Ford, Ford GT, Muscle Car Restoration, Muscle Cars, Mustang

1 Comment

As I work on getting more restoration work on #ProjectSportsRoof I thought I’d share a couple of Mustang things that popped up.

There are a number of reasons I love Ford products, in particular Mustangs. One of those is the fact that it didn’t need the bailout money a few years back, choosing to tough it out and some of the innovative/purposeful special purpose options.

I recently received my Ford Mustang ‘Go Further’ brochure. I’m not including the 310 hp they are dragging out of the 2.3L EcoBoost (I’ve often said “I don’t want anything on my dash that says Eco!!!!” but wow to the 320 lb-ft of torque. Don’t even think bout the 435 hp and 400 lbs-ft of torque from the 5.0L in the GT…come on!!!! I can do with out the heated and cooled seat…meh… However, the Track Apps, MagneRide and launch control are bomb.

The most #awesome purpose built is the Electronic Line-Lock!!!! Come on…that’s what every weekend racing warrior (and spirited every day driving!!) wants a car manufacture to be thinking about!!! The Electronic Line-Lock keeps the front brakes locked while you ‘warm up’ the Mustang’s rear tires….come on I don’t have that in my Corvette!!! But maybe I can figure it out for my 1973 ‘Stang.

It looks something like this…exactly like this:

Here’s a great little destination (after you warmed up the tires). Located at the corner of “No Where” (Hwy 90) and “U’r Lost” (Hwy 82) is this little place called Mustang Crossing.

Great place for a 1973 Mustang photo shoot!!!

Thanks for stopping by. More coming up on #ProjectSportsRoof.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

#ProjectSportsRoof

1973 Mustang Project SportsRoof – Exterior Walk-Around

Welcome back to #ProjectSportsRoof. I run my car projects much like I run my IT projects. You always have to know where to start and know the end game. As with any project that isn’t being built from scratch, in other word, you have to work with what you’ve got, …

Northern California Cars – Driveby (VW-Hot Rods) and U.S. Coast Guard TRACEN

By Tim Sweet | June 9, 2016 - 8:55 PM |June 9, 2016 #ParkingLotSpotlight, Auto History, Auto Manufacturing, Auto Restoration, Car Restoration, Hot Rods, Muscle Cars

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Every now and then I get to tag along with my wife as she hops around the country working on Interior Design projects for her employer Aviar Design (a commercial design firm).

This trip was to Petaluma, Ca, where beautiful farmland meets redwood forests meets the beautiful Pacific Ocean. It also the home of U.S. Coast Guard TRACEN training center and some awesome cars.

But first a shout out to the often unsung heroes – the men and women of the United States Coast Guard. They keep our coast lines and your families safe!! After nearly 35 years of being assigned to and around military installation all over the world (both Jill – ret. E8 and I -12 years- are USAF veterans) I think the Coast Guards training facility in Petaluma is one of the most beautiful anywhere. The facilities are top of the line, the installation pristine and teeming wild turkeys, deer and a host of woodland animals. We’ve enjoyed our both are trips there. The hospitality was unsurpassed. Thanks warriors!!!!!

SEMPER PARATUS

Let’s talk about cars. Although not as plentiful as you might see in Southern California (we lived there for 4 years) but they are there. We didn’t have the time for stop and photograph all we was but there are some awesome trucks (hey…it’s farm country) and a lot of hidden gems with tons of potential. After all this is where they filmed portions of the awesome car movie – American Graffiti. Just outside of Petaluma, there’s a farm with a 69-70 Mustang tucked under a cover to protect it from the marine layer as it rolls in and out of the farmland and redwoods. The hills are dotted with homes that have 1950-1970 truck parked under over or in full service.

Here are a few I was able to get a few shots of some for the unique motor cars.

Take this 1930’s Ford Hot Rod – straight out of the move American Graffiti!!!

Check out those headers!!!!

I had to get a shot of the vintage tread, redline, red steel and wiiiiiiiiiiiiide white walls!!!!

A little further up North in the Anderson Redwoods we ran into the a 9 hole golf course tucked between redwood trees..what????? Parked in the parking lot was a good example of the 1980’s Firebird TransAm

Crager SS mags, fender scopes!!!

There were a huge number of VW vans – heck it’s California after all. There are the traditional VW buses and the Westfalia van’s every where – still! Check out this drop side van.

Nicely restored!!!

Framework is there for the canvas top.

One of the coolest we notice was this work in progress.

Citroen Van

The owner has plans for the French work horse as it’s clearly under surgery. Think of the possibilities:

This is just a sampling of the car culture in Northern California. I’m hopping to make it back there with a couple of days free to just explore and peak under some of those car covers.

Thanks for reading.

