Best engine choices for my van

Its comming time to start thinking about rebuilding my engine or replacing it, I have a 61 but Im not too sure what engine is in it, the manifold is part of the head so its a smaller one, but which one? How can you tell if its a 144, 177, or 200? If its the smaller one I want something that has enough power to easily travel 65+ mph is the 144 really enough?
I will probably replace the distributor and coil with a modern electronic version other than that its carburetor and a mechanical fuel pump for me.

So

How do I tell what engine size it is?
Is the stock 144 or 177 enough to use in todays traffic safely?
I believe I understand correctly the 200 will bolt right up to my 3 speed manual, will the parts (carb, starter etc.) from the 144 or 177 fit on the 200?

I am not interested in a V8 or cutting up the van in anyway to put a bigger engine in it, just what fits in the stock location with the stock tranny, thanks so much in advance for your help!

look for the  engine  id #'s on a pad @ front  of block. just in front of  ahead! then google it  for chev engine id's!!  Im not a 6cyl fan yet if i did have one id want the largest / easiest one to find=you can research that on google sites  for chev 6's too. There is no subsitute for cubic inches!!---

http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/Chevrolet_and_GMC_inline_/_straight_6_engines:_Guides_and_resources

http://www.hotsixes.com/

http://www.adchevy.com/info/6-cylinder-engine-casting-numbers

also casting #'s on the block can be identified too!!

http://www.hotsixes.com/chevy-inline-6/ heres the chev 6 stuff too! Happy Vannin

Sounds like he has a Ford.

The 200 is the biggest that will bolt in. You will want a better carb than the one on the 144. The bore is different on the 144 carb. The 200 has a larger bore. The 144 uses a low vacuum carb. The 200 uses a normal vacuum carb. The distributor won't interchange either as the 144 uses a smaller oil pump drive shaft and it's low vacuum as well. The 200 is a wonderful engine. It will pull an Econoline down the road at 65-70 all day. You may need a gear change to get you to this speed. The 144 and 170 don't have the power to pull a good highway gear. 3.00-3.25 is a good highway gear. 3.50-4.00 is what they want. A 200 can pull a 3.00-3.25. You can get the gear ratio either with a rear end swap or an overdrive trans.

Duane in Tennessee.

I am new to vans but the 1963 i purchased has a 200 1965 mustang engine. I changed the Clutch kit and had the flywheel turned. I went up the I5 Grapevine in California at 65 to 70 MPH and I had to give it gas coming down into LA. The Clutch is still 8.5 inch.
And the van had at least 1,000 lbs of cargo. PS iy also has the 3.50 7 1/2 inch rear end.

econopoor wrote:The 200 is the biggest that will bolt in. You will want a better carb than the one on the 144. The bore is different on the 144 carb. The 200 has a larger bore. The 144 uses a low vacuum carb. The 200 uses a normal vacuum carb. The distributor won't interchange either as the 144 uses a smaller oil pump drive shaft and it's low vacuum as well. The 200 is a wonderful engine. It will pull an Econoline down the road at 65-70 all day. You may need a gear change to get you to this speed. The 144 and 170 don't have the power to pull a good highway gear. 3.00-3.25 is a good highway gear. 3.50-4.00 is what they want. A 200 can pull a 3.00-3.25. You can get the gear ratio either with a rear end swap or an overdrive trans.

Duane in Tennessee.

mexbob wrote:I am new to vans but the 1963 i purchased has a 200 1965 mustang engine. I changed the Clutch kit  and had the flywheel turned. I went up the I5 Grapevine in California at 65 to 70 MPH and I had to give it gas coming down into LA. The Clutch is still 8.5 inch.
And the van had at least 1,000 lbs of cargo. PS iy also has the 3.50  7 1/2 inch rear end.

That's what Im looking for!!
Ok so now how do I tell if my engine is a 144 a 177 or a 200? The van has had some restoration work maybe 15 years ago so its probably not the original engine, if its the 200 ill just rebuild if its not Ill be buying a complete engine and rebuilding it.

If little girls on bicycles are way faster than your van, you have the 144.

144 and 170 will have three freeze plugs on the right side below the exhaust manifold. A 200 will have five. If you can find any traces of factory paint a 144 will have been blue valve cover. A 170 would have been red valve cover. Before 64 a 144 will have a N cast into the block and a 170 will have a T. Other that that bore and stroke is the only way to tell.

Duane in Tennessee

the following photos are of the 200 CID in my 63 Econoline;



next shows front three(3) freeze plugs


next shows the back two(2), the shiny is the rear freeze plug the fourth is behind the exhuast pipe


This maybe a better photo

There might be a casting code that can help you identify. See bottom of this link for more info.

http://www.econolineid.com/engine.php?s=id

Here are a few photos of my engine, its blue but I think it was painted, the freeze plugs are painted too, it looks like there are three, I can see a D casting on the intake log, but not on the block
The manifold is part of the head, so its either a early 200 (unlikely) or a 170 or 144 (most likely)

Anyone have a complete 200 they want to sell?

