81-83 200 motor

so i get this motor from my uncle, thought i got lucky with it. 81-83 200. exept the bell is different. Safe to assume I am not as lucky as I thought? What exact years am I looking for? Really didnt want to do a major swap, just wanted to do a more of bolt in. Mine is a 62 with the 144. is rebuilding the 144 worth it? thanks guys

If you do not mind getting around a little slower keep the 144 if not swap it out. You can rebuild and ad some mods to gain some more hp. I do not know the exact dates on a simple bolt on, but I do know my 1964 170ci was swapped out with a 1965 200ci.

Hey Shum,

Sounds like you stumbled upon a kinda rare 200 cu in
with the Smallblock Ford bell pattern. Is the starter
up high (along the line where the oil pan attaches,
or down lower below that?)

You won't be able to use it if the 200 is a SBF, but
they are rare enough to be worth a little bit of cash,
then you can get the 200 that you will need for an
easier swap.

Some pics would help,
George

Love this site, learn something new everyday.

ok sounds like i need to get the pics up tomorrow and see what i got. Thanks guys

Hey Shrum,

Mike is right, 64-on is not a direct bolt in, but if you got
a 61-63 with the engine support arms instead of a crossbar
the 200 will bolt right in. I got a '61 and the 200 block is
virtually identical to the 144 with regard to mounts and the
driveline geometry (super important.)

The dual bolt pattern is different than the Small Block Ford
pattern. The dual pattern is for straight six style transmissions
like the 3.03 and C4 with straight six bell housings. The SBF
pattern allows you to connect transmissions normally reserved
for V8's. This is very desirable for those who want to squeeze
some fuel efficiency by connecting a 200 cu. in. to an overdrive
transmission.

In my case I am now building a 250 cu.in. (which has the V8 bolt
pattern,) for max torque and lower rpm's and connecting it to an
electronically programmable 4 speed overdrive automatic. I have
to use the full cross bar and reinforce it to handle the off-idle
torque.

Straight sixes can be made into little monsters! ha ha.

Get some pics! Your motor might be worth more than most.

Actually a 200 IS a direct bolt in for a 61-64 truck. Its the same block as a 144 and 170. You just need to be careful what bell housing pattern you have. However it is recommended,like Mike said,that you use the 65-67 engine crossmember since the 200 is a lot more powerful. I ve heard folks say they could watch the passenger seat/floor flex when they stomped on it due to the extra torque. Even with a crossmember its not a direct install since the frame brackets the crossmember bolts to are in the wrong location on a 61-64 model plus theres only 2 and 4 are needed.

A couple of other things to watch for are most 144's have a flat exhaust flange and a 200 will have a doughnut flange. The carb linkage is different from a 144 and a 200. A 144 goes up and down. A 200 goes from right to left. The best thing here is to use a cable linkage from a 67 Econoline.

A 200 is a great swap. It gives a lot more power that is really needed. With some modifications you can easily double the horsepower of a 144.


Duane in Tennessee

here is what I found when i tore down my motor

Thanks for all the info guys, really didnt want to have to do a total redo on this one. not sure which way im gonna go might just rebuild the original. got plenty to do while i keep an eye out for another 200. The original is really pretty clean, when i pulled the head i figured it would run, well until i pulled the pan. ha

Dang, too bad it chucked a rod. Looks like
it is (was) a 200 six with a V8 bolt pattern...

...too bad you aren't closer to Southern California,
I got a couple 200's I plan on selling (that run!)

Best of luck!

broke rod is the original 144. The 200 is a runner as far as i know. had some issues getting the pictures to work for me.

I tried swapping a 200 out of a 71 Maverick into my truck. I had to get a different bellhousing. I also had to drill another hole in the supports for the motor mounts. The motor was wider.
My understanding the 200's from the 60's were the straight bolt ins. The newer ones require changes to the mounting and bellhousings. The 200 is still sitting in the truck, but I never got to the point of finishing putting it together. Now I'm going back to a 170 in my 64.

So I may have one of those rare ones that was mentioned here in the thread.
All I know is I'm eventually will be removing it and going back to the 170 that was original in the truck.
I just located a rebuilt one for $150.00 and this will be going in this truck.

Hey DemonDog,

I may be wrong but it sounds like that motor was a 250 cu in.
They were mainly in Mavericks and Granadas and were a little bit
wider (the block) than the 200. The 200 is the exact same block
as the 170, just "bored and stroked" so the mounts are a direct
bolt-in.

I'm building a 250 right now and had to research the mods needed
to get it to fit.

The 250 makes a LOT of torque and pretty good horsepower with just
slight mods. Of course, you'd have to beef up the remaining drive
train to make it work.

If you got the block numbers (behind the starter) I can decipher.
(Also, the starter was lower on the 250's down by the oil pan,
almost all 200's have the starter up high above the pan line.)
[img][/img]

This is my motor before tear-down, fitting a SS exhaust for Mike. Note
the location of the starter (mini starter) is very low...

Hope this helps,
George

It possibly is a 250. But when I got it back in 1990 I was told it was a 200. Anyways I'm not going to use it. I want to keep the truck as much original as can be.

Oh by the way. Nice pipes.

Where is it i can get some parts for my 144? I know I need a rod. Bwhahahaa I havent seen any other motors I could swap in around these parts