Tim

1973 Mustang SportsRoof

1973 Mustang SportsRoof – Floor Pans Getting To It! – Part Four

By Tim Sweet | April 19, 2016 - 7:52 PM |April 21, 2016 #ProjectSportsRoof, Auto History, Auto Restoration, Auto Technology, Car Restoration, Classic Car Restoration, Classic Cars, Ford, Muscle Car Restoration, Muscle Cars, Mustang

Driving a 1929 Detroit Electric Model 97

By Tim Sweet | April 5, 2016 - 1:40 PM |April 5, 2016 Auto Restoration, Car Restoration, Car Technology

Engine Mini-Series – Ford’s Small Block V8s Part I

By Tim Sweet | March 30, 2016 - 2:51 PM |April 1, 2016 Auto History, Auto Restoration, Car Parts, Car Restoration, Ford, Muscle Car Restoration, Muscle Cars

2 Comments

I haven’t done a Engine Mini-Series in sometime, I find readers like the Engine Line Up posts a lot, so I’ve stuck with that. They are quick and fun pieces to research and write.

SEE A NOTED DEVIATION IN THE COMMENTS BELOW.

I received a request from a reader (motown_missile) from the /r/classiccar subdirectory over on Reddit, who read my latest Engine Line UP post, for something on Ford small block V8’s specifically the 221, 260 and 289 engines. So I thought yeah that’s a great idea!!! But it didn’t really fit how I structure the Engine Line Up posts and then I recalled doing these mini-series and that fits the request. Thanks motown_missile!!!!

Now the Ford small block V8 label (also called the “90 Degree V8s”) covers a few rare engines (limited production/limited use), one of the most iconic and some real workhorses. The engines that fall under this designation are 221, 255, 260, 289 and yes the 302 and even the 351 Windsor (not the Cleveland). I’ll cover each one in separate posts.

The Ford small blocks were designed the end of the 1950’s put in to production cars in 1962 the first and smallest (20 inches across and only 475 lbs) and it displaced 221 cubic inches and so designated as the 221.

The 221, in 1962, had a compression ratio of 8.7:1 with a bore and stroke respectively of 3.50 x 2.87. It sported two-bolt main-bearing, cast nodular crankshaft (only 37 lbs), cast aluminum pistons, hydraulic camshaft and individually mounted iron rockers. The cylinder heads were wedge-shaped and the intake valves were 1.59 in. and the exhaust valves were 1.39 This was all topped off with a cast iron two barrel intake manifold and it produced about 143 hp @ 4,500 rmp and 217 foot lbs of torque @ 2200 rpm. For 1963 it remained about the same with a slight increase in the bore and stroke (3.75×3.30 inches) producing a compression ratio of 8.8:1 and 145 hp. Both years were topped with Holley carbs.

The 221 is one of the rarest small block. It saw only 2 years of production use (1962 and 1963) and you could find it in the Ford Fairlanes and Mercury Meteor. If you want to know if your 62-63 Fairlane or Mete0r originally had a 221 check the VIN for the code L ( C – 1962 export or 3 for 1963 export).

Nicely painted 221 V8

1962 Mercury Meteor 33

1963 Ford Fairlane

Next up will be the 255.

Thanks for reading and if you have any input or pic of your own 221, drop me a note a AGCarRestoration@cox.net. Comments always welcome!!!

Tim

Out and About!!!
#ProjectSportsRoof

ford 221 v8 engine

Engine Line Up – 1947 Chrysler

By Tim Sweet | March 23, 2016 - 10:56 AM |March 23, 2016 Antique Cars, Auto Restoration, Chrysler, MOPAR, Muscle Car Restoration

1 Comment

There’s not a huge fan club for the 1947 Chrylsers. They were huge cars weighing well over 3,000 lbs, 18ft long and room for the whole family. With names like Town & Country, New Yorker, Windsor, Saratoga – these car did demand respect.

1947 Town and Country – that sub-model name was used a lot by Chrysler

You’d think they’d have huge engines to push these around town but the engine line up for 1947 consisted of only 2, one 6 cylinder and one 8 cylinder.

The 6 cylinder was called the Royal/Windsor engine. It was an L head, cast iron hunk of metal. With a bore and stroke of 3.438 ” x 4.50 “, five main bearings, solid lifter it displaced 250.6 cubic inches. With the compression ratio at 6.6:1 (rather low) and topped with various carbs (B-B EV1 or Ev2 or E7L4 – for the fluid drive and B-BEx-1, EX3 or Ex2 for the manual shift) it managed to put out 114 HP’s.

Flat Head L6 Chrysler engine – powered some of these giants.

The 8 cylinder was labeled Saratoga/New Yorker. It was a flat headed iron blocked L8. The bore was smaller than the 6 cylinder @ 3.25″ and the stroke was slightly higher @ 4.875 (nearly 1/2 an inch higher), creating compression ratio of 6.7:1 and displacing 323.5 cid. It had solid lifters and five main bearings and took in air though a B-B E7A1 carb. This all produced horse power of about 135 @ 3400 RPMSs

1947 Chrysler Saratoga/New Yorker L8 engine

I really enjoy doing Engine Line Up series of blog post. Hopefully you do too!!!!

Thanks for reading.

