So it’s been a few years since we started exploring options to
a supercharger on the 66. The idea was to fuel inject it and follow that with a supercharger. Well, life got in the way and “stubby” has served as my Daily driver with a 200 and C4 ever since. Jump ahead to the present and it was needing some attention. Although it was running OK, it developed a noise it the bottom end that required Phil and I to pull the motor for some exploratory surgery. It looked lIke it would be an easy fix so we took the opportunity to upgrade the cam and valve springs. About the same time I finally got the opportunity to order the aftermarket aluminum head from vintage inlines. I had been on the waiting list for a couple years. As it would take months to get the new head, we put the motor back together and got it on the road again. Problems came up like a crappy idle followed by overheating issues. The heat issue was the biggest head scratcher so we opted for more radiator and a better fan. No improvement. We tried a few things without much luck keeping it cool. With the radiator swap, I finally added a coolant overflow bottle. It didn’t take long to notice that the coolant in the overflow was milky looking. This lead to the realization that oil was getting in the coolant. Thinking the new head gasket may have crapped out, we tore off the head and replaced the gasket and even swapped to another know good head we had laying around. Still no improvement in cooling left only one other place where the oil could be getting in there...the block has a crack. Having determined that, we set out to find a replacement. 200’s are easy to come by in the junkyard but that would have been the easy way out wouldn’t it?
The L6 family of in-line six cylinders had several engines. The 144 was followed by the 170 which was later replaced with the 200. After that, came the 250. So that’s the plan. This motor is taller, wider and creates a host of other issues to wedge it in a Bronco.
It’s going to a challenge but hopefully we can get it done by the time the snow comes...stay tuned for the details.
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