Inliners International Forums General Discussion Ford Progression of the Falcon engine?

I know it started out as a 144ci... or at least as far as I know it did. Then there was a 170.

After that what? 200, IIRC, there was one sold here dubbed the 3.6... so that would be about 220, then it went to 250.

All of this with much the same layout... grew a couple of extra main bearings somewhere along the way, well, three actually. I'd say that happened at the '220' stage, in all probability.

Anyway, as I said, all with much the same layout, detail changes, the log inlet manifold cast into the side of the head. And there was a '2V' multiport option circa 1970.

What I'd like to know here is whether or not the derivatives we saw were as sold in the rest of the world, or if some were unique.

The head on the 250 came in for a complete change some time in the mid to late 70s, we saw the 250 block topped off with a crossflow iron head with 12 ports. A couple of years further on, maybe 1980, came an alloy version of the same. I don't know if the badges still later that proclaimed 'Alloy Head 2' meant anything or not.

Then there was a capacity reduction to 3.9 litres and a single overhead cam head went onto a heavily modified block. Still the same in most ways, but with some ribbing and changes. Still later, possibly 1990 or so, the boring bar got to work again and it settled at 4-litres.

Has the Falcon 6 engine followed the same path elsewhere, or did the Aussie one become unique at some point along the way?

Ray, I think the Americans were a lot less experimental than the Aussies were/are. The original integral head sixes for Ford Falcons, Mustangs and Econoline vans progressed from 144, then 170, then 200. Mavericks, in the early '70s, could still be had with a 170, 200, then 250 sixes. I've seen one '79 Mustang with a 250 six. I believe by the '70s, only the 250 six was available in vans. These engines were avoided by many, because of their integral intake, but others found suprising performance from them with minor work. I had a '65 Mustang 200 with dual headers, an Offenhauser tripple carb intake* and a Iskenderian cam. With no other modifications I could give 260 V-8 Mustangs a fit!

* Holes were drilled in each end of the intake and an aluminum adapter was bolted onto the factory intake, provind a mounting surface for the two extra carbs (with progressive linkage)....worked like a champ!

So when did this engine go out of production there?

Or is it still made?

Ray, according to my Motor's Manual, the last year for these engines was in '83. It was the 200 ci version.

So much of the Australian development took place after it stopped production in America then...

We had the iron crossflow head at that time, I'm sure, the alloy head followed soon after, then fuel injection. The overhead cam model came about 1990 or so, IIRC.

But I think it was only a 250 here from about that time.

Did you ever have the '2V' head there? That came out here about 1972, with huge inlet ports and a separate manifold on the same side as the exhausts. Gave huge grunt.

Nope, I've never seen anything but single-barrel carbs on these engines from the factory. I've fooled around with porting the original carb hole and installing larger carbs, even made an adapter and put a two-barrel carb on one time, but the three single-barrel carbs made the most improvement. I wish I could have gotten ahold of one of the overhead cam engines you mentioned, for my old Mustang!

The 2V heads were very rare... but the crossflow 12-port heads are a dime a dozen in both alloy and iron here. The overhead cam stuff is easy found too.

I'd be happy to find this gear for anyone who wants it. My brother works on this stuff all day long, has heaps of it lying around.

I guess nobody really wants this one?

My understanding is that the crossflow head came out in '76 (and was developed using the Cleveland valve arrangement) with the introdution of the XC Falcon, Alloy head came out in '81(?) the Alloy Head Two was developed further with the help of Yamaha. 1982 saw the introduction of EFI in Fairlanes & LTDs. Unleaded motors came out in '86.
I think the '88 EA Falcon 6 was totally redesigned.
(if I'm wrong about anything feel free to correct me)

Cheers
Jamie

ps I can take photos of the motors I have if anyone is interested.

The 3.6 you mention was the 221. Ford AU and Ford Argentina both raised the deck hieght of the 7 main bearing 170/200 and then stroked them to 188/221.

The Alloy X-flow head was joint developed by Honda and Ford AU. I shipped over a late 1987 4.1ltr x-flow six out of a XF Falcon. I picked up the EEC-IV computer and T-5 bellhousing also. I'm looking at dropping it into a 85 or 86 Fox-bodied Mercury Capri.

--J

The 221 crankshaft was put into many Holden reds expecially the 179HP block bored to max and running Starfire or 1964 220S Mercedes Benz rods.
This gave between 232 and 235 CI depending on bore.
With 12 port head and triple 45s they could really pump some HP

That's right... with a crank drive flange to suit a Holden flywheel shrunk on with a 0.003" interference fit!

At least that's how it was done in the eastern states.

Jimmy B... if you're still around... I believe the overhead cam engine is still on a somewhat modified original Falcon block.

Ulster MG ex Eyston

http://www.yorkwa.com.au/Motor.Museum/1934MG-NE.htm