SBF 221 cu. in.
- Thread starter 46yblock
- Start date
A 221 was Ford's new small car engine, just a 289 with a smaller bore. Not a real gutsy engine, but it wasn't intended to be. It was designed for the small Fairlaine in 62, but Ford got caught up in the HP race and made it grow internally(bore,stroke,heads,etc.) until it eventually became a 302 with the same external dimensions. As far as mileage and performance, my neighbor had a bone stock 64 Galaxie and I had a stock 62 Fairlane, both cars had a stick with od, and both had 3.5 rearends. The heavier Galaxie would get an honest 20 mpg, while the Fairlane could get 21 mpg, the Galaxie would easily out run the Fairlane.
The aluminum 215 GM engines, both Buick and Olds, were unique, ran well, especially the turbo Olds version, but had problems with head gaskets. I liked the Olds version over the Buick because of the head design. This basic engine design was bought from GM by Land Rover and was refined and in production for many years
The aluminum 215 GM engines, both Buick and Olds, were unique, ran well, especially the turbo Olds version, but had problems with head gaskets. I liked the Olds version over the Buick because of the head design. This basic engine design was bought from GM by Land Rover and was refined and in production for many years
willowbilly3
Well-known member
Dan Gurney got 750 horse power out of them and ran them in Indy cars.
I have always thought one would be nice in a little light car. I've went one step up and have a 260 in the rpu I'm building. It should weigh about 1500-1800# and I expect the little 260 to propel it just find and (hopefully) get 25 mpg doing it.
I have always thought one would be nice in a little light car. I've went one step up and have a 260 in the rpu I'm building. It should weigh about 1500-1800# and I expect the little 260 to propel it just find and (hopefully) get 25 mpg doing it.
The 221 was not a poor engine, but a poor performer because it was intended as an economy motor. After all it is a Windsor. A friend in high school had the 221 in a Fairlane and, tho' not fast, it ran fine. A friend had a 260 Fairlane and my brother had a 260 Falcon and they were both quick for small engines. The 260 was the engine in the original Mustang and Cobra. Any SBF can be made to go with the right parts and work done to it.
W.E.
W.E.
Hey willowbilly, you might wanna' think about the ' Rally ' package offered for the 260 in '64, it ended up puttin' out 260 horses. Kinda' the 260 version of the Hi-Po 289 that put out 271 HP.
W.E.
JeffB2
Well-known member
It all depends what you put it in and what you want it to do,when I was selling performance in Medford,Oregon back in the early 70's I had a 17 year old customer with a '63 Fairlane 221 he wanted to build,he earned his project money working fast food and was taking Auto Shop in high school, just ten years earlier I was in his shoes so I decided to do what I could for him as some other shops turned him away and scoffed at his project.I advised him to rebuild it and read up on doing some mild porting and gasket matching upgrading the valve springs and putting in screw in studs,I had Cal-Cams in San Leandro make up a special grind with increased exhaust duration and lift and a 107 lobe center similar to a short track grind,with an Edelbrock F4B intake and a 500 CFM Carter Comp series and Cragar 1 1/2" long tube primary headers,it paid off and that little 221 spanked several of the local 283 bowtie guys as it pulled some screaming RPM's.
Wily Kyote
Member
Dan Gurney got 750 horse power out of them and ran them in Indy cars. QUOTE]
No one will get a bigger kick out of your claim than Daniel Sexton Gurney, himself, I'd bet.But he, being a modest gentleman, would insist (correctly) that it was nearer 530HP, with 305 ci. He finished in 2nd place at Indy with the pushrod engine (replete with Gurney/Eagle cylinder heads) in 1968.
46yblock
Senior Member
Cool story. The "kid" is probably over at the White City/Eagle point track every weekend.