Does anyone know what I would gain from switching my inline 200 cid to a V-8 255 cid? Also does anyone know of performance parts that could be used on a V-8. I know the 255 was a failed attempt by Ford at making a better emissions engine than the 302. The 255 was simply a debored 302, so it should fit right into the Maverick. Any ideas or tips would be helpful. Thanks.
if your gonna do the V8 swap why put in an engine like that? i'd just stick with a 302. just going by what you say, if the only diffrence is bore i would think pretty much anything except heads and pistons would be the same.
I once owned a 81 THUNDERBIRD with a 255 in it. If you are going to the trouble of swaping to a v8 go with a 302.
How bad would the 255 be? I have access to a 82 T-bird that has a 255 in it. That is the reason for this inquiry.
^^^that seems to be the case for just about any missions era 1980's small displacment v8 nightmares chevy 305's and olds 307's are popping into my head now
How much more power would it give me over a I-6 200? And how much would a 302 give me over the 255? In the last issue of Hot Rod Mag, that article about the Maverick said that their stock 1970 Maverick with an I-6 200 put a mighty 58 hp to the ground and I need more than that.
I had a 79 Monte Carlo with one of Chevy's 267 V8's. Their contribution to the emissions problem. It was a 2 year only engine that was also a slug. It spent it's short life mostly in passing gear trying to climb the slightest hills. I swapped in a 350 and was able to launch some of the snow tire studs through a house window. Look for a 302.
i'd just go look for a 302. its not like there hard to find. ford's been making 'em for 40+ years. the 255 would be an improvmnt but probably not enough to make it worth it. then again if you get it running with a 255 under the hood you'll already have everything in place if you ever swap a 302 in. 200's wre designed to make just enough power to move the car, last a while and get good gas milage. i think the 255 was made with the same goals in mind. i'd be suprised if that t-bird was putting more then 100hp to the wheels
ya know i love g-bodies but unless its a turbo buick they all had a POS under the hood like that from the factory
thy would probably have the highest compression, but the 1980's 5.0 roller and GT blocks are good too. you can still bolt on a 4bbl intake if you dont want the hassle of FI
well an 80's 5.0 shouldnt be too hard to find, youd just have to bolt up a carb and intake and put a new timing chain cover on so you can run a mechanical fule pump unless you want an electric pump.