Sorry to hijack the thread, but I have a simi related question.

I recently got  a 66 Falcon van and I'm trying to ID the engine. You guys mentioned the 200 ci.  with 5 freeze plugs. Well my engine has the 5. But then I read about the big 6 240.  Is there an easy way to tell the 200 from the 240?

Speedfiend,

240's have a separate intake. 200's have a one piece head and intake. That's the easy way to tell.

Fish,

I'd say you have a 200 already. I can't tell for sure but it has a latter model valve cover, Cable throttle. It's not original. Somebody has been messing around in there. The D represents 1970's. The number after the D says the year. A D2 would be a 72 engine, A D8 would be a 78. A C1 would be a 61 engine. How many freeze plugs are on the right side?

Duane in Tennessee

Speedfiend wrote:Sorry to hijack the thread, but I have a simi related question.

I recently got  a 66 Falcon van and I'm trying to ID the engine. You guys mentioned the 200 ci.  with 5 freeze plugs. Well my engine has the 5. But then I read about the big 6 240.  Is there an easy way to tell the 200 from the 240?

The 240 intake manifold bolted to the head. On the 144/170/200, the intake is one piece with he head.

Cool! Thanks guys.
Looks like I've got a 240.

econopoor wrote:Speedfiend,

240's have a separate intake. 200's have a one piece head and intake. That's the easy way to tell.

Fish,

I'd say you have a 200 already. I can't tell for sure but it has a latter model valve cover,  Cable throttle. It's not original. Somebody has been messing around in there. The D represents 1970's. The number after the D says the year. A D2 would be a 72 engine, A D8 would be a 78. A C1 would be a 61 engine. How many freeze plugs are on the right side?

Duane in Tennessee

Well that is good news, thanks Duane!!

Here is a much better shot of the numbers on the block and the intake manifold

looks to me like the block says
01DE-6015-A

I found three freeze plugs on the block and one on the back part of the head so four? That's the one shot, the rear freeze plug.

It looks like you have a latter model head on the original 144 block. The looks like it says C1DE 6015-A and that makes it a 61 casting.

Duane in Tennessee

I agree thanks for all your help! Im shopping for a 200i complete engine now

Ok so thinking about going another direction all together maybe a 300 with a auto??

http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/pts/4793149375.html

this looks like a good deal, I know Ill need a new radiator, the tranny and maybe different drive shaft, and motor mounts, probably have to modify the doghouse also, is there anything else?

A 300 takes a lot of work to put in a 61. Trans hump. taller doghouse, nine inch rear, tube cross member and mounts, big six trans, big six drive shaft, cable throttle linkage, Econoline 240 oil pan and pickup tube, The floor cutout is different for a 240 doghouse so that will need to be changed as well. Lots of work to put a 300 in a 61.

Duane in Tennessee

econopoor wrote:A 300 takes a lot of work to put in a 61. Trans hump. taller doghouse, nine inch rear, tube cross member and mounts, big six trans, big six drive shaft, cable throttle linkage, Econoline 240 oil pan and pickup tube, The floor cutout is different for a 240 doghouse so that will need to be changed as well. Lots of work to put a 300 in a 61.

Duane in Tennessee

Yea I want to drive this in my lifetime so I guess the more simple 200 is going to be the ticket, they are kind of hard to find though...

This site, http://remanufactured.com/Ford_6_Cylinder_Engines.htm , sells turn key crate 1965-66 Ford 200 CID engine for $2,000 + core. My understanding is that this is the same engine in my 1963 van. It originally had a 170. By using the 1965 200, the original bell housing,clutch, sarter, carb, etc. was used on the 1965 200.

This saves monies, time and headache. I am sure there are others that will know if this is the best route.

mexbob wrote:This site, http://remanufactured.com/Ford_6_Cylinder_Engines.htm , sells turn key crate 1965-66 Ford 200 CID engine for $2,000 + core. My understanding is that this is the same engine in my 1963 van. It originally had a 170. By using the 1965 200, the original bell housing,clutch, sarter, carb, etc. was used on the 1965 200.

This saves monies, time and headache.   I am sure there are others that will know if this is the best route.

Thank you!
I called them and he had a nice 170 for me, should be here in a month or so, its a 65 so I need a different bellhousing but everything else will transfer over, I know its not going to be fast but Im ok with that its just a cruising surf van to use on the weekends not a daily driver so its cool..

2 Grand????????????????????Did they see u comming??

How much do you think I should pay for a fresh rebuild, core and delivery to my home? Remember this isnt a Chevy its a Ford...