Hot Rods The all inclusive,almighty Y block thread

I´d like to throw out a question to you fellow Y-block folks, my friend Jay has an E -Code 57 Ford with the dual quad 312 on it and I know those manifolds are pretty much made of unobtainium. His car runs very well and surprised me quite a bit. Is there a good aftermarket dual quad manifold? I´m running an Offy 3x2 with 3 94s and whild I do like the looks it just doesn´t perform well, the Holleys keep leaking on me and after a whole lot of headaches I´ve got it run better-ish on only the center carb. I feel like a 2x4 setup with AFBs could set thing thing on fire. Of course now it´s only a 2bbl in fact, but I just don´t want to tinker anymore with those leakin Holleys

 

My Merc -

My Rod -

A home-made set-up I cobbled together years ago -


Baumi - Have sent you a message.

 

So here are a few basic questions.

What camshafts do Y blocks respond best to?
What intake works best on the street?
What's the average cfm carb that work the best?
What intakes to avoid? I know with Nailheads, Offy 3x2 is the one to avoid.

 

@Tedd

 

Hope Ted Eaton see's this thread ( I forget his user name ). Wealth of reliable information. https://www.eatonbalancing.com/

 

These don’t leak, not a Ford intake and needs no special valley cover. AFB’s are adaptable as this manifold I bought had them but I did not want AFB’s. There one on E-Bay right now for $450 which about right. 2 adapter’s and 2AFB’s ought to get you in about $1200 ...

 

If you are a Y-block fan do NOT go to this link. It will take you hours to get out of there.

 

Those photos show there's more space than first thought.

I have the Wilwood/w proportioning valve, but also Sanderson ceramic-coated headers. The Sanderson's provide more space between master cylinder, and the ceramic coating is supposed to reduce under-hood temps.

Catalogs list OEM master's "heat shield" as a drip pan.

 

Jimmy , is that a # 257 Edelbrock intake that you are running?

 

Yes. A 255 would have matched the 55-56 ports but this one came along. I removed the name and number and media blasted it. Found on E-bay 6 years ago.

Roothawg. Same for a y. Avoid an Offenhauser 3-2.
Best street is a 57 B or a Blue Thunder manifolds as they both have a heat crossover. Mummert doesn’t have the heat crossover. Many like the Summit 500 Carb which is out of stock currently. Ted Eaton’s tests show up to a 750cfm can make great power but for me on the street I look smaller. Even tho I run dual quads each is supposedly in the 375 range and I drive on the rear one 99% of the time. It’s the 1% that’s fun.

 

Nice rabbit hole huh?!

 

Love Y Bocks & have been collecting speed parts & stuff since I got into Hot Rods. Lot's of good info here for some future builds. Thanks!

 

Howards HRC292002-10 Or something with the duration in the 220 @ 50 range

 

So, they like a short duration. Basically, like a 283 Chevy.

 

Not necessarily, they are still internal-combustion engines/air pumps. I chose 214 duration @ .050 because I have 2.72 rear gear, but 2.90 1st compensates somewhat. For any daily-driven vehicle under 350 cu. in., I would keep duration at/below 220. However, you have to consider your total combination and what you want it to do. Putting a big cam in a heavy car, numerically-low gears, low compression, and restricted heads is just plain dumb. The same goes for big carbs.

 

I forgot to say that I had considered the aforementioned Howard's cam, but Howard's never responded to several requests for the cam card, even though I used their contact form on their website. You'll get a much better response from either Ken Heard of Oregon Cams or Jerry Cantrell of Schneider Racing Cams.

 

Took theses pics at a cruise night about ten years ago.

 

Thanks for posting this thread! Subscribed...
My first decent car was a '54 Ford that came with the 239 Y-block, my dad and I replaced it with a 312. I was 16 and really enjoyed it up until I wrecked it! I have owned several '54's over the years as well as a couple '56's, a '54 F100 and a '55 F100. My current ride is a '56 with a 312/Fordomatic and I plan on keeping this one...

 

3 pages of comments and no mention of the 1957 supercharged 312

 

You're talking 6 figures+ for an F-code.

 

I am on the hunt for a wagon or Ford pickup just so I can have @mctim64 build me a Y block

 

There's a '56 2 door wagon on Facebook Marketplace...

 

I think that’s in my neck of woods. Maybe!





Bones

 

The Y block is just like the other long gone V8's of 50's It responds to the usual hot rod tricks and makes enough power especially in a light car....As mentioned, the biggest mistake you can make is overcam the engine and wind up with a lumpy dog.

 

Out of curiosity why should a guy avoid the 3x2?

Too much carb? Too much to syncing multiple carbs. Complete novice here just curious.

-Adam

Sent from my rotary phone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

The Easton site shows actual dyno testing with Offy and Edelbrock 3-2 manifolds. The Offy was horrible. The Edelbrock was good. The Mummert 4 barrel was even better, but who really wants a boring 4 barrel?

 

Was happy with my stock old 64 Ford pick up with the old grannie gear.....never let me down !

 

I'm an admitted opponent of the Y block after a bad experience I had with one years ago. While I can still say that there are certain design aspects of the Y block that I find dopey, I can also admit now that with 20 years of experience in working on cars that I would have been able to overcome several of the issues I encountered then and probably would have kept a Y block in my 57 if I had to do it over again. I keep a running 292 around just in case I decide I need it for something.

I do think the Y block is a good hot rod engine, especially for a street car. I'd say it's probably mid-range in terms of price for parts. Obviously more expensive than a SBC or Ford Windsor, but still less expensive than Olds, Hemi, Caddy, etc. I think the Y block fills a role in the Ford lineup of engines where you want a nostalgic engine but also want an engine that makes more power than a Flathead.

I think the elephant in the room with the Y block are the supposed top end oiling issues. I'd love to hear about some folks experiences in that regard.

 

The engine actually had no issues, it was poor oil and mostly poor maintenance. At one time we were running four Y-blocks on the ranch. But they were mostly bought new and maintained. We never had any problems with the Y-blocks. And we worked them! One 292 was in an F-600 with a 22 ft flat bed. We loaded that with watermelons many times and hauled them in a three state area. That truck would also haul ten ricks of firewood , too.
It all comes down to maintenance!
None of our engines ever plugged up, but I did see other engines that did. But this was the same era, that I could pull valve covers off a sbc and read Chevrolet in the crud!



Bones