Tim

Engine Line Up – 1946 Packard

I love writing Engine Line Up pieces. I learn a lot doing the research. Back in 1946 there wasn’t a lot of imagination when it came to naming cars. Packard either named their cars after the engines that powered them or their engines after their car models plus the cylinder count. …

Engine Line Up – 1949 Chevrolet

1949 was the first year after World War II where Chevrolet did a complete maker-over of its offerings, meager in terms of variations as compared to what they would become in the next decade. With only the Special Series 1500 GJ, Deluxe Series GK, each with a Fleetline and Styleline …

Engine Line Up – 1956 Hudson Part I

Think there was much of a choice of engines back in 1956? Well there were a few for the 1956 Hudson. As was custom back in the 40’s and 50’s, the engines were often named similar to the model of the car they powered. For the 1956 Hudson, the company had …

Engine Line UP – 1964-1966 Griffith

Ok…how many of you stopped to Google Griffith? Not a commonly mentioned classic car, right? Well the Griffith was developed by a Ford dealer, Jeff Griffith. It was a tubular frame with a British TVR body bolted on. He produce the cars in that configuration, until the source of the TVR bodies …

1973 Mustang Sports Roof – Vacuum System Part IV

By Tim Sweet | February 27, 2016 - 9:50 PM |February 27, 2016 #ProjectSportsRoof, Auto Restoration, Auto Technology, Classic Cars, Ford, Muscle Car Restoration, Muscle Cars, Mustang, Project Car

1 Comment

This will be a longer post as I finish up the vacuum system on #ProjectSportsRoof, the 1973 Mustang Sports Roof. We have to make a repair, hose to the master cylinder, charcoal filter, and the transmission.

Take a look at the broken vacuum “T”:

So from the broken “T” I moved to the master cylinder and then to the transmission and finished off with the charcoal canister.

One final task to finish up the vacuum system and that is the charcoal canister that is supposed to catch the fumes from the gas tank.

Back at the beginning I mentioned that I need to get this done because the Stang was coming due for its renewal and smog check. Just a couple of days after finishing I planned driving over to the emissions testing facility and I got my renewal notice via email. Here in AZ you can register you car online after you pass your smog check. The notices normally tell you that a an emissions test is required. My said “No Emissions” required!!!!!!! Well the vacuum system needed tending too anyway and now it’s check off the list.

Thanks for reading

Tim

projectsportsroof

auto mod | Tumblr

Jan 7, 2010 … Thanks for checking back on #ProjectSportsRoof. Progress is being made and I’d like to finish up these post on the install of the Mach 1 grille …

Barrett-Jackson Car Auction, Scottsdale, Az 2016 – Sleeper Pontiac

By Tim Sweet | January 25, 2016 - 9:33 PM |January 25, 2016 Auto History, Auto Restoration, Barrett Jackson Car Auctions, Car Auction, Car Auctions, Car Restoration, Classic Car Restoration, Classic Cars, Classic Motorcycle, Classic Trucks, Muscle Car Restoration, Muscle Cars

Barrett-Jackson Car Auction, Scottsdale, Az 2016 – Sleeper Chevelle

By Tim Sweet | January 25, 2016 - 12:42 PM |January 25, 2016 Auto Restoration, Barrett Jackson Car Auctions, Car Auction, Car Auctions, Classic Car Restoration, Classic Cars

1 Comment

It is tough to pick out favorite cars at a place like Barrett-Jackson’s Classic Car Auctions. There is too much to like. I can say I just like Mustangs or I just like Corvettes, but in reality, I can find lots to like about many classics. But when you sit back at the end of the day of previewing the cars and think about the beautiful works of art, there will be a few that come to mind right away.

So here is one of my favorites I saw on opening day.

Lot #1563 1966 Chevy Chevelle 300 Deluxe

Great looking 66 Chevelle.

It is a 300 Deluxe

Just a great little every day (back then) commuter car.

Just love the painted steel wheels and center hub caps. Hey..what’s that badge on the fender?

What?!!!!

What a sleeper car!!!!! Check out the options:

502 GM crate engine with 502 horse power
Aluminum heads
12 bolt Posi-Traction rear end
Dual Exhaust
Richmond 6 speed manual transmission
4 wheel disc braker
Aluminum radiator
Tach

Should cross the block on Sunday, Jan 31. I’ll watch to see what it brings!!!!

P.S. – It’s NO RESERVE!!!

Thanks for reading

Tim

#barrettJackson

barrett jackson scottsdale 2016

Tag Archives: Auto History

Engine Mini-Series Ford’s Small Block V8s Part II – 260 CID

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A Couple of Mustang Things – Line-Lock and Mustang Crossing

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Northern California Cars – Driveby (VW-Hot Rods) and U.S. Coast Guard TRACEN

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1973 Mustang SportsRoof – Floor Pans Getting To It! – Part Four

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Driving a 1929 Detroit Electric Model 97

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Engine Mini-Series – Ford’s Small Block V8s Part I

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Engine Line Up – 1947 Chrysler

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1973 Mustang Sports Roof – Vacuum System Part IV

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