200 to 250 Conversion

Discussion in 'Technical' started by kukm66, Nov 12, 2007.

  1. kukm66

    kukm66 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2002
    Messages:
    216
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Phoenix
    Vehicle:
    1972 Grabber, 1964 Falcon Futura Convertible, 1964 Ranchero
    Somewhere in the future, I will be swapping out the 200 for a 250, so I need some info on any changes that will be needed.1) tranny and engine mounts2) driveshaft length3) tranny cooling lines4) exhaust (stock)5) column shift6) anything else
     
  2. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2002
    Messages:
    26,590
    Likes Received:
    2,935
    Trophy Points:
    978
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    MACON,GA.
    Vehicle:
    '73 Grabber
    you will need another ...bellhousing...

    ...:Handshake...
     
  3. Jamie Miles

    Jamie Miles the road warrior

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2005
    Messages:
    12,098
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    383
    Location:
    Lawrenceville, GA
    Vehicle:
    13 Mavericks
    As frank said, you will need the 250/302 C4 bell housing. You will also need the correct 250 flex plate and torque converter. Also make sure you have the stamped sheet metal plate that goes between the engine and bell housing.

    As for the column shift, you will need to get the Z bar and linkage for the 250, specifically the last piece of the linkage that goes from the shift arm on the transmission to the Z bar itself is alot different between 200 and 250 and not interchangeable. Make sure you have the Z bar pivot that bolts on the bell housing as well.

    You may have an issue with the radiator hoses. The 200 lower radiator hose will not work for sure because it is smaller and won't fit on the 250 water pump. On the upper hose, you can get by using the 200 thermostat housing/water neck on the 250. It will bolt on the 250 head no problem. Regardless, any auto parts store should be able to give you the correct universal hoses to get the job done.

    You may run into issues with the neck of the exhaust not reaching the exhaust manifold. The 250 is a bit taller. You'll just have to try it and see.

    Everything else will fall in place no problem, the motor mounts, original drive shaft and everything will work fine.
     
    Last edited: Nov 13, 2007
  4. newtoford

    newtoford Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2006
    Messages:
    5,475
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    157
    Location:
    New Castle Delaware
    Vehicle:
    '76 Maverick, '76 Comet, 78 Monte Carlo, '85 Cutlass Supreme, '86 Regal Limited, '87 Grand Prix
    250 actually have a slightly diffrent frame side motor mount too but i think you can still make the 200 ones work.
     
  5. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2002
    Messages:
    26,590
    Likes Received:
    2,935
    Trophy Points:
    978
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    MACON,GA.
    Vehicle:
    '73 Grabber
    ...and if this is not a ...mav./comet 250
    ...you will need the ...oilpan and oilpump pickup...:yup:

    ...:Handshake...
     
  6. newtoford

    newtoford Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2006
    Messages:
    5,475
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    157
    Location:
    New Castle Delaware
    Vehicle:
    '76 Maverick, '76 Comet, 78 Monte Carlo, '85 Cutlass Supreme, '86 Regal Limited, '87 Grand Prix
    i didnt know the oil pans were specific to the maverick? the 250 uses a diffrent oil pan then the 200 so you wouldnt be able to swap them if you do need a diffrent pan
     
  7. 71gold

    71gold Frank Cooper Supporting Member

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2002
    Messages:
    26,590
    Likes Received:
    2,935
    Trophy Points:
    978
    Garage:
    1
    Location:
    MACON,GA.
    Vehicle:
    '73 Grabber
    ...rule of thumb...when doing a swap in a mav/comet...get a mav/comet donor car. :yup:
    there are so many diff. little things that are mav/comet only...

    maybe :huh: when you are through you will do a tech.writeup...:yup:

    ...:tiphat:...
     
  8. Jamie Miles

    Jamie Miles the road warrior

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2005
    Messages:
    12,098
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    383
    Location:
    Lawrenceville, GA
    Vehicle:
    13 Mavericks
    I have heard that many times. But I have never been able to find a difference. My '72 was originally a 200 car. I had a 250 in it for the past couple of years, bolted to the original frame mounts no problem. I just put another 200 back in it recently, again, didn't touch the original frame mounts. I have also swapped the engine mounts between 200's and 250's and not had a problem there either. If there is some difference, it will not cause any issues.
     
