What are the differences between the 226 block and the 254 block?

 

The primary difference is the 3.5" bore on the 254 vs. the 3.3" bore on the 226. Most of the ancillary pieces associated with the engines interchange.

 

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/5...ml#post9436518

Lots of good info there...

But I assume your question is, are the blocks interchangeable (other than the bore)?

 

If that is the question, either engine will fit in place of each other. They are identical, physically.

 

In the Maintence book in the Specs section the max overbore is .060 which suggests different wall thickness.
Yet the heads swap out

 

For that large a difference in basic bore, I'd guess they cast the 254's with different cores. The .060 limit on the 226 may just be the limit of O/S pistons supplied.

 

The heads are different, but will physically interchange because the bolt pattern and bore spacing is the same. That's not to say they should be swapped because the combustion chambers are definitely going to be significantly different. As I mentioned before, the blocks are the same physical size, externally, but are different castings with a larger bore and a different casting number, so internally they're going to be different.

 

I have a 226 and have been looking for a replacement exhaust manifold. If these two blocks are physically identical does that mean that a manifold off a 254 will work?

 

It should.

 

The water jackets surrounding the cylinder walls prevent the 226 block from being bored out to 3.5". Their just too thin.

 

Just trying to think - If the water jackets on the 226 are bigger that means better cooling than the 254 which should work harder (larger Trucks) and run hotter? - Do I have this bass akwards?

 

Do they have the same water pump?

Yes, Ross, they do! See the Parts CD excerpt below!

 

I have a 226 and a 254 sitting here. Someone should buy them both and compare! I think they are the same, water pumps that is?

 

Answered my own question above

 

There are a lot of those in that section - Check out the cams (I think)