215 OHV 6 cyl

[the99car]

Can I run a 223 (1954) head on a (1953) 215 block ??? - Kenny in Zhills, Fl

[Herman Munster]

Maybe. I'm aware that the 223 is just a bored out 215 and that the two use many of the same parts such as the gasket sets, timing gears and distributors.

[scrapiron]

Not sure, but if the head gasket is the same, I'd say yes.

[Tinker]

The 215s oil filter and distributor are in different locations as well.

Not sure about the head though.

[JeffB2]

The 215 and 223 Head gaskets and intake and exhaust gaskets interchange,so it's a go.

[Daves55Sedan]

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If I remember correctly, the 223 oil pickup tube runs to a different rocker on the 223. The question is, can you get away with using the 223 rocker shaft assembly with it's pickup tube and run it to the oil pickup hole in the 215 block?
The folks at www.fordsix.com might be able to help you out better with this. Look for the vintage inline sixes forum in that website. There are lots of guys that mess with the 215 and 223 engines in there.

[George/Maine]

If the head gaskets are the same, and your push rods line up, you can do it.
It seams some 223 had problem getting oil to rocker shaft.
This is what I did.
Removed the oil line to shaft, leave in shaft and bent up having drilled hole in valve cover. Then went from oil sender hole to pipe with rubber hose,
Then before pipe put a smaller tubing in the reduce oil flow.
I have run this way over 2000 miles this year.

[the99car]

good call on that oil tube Dave55 I will double check that .my concern was the water passages lining up .The 223 head was revamped for more even cooling but I don't know if the holes line up. I will check fordsix.com --thanks, Kenny in Zhills

[JeffB2]

The fordsix.com website is now history and off to the cyber space wasteland

[41ford1]

Try here. http://fordsix.com/forum/

You can't get to the forum from the home page for some reason.

[Daves55Sedan]

The fordsix.com forum is still up and active. I was just in it a couple days ago but there is not as much activity in there as there was years ago.
Guys, I believe the head gaskets are the same for the 223 and 215. There may be some holes that are not used depending upon which engine you have. That doesn't mean the holes in the engine block are the same. I fear that the oil pickup tube hole on the 215 engine is in a different location than on the 223.

[41ford1]

Here is a shot of a 215" with the head off. The oiling tube goes through the hole into the tappet chamber between cylinders 4 and 5. The oiling tube is connected to the last rocker shaft stand. If the 223" head has a hole in the same place you should be good to go.