I just bought a 65 econoline heavy duty van that has had a 68 model ford 200 put in. It's got a 3 speed manual transmission and I believe it would have originally had a 240 in it. The mounts are definitely not correct on the 200. I've got a line on a ford 300 but I'm not sure if it will bolt up to the transmission that I've got in the van already. If not I've got a 3 speed transmission in storage that came from a 65 f100 with a 240 but I'm not sure if that will bolt into my econoline. Sounds confusing, I know..but any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

no. the 300 uses the 302-351W bell pattern.
if i remember correctly the 65 van came with either the 170 or 200 six cylinder, not the 240
240 was used in the full size cars, 300 was used in the pickup.

 

65 was the first year that they used a 240 in the vans. They also came with a c4 from 65-67 and upon digging my 3 speed out of storage the tail shaft is much longer and the van's transmission has a top mount.

 

Besides the bell housing differences, the gears for the 240 were different than the 170/200 transmission. See the details here.

Econoline Transmissions

 

hey intrstlarOvrdrve,
I had a 65 Econoline supervan (extended body), which came with a 240 and the heavy duty 3 speed manual trans which had the hanging trans mount. The 240 bellhousing is compatible with the 300 six and a 302 smallblock V8. The 240 flywheel will also fit the 300. You might be correct about your van possibly having a 240 original engine, particularly if it is the Heavy Duty model. If it did indeed have a 240, you could be lucky and also have the very heavy duty engine cross member that would mount a 240 or 300 or 302. The 170 or 200 6 cylinder engine cross member is wimpy and will not handle nor bolt up to the 240, 300, or 302. You may have to hunt one down for your 300 installation. Also, the original 3 speed manual stock transmission which came with the 240 was much beefier than the 3 speed that came with the 170 or 200. If you have one of the wimpier 170 transmissions, I believe it might bolt up to the 240/300/302 bellhousing but may not last long from the torque and power of a 300. Your other transmission out of the 65 f100 might be a better trans to use with the 300, however, you will need to build a standard under the trans crossmember support bar. I had to do this on my 65 econoline on which I did a 302 V8 swap into along with a Ford electric overdrive of the time (vintage around 1962) which gave you 6 forward speeds with a high/low internal gearbox operated by a solenoid. Other than displacement, the 240 and 300 engines are identical and just about all engine parts are interchangeable. Hope this helps.

 

No Econoline of any year came with the 200 I-6.

1965/67 Econolines could have the 170 I-6 or 240 I-6.

240 installed in 1965/72 Galaxie/LTD; 1965/74 F100/600 & Econoline.

300 installed in 1965/79 F500/600; 1965/96 F100/350; 1969/74 E100/300; 1975/96 E150/350; 1979/84 E100.