1980 Mercury Zephyr
 

For you Ford guys, any significant differences between a 79 and 80 Zephyr that would prevent you from running a 79 as an 80? Apparently no 302 in 1980.

Jim Mantle V/SA 6632

Re: 1980 Mercury Zephyr
 

Jim, 78 thru 83 Fairmonts and Zephyrs are pretty much identical , other than 78s have clear front park lights, vs amber for the remainder. Yes, 302 was only available in 78 and 79, 80 and 81 had a V8 225 as the only optional V8. 79 was the only year for a Fairmont or Zephyr with a 4 speed.

Re: 1980 Mercury Zephyr
 

Thanks Rory, there is a real clean 80 for sale here that the seller says is a 302 but I have my doubts. I'm sure if it's a 255 you would have to switch the year to make it a viable combo and run a 302.

Jim Mantle V/SA 6632

Re: 1980 Mercury Zephyr
 

Jim, easy way to tell a 255 from a 302, is the 255 intake manifold has open webbing between the runners, kinda like a "air gap" style intake, with the intake gasket having a steel valley cover underneath. 302 has a solid intake like most other V8 engines, other than 383-440 MoPars.

Re: 1980 Mercury Zephyr
 

That intake deal came up on one of the hot rod sites recently.
I had never heard of it . I searched for a pic but today's Google...forget it.
Anybody have a pic? Just curious..That's all. The 255 is rated higher than most of the 302 2bbls...Nice going'..You know who

Re: 1980 Mercury Zephyr
 

Here you go Mark.

Re: 1980 Mercury Zephyr
 

Thanks, Joe
I guess you'd need one of these too.

https://i.postimg.cc/pLR0nvrt/SFL-MS...4-TOP-ra-p.jpg

Re: 1980 Mercury Zephyr
 

That`s the one, Joe. Certainly goes to show how serious the manufacturers were when it came to reducing weight in the late 70s-early 80s, 2 barrel intake made from aluminum, material carved out between the intake runners, and the bare minimum needed to mount the carb. When I first bought my 78 Fairmont 2 door sedan, it was bone stock, but a real stripper, 4 cylinder (all cast iron), 4 speed (cast iron case), manual steering and brakes, no radio, etc, and I drove it onto the scales with 1/3rd tank of gas, with the spare tire and jack still in the trunk, and weighted 2680 pounds.

Re: 1980 Mercury Zephyr
 

That intake gasket is decieving because the 255 intake ports are tiny ovals, way smaller than 302's which are similar to the gasket opening.
A 255 is a stone. I worked at a Ford dealer in 80-81, we didn't have anything that could even spin a tire in the rain!
I can't imagine being a lot boy nowadays with 760hp Shelbys and even 300hp econoboxes. . I think the 255 was 112hp, and slushbox only,