Bought a Haynes manual (80-96 F-series) a couple weeks ago, and it briefly mentions a 255 cu. in. V8 along with the 302 and 351. I had never heard of this engine before. Does anyone know anything about this engine? What model/years was it in, etc. Or is the book wrong about this engine being in these years?

 

The late and unlamented 255 was a reduced bore version of the 302 used for the gutless but smog-friendly vehicles of the late 70s and/or early 80s. It was slow in a Fairmont/Zephyr/LTD II, it would be useless in a truck. No one mourns its passing.

 

The 4.2L 255cid was used from 1980-1982. It had a 2150 2 barrel. 3.68" bore and the 302's 3" stroke. Had 122hp and 209ft/lbs of torque, so as what StrangeRanger said. It did not belong in a truck. I have yet to see one actually in a vehicle. It looks almost exactly like a 302.

Ford also used the Mustang's 3.8L V6 from 1980-1982.

 

I believe they were used more in the mustangs than anything else. But hey, anything is possible with a pen and an order sheet right?


1988 F-150, SWB, 5.0 EFI (formerly 4.9 EFI), M5OD 5 speed, 3.08 gears, Summit shorty truck headers, Custom built Flowmaster exhaust system. Force 4 LP6000 lightbar, Federal signal PA-300 100 watt siren, Icom IC-V100 50 watt mobile radio.
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1965 F-100 (just purchased 1/18/01), SWB, 390, C-6 auto. Dual exhaust, Not much else to do to it.

Can see both below.

[link:www.geocities.com/hotrodford_88/|Hotrodford_88's Webpage]

 

Not only the 255 V8, but Ford also offered a V6 in early 80's 1/2-ton pickups. The V6 probably was as anemic as the 255 V8, because it also passed into history rather quickly.

 

 

Hey, i actually own a 1980 granada with the gutless 255. Was wondering if anyone here had any literature or manuals for that engine?

 

You are reviving a 24 year old thread...

Haynes or Chilton shop manual for your car should be what you need. Probably available cheap on eBay or Amazon. They are not unique engines.

I had an '81 Granada with a 255. It was indeed a gutless turd. Kind of a funny, related story - in high school my buddy had a Maverick which had an inline 6 (200ci I think) and an automatic. It was really underpowered and he had to get a run at a lip on the cement slab in front of his garage because the car didn't have enough power to push itself over that unless you were going fairly fast. So we spent a bunch of time tracking down V8 swap parts which included a 255 out of a Thunderbird. As it turns out, those make about the same power as the old inline 6 did...disappointing to say the least. The 302's and even the 2v 351w in the early 80's were big time turds.

 

It's the same as a 302 so most operations and maintenance for a 302 would work for a 255.