I have a 223 in my 60 truck and was wondering if it would be better to put in a 300. The 223 is completly stock. If I changed to a two barrel and put on a header I now would help but I could put that money towards a 300 out of the wrecking yard. I had 3.89 gears in the rear and put in 3.25. I drive alot at 65 to 70 mph and 3.89 were to short. Any input would be great! What year motor should I look for if I do change it out?

 

I had two 223s one a 56 the other a 62. The 240/300 is a much better engine in almost all respects and would be easier to dress up and hop up than its predecessor. Many of the in-liner guys like the 2bbl aftermarket intake with EFI exhaust manifolds.
regards
rikard

 

Look for an EFI 240 or 300 (was the 240 offered with EFI?)

Good luck with it all!

 

I think the 240 was discontinued long before EFI was introduced. But the EFI 300 definitely has more horsepower (about 150 - 160 vs 120) but you'll have to swap all the computers and stuff too.

 

There are plenty of Performance parts for the 223 I-6 out there & readily available.
This venerable & reliable engine has an average life of 250,000-350,00 miles if properly manitained. All you have to do, as w/ any I-6, is to make them BREATHE to get the Performance you wish out of it. An Offenhauser Intake w/ a Holley 390cfm 4v, Duce or Tri-Pak w/ 1904 1v's are your best options, w/ a Hedman Header w/ @ least a 25% increase in HP. Offenhauser, Fenton, etc. are readily available w/ Dress Up bits & bobs which can be found on e-Bay for decent prices. Finned Aluminium or Chrome Valve & Push-Rod Covers are just for starters for the 223 I-6.

The enimic 240 I-6 was manufactured from '65-'74, so no EFI is Not an option, as it wasn't available till late '86.

Installing a 300 I-6 is extremly time consuming as it's a Larger & Longer engine, which means you've to run Electric Fan for Cooling as you're unable to Fit the original Fan & Pulley. Because of the fact that there's no clearence space w/ the Radiator fins.
The '65-'72 are the best for Carb.'d engines, don't know anything about EFI's as Father & I never built any. So your best bet would be to ask Silver Streak or others that are more knowledgeable than who's offered so far as I Doubt very seriously you wish to run a Stock Engine.

 

id say keep the 223 and hop it up with as Col said. they seem to be pretty old school and would look nice under an early 60s truck.

is there a way to use te 262 crank to make a factory stroker?

 

The 262 cranks are extremely hard to locate, as they are Longer & Larger, so you'd have to Hog out an extreme amount of the insides of the 223's block in order to make it fit properly.

 

ah i see, worth a shot anyone

 

I've looked for almost 7 years now & haven't located a Real 262 I-6, as the individuals that have stated or listed that they had one wasn't, It always has turned out to be a '60s 223 I-6.
Plus the Crank Guy @ JMS Racing Engines, he's their I-6 Specialist, stated that you'd weaken the walls of the 223 block by attempting to make the 262 crank fit.

 

good to know, i bet the 223 would be a screamer that could see 6K with the right parts.

 

thank's for the responses. I think I'll stick with the 223. Now I need to go to ebay..

 

The 223 would be nice because there are very few of them out there and it should be a good running engine, even stock.

 

Does anyone make an electronic igniton module that will work with the stock 223 distributor or, better yet, a more modern electronic ignition distributor?

Cal

 

"Does anyone make an electronic igniton module that will work with the stock 223 distributor..."

Pertronix makes a kit do a search here or check with them directly as I haven't seen the number listed anywhere. Standard Motor Products (Blue Streak) also makes a kit. I ran across it while looking for something else at the Rock Auto site recently.

Lou

 

Thanks Lou!

I found this one at Pertronix: Pertronix #91266
They indicate it works on pre-1965 Ford 6-cyl engines with 12V electrical systems. I'de be a lot more comfortable if they listed the 223 by application.

Is anyone running one of these?

Cal