61 Starliner engine codes

[wowens]

Found a Starliner that is supposedly a hipo car. Engine code is Z.
Hipo? Brake line goes around front of engine, has locked up center oiler  427 in it with tube headers, sitting 25/30 years.

[Katz427]

390 with 300bhp, I find a few sellers who think the only 390 in 61 was the 375hp, but most turn out to be ' z' code 300bhp.

[Katz427]

I also should say that I have been told that some 375 hipo engine Galaxies still had a Z code, however I have only found 300 hp models. I have also  heard that there was Q code attached to 375 hp models. Somewhere along the line they put the 3" wide brake shoes on the front on hipo models. Everyone says the tripower was a dealer install option in 61 as well as the 4 speed T10.

[Katz427]

And to muddy it up further I did find a 1962 galaxie 500 that was an early model year with a real 390 -375 hp and it had a Q code. So it makes me wonder if all the real 1961 hipo cars should be a Q.

[wowens]

My research shows all 390 engines in 61 showed Z as engine code. The only way I have seen to identify a hipo is the breaks & routing of front brake lines. I am hoping someone knows of something else specific to a hipo car. It was a 3 on tree, orig column still in it.

[Katz427]

I think if it has the 3" wide brake shoes it may well be a hipo chassis. That and possibly the brake line up front. You have not got the original engine  too look at so, I guess one could call it whatever. How about the rear springs? They use an extra leaf like the 406 cars I have seen?
I looked at a 61 over a year ago that had the front brake line change, but was told by the owner that it was not a hipo , just a 300 hp originally. A lot of hipo cars had overdrive with the T85 3 speed transmission. That doesn't help you when none of the original drive is there.

[RJP]

Hi-po 60 and 61 Fords from the factory have 3" front brakes, 15" wheels, 3/8" fuel line, Front brake line is re-routed to the front X-member only on the 61, my 60 360/352 Starliner has the std. routed brake line attached to the round cross member under the engine. I doubt the factory re-routed as a running change as my 60 'Liner was late production, built April 1960 in L.A.  [same as all other 60 Fords regardless of engine] HD springs, short branch exhaust manifolds, 4 pinion rear end and all Hi-pos were standard transmission only, with or without O/D. Rear end ratio was usually 3.56 or 4.11. Look for the "broadcast sheet" tucked inside the pass. door panel, that is where I found both of mine for the 60 and the 61 [both L.A. built cars]. 3" front brakes were also used on station wagons, police packages and I believe Taxi cabs. 61 390/401 hp came as a single 4 bbl and the 3 x 2 setup was wrapped in a plastic bag and put in the trunk for dealer installation as was the B/W 4 sp. when it was released mid year IIRC. Shop manuals do not have any info on hi-po cars other than info and specs on 4 bbl Holley carbs. Nothing on 6bbl. as usually shop manuals were in print before the actual release date of that model year. No actual hi-po info is found in both my 60 and 61 shop manuals. Disclaimer: Both my hi-po Starliners were L.A. built and I have seen minor differences in other cars built in another assembly plants so there is no hard-fast rules regarding production.

[wowens]

Thanks RJP