Just coming off an experience building a flathead for my oldest son's car (gift from his grandpa). Turned out to be an exercise in check writing, as I was warned it would become. I've got a few years to get my youngest son's vehicle--'56 F100 small window--operational. The 272 runs, my dad has a 239 ohv from a '55 F250 that we can maybe use for parts. Researching these engines reminds me why I went Orange back when I was a not-so-bright teenager. I would like to scrounge up another engine now and get some of the parts in place now so this doesn't become an expensive last-minute deal again. Unless my career takes an expected positive turn, we won't be doing 3x2's, T-bird covers and ramshorn manifolds. I'm also thinking we need to keep the engine smallish and mild so that a teenager can afford to drive it at least a little bit a few years from now. I'm wondering if someone knows of a good book, website, or other resource that pulls together all the Y block info in one place. Interchangeability, best/worst blocks, cams, etc. Any other advice appreciated.
Johns site is a good one for info so is Ted Eatons. http://www.eatonbalancing.com/blog/ I would bore the 272 to a 292 as pistons and rings will be easier to come by and a little cheeper too. You can do some good stuff with the smaller valve heads too as lined out here. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=549186
Are you just wanting a good reliable motor or a fast motor? My 272 was rebuilt to stock with the exception of Ramhorns. Needless to say I have been across 1 Province and 7 States. I have drivin' it in the extreme cold and extreme heat. I use at as my daily driver and have to had a single problem with it. It has been the most reliable engine I have ever had, and I to have had three Orange motors.
Reliable, torque, as reasonably efficient as possible. My Ford problem is with how complicated they made everything. 427,428, and a 429? Windsor, Cleveland, Modified? Good luck with that. The Orange oil leakers are so simple.
My 57 Fairlane has a standard bore,stock cam 312 and duals.It makes good torque,reasonable power and gets about 16 mpg with the A/C on the highway.Be sure and stay small on the carb or the gas mileage and torque go out the window. I replaced my original carb with electric choke 600 holley. On your 292 I would not go more than 500 cfm.
The 239 ohv are diffrent from the other ones The heads have smaller chanels and are diffrent in head gasket and water chanels in deck/head plane. The dizzy have no mecanical advance only calibrated vacuum like the 8ba flatheads. It poseble to use new heads on 239 if some water chanels are welded in the heads and use of the newer head gaskets (if i rember right did a convesations for 14 years ago). to use newer dizzy on 239 must the cugg wheel be change (14/15 cuggs).
The 272 and subsequent Y Block offerings had cures for all the ills of the 239 item....Go with any of those. 239 had a terrible oiling system ! 4TTRUK
I will always prefer a Y over an SBC after having my 272. I have had two 350's and a 305. They didn't come close to how good my 272 is. Plus Y-Blocks sound a million times better.
If you keep your eyes open it shouldn't be difficult to find another Y-Block if that's what you want. What's wrong with the engine you already have? As stated above, the 239 isn't much help, a lot of stuff got reworked in the later motors. From personal experience, unless they were perfect, I would put new cam bearings in. On my T-Bird, the cam bearings had worn to such an extent that the oil could no longer get up to the rockers. New cam bearings put that right. Mart.
I don't know that there's anything wrong with the 272, but the last time I drove it (a decade or more ago) I remember thinking it wasn't a great runner and needed at least a valve job. I figure maybe pick up a small valve 292, just to make sure? My recent experience with the flathead build made me think I could have spent less money and been more satisfied with the end result if I'd been better prepared. Since I have time, I want to educate myself and make sure we're ready to go when the time comes to do the rebuild this time. Thanks for all your help, guys. I have alot of good stuff tabbed on my computer. If anybody wants to make any suggestions about overdrive for this truck, you have my attention. But I have a feeling the orignal ones offered are now rare and too costly for this project.
Try this site: http://www.m571.com/yblock/index.htm, or just google yblock RodL Twin Pipes & Pin Stripes
Hi Mitchell, how did you get ramhorns to fit? I'd like to put them in my 55 sedan to replace the crappy headers I inherited when I bought the old girl,but I didn't think they would clear the chassis etc. RodL Twin Pipes & Pin Stripes
I had them on my first car, it was a '54. It's been a long time but I remembered them being from a '57 as that's what I bought head pipes for.
thanks Unclee, some i've looked at on the net were only suitable for rods & pick ups where there was more clearance for the exhaust pipe. RodL
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