I have a 1982 255 4.2L v-8 that coming out of a 1982 cougar XR7 with only 90k miles. i know that they where only made from 1980 to 1982, so i don't want just junked or other words it rare find. it has the same casting numbers as the early 80's stang.
I HAD A BLONDE idea that maybe putting the 255 in to some thing else. i have mid 60's ranchero or maybe a fairmoint wagon or maybe getting a small pick up like a ranger. with gas being $4.20 a gallon. i was thinking it should get better gas mileage than the bigger V8'S. it the same stroke as 5.0 ,just smaller cylinder bore. so what ever rig it would be going it, it would get the norm stuff (i like these parts,so i install them when ever i get a chance) like shorty headers/1.72 rocker swap/ 2 1/2 mendrual bent pipes/ 5speed tranny/ small 41004V carb or holley pro injection/ 3.55 gears.
my question is:
1- has anyone played with 255 v-8? if so what was your results?
2- i remember reading something about these back in the mig 80's. do any one have any thing about those mags?
3- is worth my time putting it in something or just save it for some one restoring there 80 to 81 mustang?\
i know some will trash the truth about 255 but i was just wondering?

 

"Poorly received thanks to its dismal performance and mediocre fuel economy, it was dropped after the 1982 model year, and is considered one of the worst modern Ford engines."
Ford Windsor engine - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Of course, you take Wiki with a grain of salt...

 

For once, Wiki is right. There were some differences in heads & possibly other items that prevent 302 parts from being used.

Know anyone with a boat that needs an anchor?

 

Well it was specifically engineered for fuel economy after the 1979 gasoline shortages. A friend had one in a 1982 T-Bird which we swapped out because it had a spun bearing, damaging the crank journal beyond regrinding.

It was an okay motor I recall, attached to an AOD got pretty good mileage. It uses a unique (aluminum) 2V intake manifold with a separate valley cover IIRC, and uses small oval intake ports. Thus you are pretty well limited to this stock intake.

The exhaust pattern is the same as the 302 so headers and such will fit. I don't think it has the threaded boss for clutch equalizer bar linkage for early applications.

It should be a good candidate for a better mileage engine in a Fairmont or such, but for the 60s Ranchero I might use a 260. It would be interesting to do scientific tests between these two motors to compare power and mileage.

Maybe it's time this Forum added 255 to its title.

 

Actually to use a four barrel 302 intake, get some 260/early 289 heads
to bolt on. Then you can use 302 parts. The 260 heads are the same
combustion chamber volume and same size valves as the 255's heads.
So are early 289 heads.

 

Keep in mind that the 260 and early 289 heads have one generator mounting bracket bolt about a sixteenth inch off from the later heads. I had to make an offset stud to account for this when swapping parts before. I think the change might have been in 1965.

Also they don't have hardened exhaust valve seats.

 

Check the heads and valves to see if they will fit in the 3.68 bore, smaller than the 3.8 260 bore.

 

Well I know that the 260 will clear the bore. You might be right about
the 289 though. Although, they both list the same combustion chamber
size.

 

Just how big is the boat you're planning to anchor? I'd think just the block would be plenty for anything under 50 feet...

 

I actually don't have any prejudice towards any Ford motor, I like
'em all!! Of course I'm not a performance minded person. 0-60 and
quarter mile times mean nothing to me. As long as the car or truck
looks nice and can go at least 75-80 mph, I'm satisfied.

 

id stay away from the 4.2,my dad had one and he hated it and its hard for him to hate an engine