250 to 3 speed manual tranny fitment?

I just learned that the new truck I am building has a '78 250 motor in it with a C4 tranny. My original plan was to upgrade to a 200 and bolt my old 3 speed to it, but now I am wondering if I should use the 250 and rebuild it? Will it bolt up to my '63 3 speed manual? Any other issues I might have with a 250? Thanks!

I'm sure I'll stir up a can of hornets here, but your kinda asking 4 different questions here. First you have to decide if you want a manual or automatic truck. The other issue your faced with is that the 200 and the 250 are completely different animals. The only thing thats interchangeable are the heads. First, trannys are not interchangeable between the two--the 250 uses the Ford small block bell pattern--the 200 uses the small bell pattern.(Unless you find one of the rare late model dual bell 200's--in which you would have to commit to an automatic truck) So,basicly, your auto from your 250 wont fit the 200. If your truck is already an automatic, then switching to a manual will involve shifter linkage, clutch linkage, etc.
Now, here comes the hornet stirring--personally, I don't care for the 250---here's why. I believe it weighs more than a 302, it's harder to squeeze into a tight place because of it's taller deck height, it really won't produced more hp than a built 200, and it weighs a lot more than a 200. What I do like, is the 250 log head--here's why. Bigger valves and larger carb bore.
The 200 has a lot going for it--seven main bearings,light weight and compact size. You got the makings for a good set up. Keep the head off the 250--it will bolt right on a 200. Now you can use a bigger bore carb.,ie. Autolite 1101. Put in a mild cam, set of headers, re-curved Dura Spark, and the bigger carb. WhaLa---killer little engine,reliable,good gas mileage---and guaranteed to smoke any stock 250 or stock 302. Power to weight is the secret here. I've built this setup before, and I'm building it again in my Econo pickup.
IMO, the 200 is one of the best setups you can use in a light weight Ford. Auto or manual--that's a preference decision.

Good Luck Mike

thats all i needed to hear, thanks!

I think it depends on how you look at it, a similarly built 250 will always out run the 200 regardless of the weight difference, which I think is around #385 for the 200 and #450 for the 250, about ten # lighter than a 302. The way I see your dilemma is this, do you want a c4 or a 3 speed? If you've really gotta have the 3 speed column shift oem setup like you had, It would be easiest to just find a 200 and swap everything else from the old truck to the new. On the other hand, if you like the idea of a c4 or even an OD A/T or a T5 then stick with the 250, assuming the swap was done well/correctly, everything's already been modified on the new truck. All of the downsides of the 250 swap have already been addressed in the new rig, but it's an auto... The 250 is slightly more complicated to build right b/c of the long stroke and excessive deck height issues, which all can be addressed in different ways.

Automatic is not an option for me, and I am a big advocate of lighter is faster. It sounds like the 250 is going to bring a few more headaches that I did not need, but I can certainly use that head for the bigger log and valves.

Yup, that would be a good move, but only if the 200 you find is pre-69, it's a misnomer to say you need a "250" head, they are identical heads on both motors from like 69 on, the differences are year based, '78 and up is the head you want if you have to go looking for one 200 or 250. But if your 200 has the small log the 250 head you have would be an upgrade nevertheless.

Good thread.

GOOD POINT on the head similarities and years. I personally suspect that the 250 hasn't been explored well enough YET. The 200 is a really snappy little motor and works very well and actually will smoke the right rear tire if you want to.
In regards to a manual transmission you would need the big bell 240 manual trans setup for both the flywheel and clutch and ALSO the gearing pattern. In regards to putting it into a 63 there would only be two options. The 1st would be to use a 68 to 74 GENII manual three speed with an under transmission mount and an x mbmr or put a donut mount tail onto the 240 trans. I do have one here if interested...
vic