Quote:
Originally Posted by alexopm
Hi Dan. XHP 260 -4 was fitted in the De Tomaso Intercontinental/Formula Libre car that was purchased by John Mecom Jr in 1963. ...
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There must be some explanation. Perhaps HP260 (semi-production High Performance 260) number 4 is the engine you discuss as the history of XHP-260-4 (Ford engineering Experimental High Performance 260 serial 4) is very well known. There was also an XHP-260-14 but it was documented as going into a new Cobra.
Bob Mannel was good enough to slowly dismantle, gently clean, and do a reverse engineering study on engine XHP-260-4 for me and the engine’s owner years ago. Bob’s analysis has been on public display before and is published.
At the time the study was undertaken I was only moderately sure which new Cobra received engine XHP-260-4 in 1962. I am as sure as I can be now of which Cobra received it without some kind of new car documentation; which I have not found so far. I will not share my educated speculation without some factory documentation to back it up.
The image below of one of the show boards displayed in public with the engine after Bob’s study. It covers mid-1962 through the time the study was done. We even know who talked the Ferrari owner into replacing the Cobra engine with a Ferrari one in the 1990s.
This next image is from a set taken after Bob finished his engineering study. He reassembled the engine without refinishing it. The Ford generator and ancillaries are not Cobra correct but I failed to find and original alternator and hardware as supplied by A.C. Cars Ltd for the engine in the Cobra; I still have not but I have still not given up. Bob installed the Ford charging system parts just to have something for his display at a national car event. Reproduction early Cobra specific parts are available but unrestored original parts are more desirable. The odd colors of paint on harmonic balancer and cylinder heads are their original paint. The hand lettered XHP-260-4 on each rocker arm cover is the original lettering from 1962. (The log book and engineering files numbers along with the serial number were hand stamped on the block consistent the other XHP-260 engines we know about.)
XHP-260 engines were made with mostly handmade experimental small parts and most experimental parts were marked with a serial number. Even carburetor base gaskets were custom and marked with engineering information. The only ‘production’ parts in the entire cylinder head assemblies and valve train drive were a modified cam gear (to change timing), cam gear fixing hardware, and a stock timing chain. None of the special parts unique to the engine ever made it to Ford production.
HP260 engines were in Ford Motor Company’s words “semi-production” engines. Not much was shared from the previous XHP-260 model.
There were several types of cast iron blocks and heads 260 c.i.d. Ford Fairlane engines:
Ford Fairlane 260 2V announced as an available option February 17, 1962.
Experimental High Performance 260 4V 1962
High Performance 260 4V 1962
Ford Industrial 260 2V
Ford Industrial 260 2V (Sunbeam Tiger)
Ford Marine 260
All these "iron" engines in long block form would look very much alike if all were painted the same color. All these assembly versions were different and quite a few companies bought and used them new here and in Europe. Cobras did not get sent out with aluminum engines. (SAAC has published that an INDY 255 was installed for one race in one Shelby team Cobra but it quickly failed and no further trials were attempted with aluminum engines in Cobras.)
I would like to see the pictures you mention. Could you be talking about an ultra rare 255 c.i.d. V8 pushrod "INDY" Ford with aluminum block and heads? I have read that only ten were made and that only three are known in running condition this century.
http://www.wrljet.com/fordv8/indy.html
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