Strange engine
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Junior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 74
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From: Charlotte, NC
Strange engine
Has anyone ever heard of a engine made by Ford for Studebaker? I have a 1963 1/2 Ford Falcon bought brand new by my grandfather. I know the engine has never been changed or swapped out. The fender markings all say 260 cid and the vin has it as a 260 also. When I had it rebuilt back in 85, the guy told me it was not a 260. All the parts from a 260 fit but the pistons were too big. I needed to rebuild the engine since its been part for better part of 12 years but no body knows what engine is in it. All my dad can remember the guy who rebuilt it last time saying is that it was an engine Ford built to Studebaker in the early 60s. My dad says 258 ci rings a bell but he isn't sure.
Hope some one can help me. Thanks
Hope some one can help me. Thanks
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
Trying to figure out what engine this could be
Has anyone ever heard of a engine made by Ford for Studebaker? I have a 1963 1/2 Ford Falcon bought brand new by my grandfather. I know the engine has never been changed or swapped out. The fender markings all say 260 cid and the vin has it as a 260 also. When I had it rebuilt back in 85, the guy told me it was not a 260. All the parts from a 260 fit but the pistons were too big. I needed to rebuild the engine since its been part for better part of 12 years but no body knows what engine is in it. All my dad can remember the guy who rebuilt it last time saying is that it was an engine Ford built to Studebaker in the early 60s. My dad says 258 ci rings a bell but he isn't sure.
Hope some one can help me. Thanks
Hope some one can help me. Thanks
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Destin/Ft. Walton Beach,
I second that on the 221 cube engine. Funny it has 260 badges, but is not a 260. 258 is an American Motors/Rambler 6 cylinder engine. 221, 260, 289, 302, 351 W are all engines that re in the same engine family.
Elder User
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 692
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From: Saratoga USA
In the early 1960's, Studebaker had 3 V-8 engines, all of their own design. One was a 259, one was a 289, and the last, and very rare, was a 304.5 CID engine used in only a few Avantis. The confusion with Ford is that Studebaker also had a 289, but they are completely different designs. In fact, the Study engine has the distributor in the back, and it's a Delco, with the window for the point adjustment. Also, after Studebaker left South Bend in 1963, they manufactured cars in Canada for a few more years with Chevy engines. But, no Ford connection I'm aware of.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 7,746
Likes: 7
From: Tampa Bay, FL USA
Lots of confusion because mfrs. used the same CID for their engines. AMC had a 327 back in the 50s, years before Chevy had theirs. Yet, many people today assume that Chevy built the 327 for AMC. Not to mention the 289 confusion between Ford and Studie. Although their flathead 6 tended to be an oil burner, Studie's V8s were great motors. A friend of mine has a '63 Lark Daytona, with a 289 and a 4-speed. FAST little car! A lot of fun to drive, too.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Atlanta GA
> I know the engine has never been changed or swapped out.
> The fender markings all say 260 cid and the
> vin has it as a 260 also.
A Ford 260 it is then!
> but the pistons were too big.
Never count out the wrong parts being in the right package. Especially on discontinued stock.
> The fender markings all say 260 cid and the
> vin has it as a 260 also.
A Ford 260 it is then!
> but the pistons were too big.
Never count out the wrong parts being in the right package. Especially on discontinued stock.
Cargo Master
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,543
Likes: 2
From: Georgia
Originally Posted by Copper93
All the parts from a 260 fit but the pistons were too big.
If the engine has been sitting apart for many years & your now getting around to rebuilding it then it is a real good idea to have it bored & honed anyhow.
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,070
Likes: 2
From: Boise, Idaho
I hope Copper is still following this thread. And I hope he's getting the 260 rebuilt. I wonder if that isn't a Falcon Sprint.
I suspect that the mechanic that said it wasn't a 260 is mistaken. Measure the bore of the engine closely to see if it has a 3.80" bore (260) or a 4" bore (289).
Have the engine zero-decked to take full advantage of the design of the cylinder heads.
Good luck.
I suspect that the mechanic that said it wasn't a 260 is mistaken. Measure the bore of the engine closely to see if it has a 3.80" bore (260) or a 4" bore (289).
Have the engine zero-decked to take full advantage of the design of the cylinder heads.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
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Junior User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 74
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From: Charlotte, NC
This is the first chance I had to check back. It might be a 255. When the engine was rebuilt back in 85, the guy put on a set of 289 big valve heads for me. The heads that were on it originally weren't worth rebuilding. Its a was a tight little engine. Would run like a bat out of hell. Its also running 221 push rods and connecting rods with an aluminum flywheel. It tachs out in a heartbeat. You might be right about the wrong pistons being ordered wrong also. There is no telling. I hope to pull it sometime this month and start on the rebuilt. I'll post the info when I get a chance to measure it out.
Posting Guru
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From: Destin/Ft. Walton Beach,
If the engine came in that car from the factory, it can't be a 255. They weren't built until what, 1980 or something? A friend of mine has a 260 in a Falcon. Your engine sounds like it ran like his does. It loves high RPM's.