Clifford 6=8

M

Merrell Maxwell

Junior Member
I picked up a new,crate Clifford 6=8 engine in a junk trade and know absolutely nothing about them.It's a Ford straight 6,probabaly a 300.Can anyone tell me what to look for in terms of a compatible automatic and what makes these engines special ?
Thanks in advance
Merrell
 
Clifford was (is?) an aftermarket hot rod manufacturer of six cylinder speed parts, particularly intake manifolds. Also, cams, valve covers, etc. So what you have is a Ford engine with some bolt-on goodies. They claimed that their parts made a six cylinder as fast as a V8; thus the "6=8" logo.If you need a flywheel, do not use one from a 302 or 351; they are balanced differently form the six.
 
Back in the late 60s Clifford Engineering was located in Costa Mesa, Ca. just off of Placentia Ave. Their main bread and butter was Hudson six bangers, hadn't branched out to Ford yet. They were a little two man shop. Back then I worked at City Auto Parts just down the street and saw those guys almost every day. Great memories, got to see some awesome Hudson cars, 6 did equal 8.
 
A few years ago I rebuilt a very nice '37 GMC pickup. The '37 GMC was the last GMC to use the Olds inline flat-head 6. Wanting a more modern engine with an auto trans, but not a belly button SBC I opted for a '65-68 Chevy 292 6 with Clifford goodies.. Manifold, cam and head work..
The engine was still under 300 CID, it put out over 300 HP.. I used JAG suspension under the truck, front/rear, it stuck to the road like glue and was an absolute rocket ship..
A guy came along and offered me twice what I had in the truck so I sold it.. I was quite sorry that I let money influence me.
I'm now gathering parts to build another '37 GMC, have the truck and the 292 engine.. I think I'll use a TCI front end on this one.
I can attest to the fact that Clifford equipment on a 6 cylinder engine, does in fact.. 6=8
 
You can use a C4 or AOD the better choice of the two because of overdrive which will make that torquey six better on gas and keeping the revs down.
 
JeffB2 said:
You can use a C4 or AOD the better choice of the two because of overdrive which will make that torquey six better on gas and keeping the revs down.
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With just a little bit of work the C4 can be built up to handle over 500 HP. I have a friend that has a C-4 behind a blown Buick straight eight that he drag races on a regular basis..
 
blucar said:
...C-4 behind a blown Buick straight eight that he drag races on a regular basis..
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That sounds neat… For what it's worth a C-4 is a great automagic for drag racing due to low parasitic HP loss compared to other automagics (read AOD).
 
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