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Who has done the 250 swap?

jba6555

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Oct 29, 2007
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I have a 72 half cab that was my daily driver in high school back in the 90's. I am wanting to get it out of the barn and start driving it again. It has a 200 that was pretty worn out back then. I have a 250 with a c4 complete out of a 76 Maverick. I am curious here who all has done the swap from the 170/200 to the 250 and if you think it was worth doing?
 

bmc69

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'78 250 swapped in to my '69. I used it as a daily drive for quite a few years. I kept the original 3-speed. The only "issue" I had with it was the height at the top of carb...I used a Duff hood bubble to take care of that. Pic from around 1996..

It did pretty good on the highway with 35s and 4.11 gears. I could roll along at 65 OK.

69EB.jpg
 

stout22

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Athens, AL
Yep, I have a 71 with a 250 and really enjoy driving it. I did the swap when I discovered the 200 had a cracked block and couldn't find a replacement.
Mine has Ford power steering, power disc brakes, and electronic ignition. All out of a Maverick. Started with the original 3 speed but recently swapped in a NV3550 5 speed.
Like mentioned the engine block is actually taller than the 170/200 and needs a body lift to clear the hood. I have about 1.5" BL and 2.5" suspension lift with 32x11.50x15 tires.
 

Revelation

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Oct 9, 2004
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Use to be a guy here that did the 250 swap, Some of his last posts were when he was putting the Turbo on it.
When I did mine I went with a 300, Out of a wood Chipper..
 
OP
OP
J

jba6555

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Yep, I have a 71 with a 250 and really enjoy driving it. I did the swap when I discovered the 200 had a cracked block and couldn't find a replacement.
Mine has Ford power steering, power disc brakes, and electronic ignition. All out of a Maverick. Started with the original 3 speed but recently swapped in a NV3550 5 speed.
Like mentioned the engine block is actually taller than the 170/200 and needs a body lift to clear the hood. I have about 1.5" BL and 2.5" suspension lift with 32x11.50x15 tires.
how well does yours do in overdrive?
 
OP
OP
J

jba6555

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Did you all leave your 250's mostly stock performance-wise? or do you do any mods? Headers, carb, cam, etc?
 

stout22

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The 250 has so much torque it easily handles the OD.
Mine is stock including the 1 barrel carb. I was concerned about running the 32s but now wish I had put 33s on it.
 

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Bajabrewer

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I'm just getting going on swapping the original 170 for a 250 in my 66. I was planning to do it this winter but my son decided to blow up the clutch so It's time to do it now. Right now I'm mocking everything up to make sure it all fits & I have everything. Once that's done I will pull it apart fix & paint the engine compartment. For a transmission I'm using an M5OD-R2 from a 96 F150. I did find a top plate shifter from a 2wd F150 4.2 6 cylinder M5OD-R2 & that moves the shifter back a couple inches so the hole should be behind the crossmember. As far as the 250 goes It's .40 over with a comp cam, headers and an HEI distributor. stout22 I'm glad to hear the 250 handles the OD I'm running 31's & plan on doing some trails some cruising & some highway.
 

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stout22

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Bajabrewer,
Where did you get the header to fit the 250 and clear the SBF starter position?
 

Bajabrewer

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Bajabrewer,
Where did you get the header to fit the 250 and clear the SBF starter position?
Amazon - Stainless Steel & at $120 I'll make it clear if it doesn't already. I got the trans in yesterday & if I have time today I'll install the starter & will see If I'll need to modify or not.

Stay tuned......
 

Bajabrewer

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I just looked for a link for you & turns out I got it from E-bay & It's not available on there right now.
 

bmbm

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Jun 16, 2007
Messages
575
I'm just getting going on swapping the original 170 for a 250 in my 66. I was planning to do it this winter but my son decided to blow up the clutch so It's time to do it now. Right now I'm mocking everything up to make sure it all fits & I have everything. Once that's done I will pull it apart fix & paint the engine compartment. For a transmission I'm using an M5OD-R2 from a 96 F150. I did find a top plate shifter from a 2wd F150 4.2 6 cylinder M5OD-R2 & that moves the shifter back a couple inches so the hole should be behind the crossmember. As far as the 250 goes It's .40 over with a comp cam, headers and an HEI distributor. stout22 I'm glad to hear the 250 handles the OD I'm running 31's & plan on doing some trails some cruising & some highway.
Sounds like a good plan with the M5OD-R2 as alternative to the NV. I used a mini starter and it is definitely smaller and lighter than stock might help with header clearance.
Stout22 that is a nice looking job under the hood!
 

Bajabrewer

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bmbm nailed it - Need a mini starter - The starter that came from the 170 hits the frame & won't seat. I noticed in the pic that it says "American Motors" on it? I stuck the starter in enough to see that there are a couple options for exhaust routing. The rear collector should clear the trans & body & exit over the starter. the forward collector may be able to exit to the side of the rear collector run down the top of the frame and then inside the frame once behind the trans/starter area. the other option for the front collector is to drop straight down between the starter & engine mount then 90 straight back under the starter to meet the other pipe. Either way I'll probably see what a shop would charge just to do the bends to get it back to where I can put a muffler.
 

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Bajabrewer

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So I found a link to the header I bought. To make things easier to route I'm considering necking down the pipe after the collector from 2" to 1-1/2" to get it past the starter area then Y them together probably 2" out to the muffler? would this be too restrictive? I have the old stock style muffler in good shape or an old turbo 2" in 2" out that I was planning to use.
What's anyone's thoughts on this?

https://www.protuninglab.com/hds-fe...MIm_j-yvaC-gIVZhmtBh3DfAe1EAQYASABEgK7DPD_BwE
 
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