  9. newtoford

    newtoford Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2006
    Messages:
    5,475
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    157
    Location:
    New Castle Delaware
    Vehicle:
    '76 Maverick, '76 Comet, 78 Monte Carlo, '85 Cutlass Supreme, '86 Regal Limited, '87 Grand Prix
    in my chiltons guide i think it listed difrent part #'s for the 250 frame mounts as well. i also seen alot of posts on ford six where 64-68 mustang guys had to fabricate diffrent frame mounts when swapping out 170's and 200 for a 250
     
  10. Gene Fiore

    Gene Fiore Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2005
    Messages:
    1,865
    Likes Received:
    148
    Trophy Points:
    178
    Location:
    Goodyear, AZ
    Vehicle:
    1971 Grabber, 1970 Maverick Drag Car(sold)
    Hey Don, what kind of head are you going to put on that 250?
     
  11. kukm66

    kukm66 Member

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2002
    Messages:
    216
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    43
    Location:
    Phoenix
    Vehicle:
    1972 Grabber, 1964 Falcon Futura Convertible, 1964 Ranchero
    For right now, I will just use the stock head since this car will be a daily driver. At some point in the future, I may use the OZ head that is going into the Falcon. I am considering one of the alluminum heads as an option on the Falcon later, then swap out the OZ head onto the Maverick.

    On the frame mount issue, a 250 fits into the early, stock Falcon and Mustang mounts but some have stated they had to enlarge the slots. Will dropped his 250 into a 63 Falcon without any mods whatsoever. The later Mustangs circa 1969 and up are another issue. We tried to use stock Falcon mounts in Mike W's 69 and we came up short. The difference here is the frame width which is wider on the later Stangs.
     
  12. Halebopp

    Halebopp Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2004
    Messages:
    1,420
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Ankeny Iowa
    Vehicle:
    without Comet now just keeping in touch
    I'm really surpised by this thread I thought I would hear people saying it is a direct replacement, guess I am way off. what are the real advantages of this swap, isn't there less expensive routes to power gains sticking with the 200? Compared to the 250? I supposed this might just be related to replacing a bad motor with a better one, at low cost.
     
  13. newtoford

    newtoford Member

    Joined:
    Mar 16, 2006
    Messages:
    5,475
    Likes Received:
    8
    Trophy Points:
    157
    Location:
    New Castle Delaware
    Vehicle:
    '76 Maverick, '76 Comet, 78 Monte Carlo, '85 Cutlass Supreme, '86 Regal Limited, '87 Grand Prix
    actually its probably easier to go from a 250 to a 302 then a 200 to a 250.

    they make alot more for the 200 since that what the early mustangs had but if i were going to do a performance 6 build i'd start with a 250. you cant turn down an extra 50 cubes out of pretty much the same block and since '70 was the first 250 they also all have the larger intake. biggest issue with 250's tho seems to be finding a set of headers that fit with the low mount starter
     
  14. Jamie Miles

    Jamie Miles the road warrior

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2005
    Messages:
    12,098
    Likes Received:
    29
    Trophy Points:
    383
    Location:
    Lawrenceville, GA
    Vehicle:
    13 Mavericks
    Stock vs. stock, the only advantage I can think of is the 250 makes a little more "seat of the pants" power compared to the 200. Other then that, really no other advantage. Performance wise, you can do most of the same things to a 250 as a 200. You also gain the SBF bell housing pattern with the 250, so T5's and other late model transmissions will bolt up (a T5 is a direct bolt up to a 250 using an aftermarket 0 balance flywheel for a 302).
     
  15. Halebopp

    Halebopp Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2004
    Messages:
    1,420
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    Location:
    Ankeny Iowa
    Vehicle:
    without Comet now just keeping in touch
    yeah thats what I thought, unless the 200 is much in worse condition seems less hassle to mod it than to replace with 250. I had thought to go the opposite direction if I could get a 200 in much better shape than my 250.
     

Share This Page