1965 Mustang Engine Information – 260 cubic inch V8
This was the first V8 installed in the Mustang, its block was painted black (paint code 903), heads were blue (paint code 963), and the valve covers and air cleaner were light blue (paint code 958).
It was an enlarged version of the previous 221 CID V8 that Ford used in previous cars and the 260 had 164 horsepower. In 1962, it was used in the Shelby Cobra, the Mercury Comet and the Ford Fairlane. Then in 1963, it was used in the Shelby Cobra, the Mercury Comet, the Ford Fairlane, the Ford Galaxy, and the Mercury Meteor. In 1964, it again saw service in the Shelby Cobra, the Mercury Comet, the Ford Fairlane, and the Ford Falcon. Finally, the little v8 was installed in the newly introduced Mustang in April 1964 and was offered only until August.
The 260 was an overhead valve 90 Degree V8 engine and a good performer. It was easy to add modifications and make good horsepower. Carroll Shelby used the little 260 in his first Cobras and really kicked butt. The street version ran on regular leaded gasoline. Intake manifolds were cast in two variations, the street version which was cast iron and the Shelby performance version cast out of aluminum. The Shelby version also enjoyed solid lifters while the street version used hydraulic lifters.
Carburetion was achieved through one of the following carburetors: Autolite 2100 (2V)with an automatic choke or a Autolite 4100 (4V) using a manual choke.
The engines used a single point vacuum advance distributor for the standard engine. However the Shelby Cobra was equipped with a dual point mechanical advance distributor. However as Chevy tried to catch up with ford, they rumored to use a 283 CID engine and the little 260 was not enough engine to beat the 283 so Ford upped the game with the 289 starting with the late 1965 Mustang models.
Engine Basics
| Year | 1964 1/2 (“D” Code) | 1965 (“F” Code) | Cobra |
| Cylinders | 8 | 8 | 8 |
| Displacement | 260 cu / 4.3 liters | 260 | 260 |
| Power (hp) | 164 hp @ 4,400 RPM | 164 hp @ 4,400 RPM | 260 hp @ 5,800 RPM |
| Torque (lb/ft) | 190 lb/ft @ 2,400 RPM | 190 lb/ft @ 2,400 RPM | 269 lb/ft @ 4,500 RPM |
| Compression | 8.7:1 | 8.7:1 | 9.2:1 |
| Bore x Stroke | 3.80″ X 2.87 | 3.80″ X 2.87″ | 3.80″ X 2.87″ |
Engine Specs (206 cid V8)
| Spark Plugs | BF-42 |
| Oil filter | |
| Gas Filter | |
| Air Filter | |
| PCV | |
| Oil | 5 quarts of 10W30 or 10W40 |
| Oil Pressure | 35 – 55 PSI |
| Points | .014″-.016″ Gap and ? Dwell at 600 RPM |
| Timing | 6 Degrees BTDC Manual & 10 Degrees BTDC Automatic |
| Valve size | Intake 1.59, Exhaust 1.39 |
| Valve arrangement | R. side I E I E I E I E Front to rear |
| Valve arrangement | L. Side E I E I E I E I Front to rear |
| Manifold Vacuum | 16 inches at idle |
| Warm Idle Manual Trans | 575-600 RPM |
| Warm Idle Auto Trans | 475-500 RPM |
| Carburetor CFM | Autolite 2100 |
| Bore and stroke | 3.800 X 2.870 |
| Compression | 8.7:1 (130 – 170 psi @ cranking speed) and 9.21:1 (Shelby Cobra) |
| Compression pressure | 130-170 psi |
| Combustion chamber | 53.0 closed combustion chambers |
| HP and Torque | 164 hp at 4400 RPM and 258 ft/lbs torque at 2200 RPM |
| Taxable HP | 46.2 |
| Distributor Rotation | Counter-Clockwise |
| Firing order | 1 – 5 – 4 – 2 – 6 – 3 – 7 – 8 |
| Weight | Long block 460 Lbs |
Engine Torque Specifications
All torque specifications provided in this table are those recommended by FORD. If you use special bolts, follow the torque specifications provided by the manufacturer. I recommend that you use the 3 step torque technique where you torque down the bolts in three equal steps. Once you have reached the maximum recommended torque setting, go around one more time. Do not torque in a circular pattern. Always torque cross to cross.
| Head bolts | 65-70 |
| Crank cap bolts | 60-70 |
| Rod end caps | 19-24 |
| Intake bolts | 12-15 |
| Exhaust manifold bolts | 15-20 |
| Harmonic damper | 70-90 |
| A/C Compressor mounts | |
| Engine fan | 15 |
| Motor mounts to engine | |
| Bellhousing bolts | 25 |
| Trans to Bellhousing | |
| Flywheel to Crankshaft | 75-85 |
| Oil pan bolts | 15 |
| Valve cover bolts | |
| Carburetor mount bolts | |
| Oil Pump | 25 |
| Spark plugs | |
| Trans. inspection plate | |
| Water pump bolts | 20 |
| Rocker arms | 20 |
| Cam bolt upper gear | 40 |
| Clutch pressure plate | 35 |
Crankshaft Bearing Journal Specifications
Main Bearing Journal (inches)
| Journal Diameter | |
| Oil Clearance | |
| Shaft end play | |
| Thrust on number |
Connecting Rod Journals
| Journal Diameter | |
| Oil Clearance | |
| Side clearance |
Piston Ring Specifications
Comp Ring Width
| Top | 0.0774 – 0.0781 |
| Bottom | 0.0930 – 0.0940 |
Ring side clearance
| Top | 0.0019 – 0.0036 |
| Bottom | 0.001 – 0.004 |
| Oil ring | Snug |
Ring gap width
| Top | 0.010 – 0.032 |
| Bottom | 0.010 – 0.032 |
| Oil Ring | 0.015 – 0.067 |
Piston Specifications
| Code Red | 3.7976 – 3.7982 |
| Code Blue | 3.7988 – 3.7994 |
| 0.003 Oversize | – |
| Piston to Cyl. Bore clearance | 0.0021 – 0.0039 |
| Piston Pin Bore Dia. | 0.9124 – 0.9127 |
Valve Specifications
| Year | 1965 |
| Seat angle | 45 |
| Face angle | 44 |
| Valve spring pressure lbs/inches | 161 – 177 @ 1.39 |
| Valve spring installed height (in) | 1 3/4 – 1 25/32 |
| Stem guide clearance (in) – Intake | 0.0008 – 0.0025 |
| Stem guide clearance (in) – Exhaust | 0.0018 – 0.0035 |
| Stem Diameter (in) – Intake | 0.3100 – 0.3107 |
| Stem Diameter (in) – Exhaust | 0.3090 – 0.3097 |
