I've located a 292 in a '56 Ford school bus, been sitting a long time, last tag on the bus was 1973, but the motor turns freely with a breaker bar and has clean oil in it. Supposedly driven to where it is sitting, now being used for storage (a function it can continue to serve just fine without its engine). Looking at it with ***umption I'll need to rebuild it, considering it for Ozelle the '55 Ford (Fairlane 4 door) as an alternative to the 272 that's in it. The car is a 3 on the tree. Anybody know if the heads, cam, etc. on the big truck 292 are different from the p***enger car version of this engine? Would there be enough difference in performance to make it worth the trouble?
Pretty much the same except the bore . Just have the 272 bore to a 292 and it's pretty much the same engine . Now if it has the 292 that was in the bigger dump trucks then you might have a steel crank in it . Not really any difference in performance . Retro Jim
Are you absolutely certain it is a 292? In '56, so far as I know, the only Y block offered in trucks was the 272. The Lincoln Y 302 & 332 were also available, as well as the 223 six. The 292 was offered in p***enger cars and T-Birds. The HD292 does have a steel crank (a**** other differences), but it was offered only from '61-'64.
Ditto what Homespun said,,,try to find some date codes to confirm the year. The trucks never had a rear dump DS manifold because of the steering box.
On a commercial vehicle, I wouldn't ***ume anything. I have found 2 desirable Mercury flathead V8s in trucks. The book says that they should not be there. I don't know if you can tell from the numbers what size it is. It's possible that it was replaced during it's life or even rebuilt. If you really want it, I'd ***ume it's junk and pay the appropriate s****e value price. If it has been rebuilt or replaced with a larger version you could hit a home run. Just go in with your eyes open.
Would it have those *****in rams horn exhaust? I know they were truck items but don't know the years. Hey, they all ran before they were parked!! ~Sololobo~
If its a Lincoln and has the ramshorn exhaust, I dont think they will fit on a Ford Y block motor. Maybe someone can confirm this. FYI
The ram horn manifolds that fit the common "Y" block were originally fitted to the "C" cabovers, '57-'64. They will fit any truck that came with a Y.,,,,,,I think,,,,
In some of these types of situations I think it's not a FoMoCo installation, but rather a dealership, or a particular sales region. Three examples: 1) A NE dealership installed the larger Lincoln/truck Ys in medium duty trucks, at the request of a large customer who bought a large quan***y. 2) A SoCal dealership installed a 312 in a new '56 F-100 big back window, along with other customization. 3) A region installed 312 Y blocks for warranty replacement in light trucks in place of 292s. This occurred in the early '60s towards the end of Y production, and presumably they were trying to use up parts inventory. SuperCJ, yes, that is correct- the Lincoln Y manifolds won't fit the Ford/Mercury Y. And I believe s****iron is correct as well about the rear-dump manifolds. I have seen rams' horns on the conventional mediums as well as the C cabs...and once, on a P-series.
I'll have to check numbers to be absolutely sure of what it is. If it turns out to be the Lincoln/big truck engine, would it be a pretty straightforward swap in the '55 Ford?
The big motor is easy to spot, the valve cover hold downs have a rib on either side cross-ways, the car Y VC is smooth with a length -wise indentation in the lower half.
Not at all! I think it was stated before that the Lincoln/truck Y is a totaly different animal. Look at the exhaust manifolds, the Ford bolts are all in a line the Lincoln are diagonal. The oil pumps are the same but that's about it. I will also confirm the the trucks with a Ford Y should be a 272 unless the dealer installed something bigger. (292 or 312) Look by the dizzy for a casting # (Dearborn block) this # would be a 272 Look above the oil filter if it there is no # next to the dizzy this will be the Cleavland casting.
When I was growing up (early '60's) I had a friend who's uncle put a 312 Thunderbird engine in his '56 Ford Truck. That was my first engine swap I ever rode in and I still remember it today! What a gas w/ open rear and 3 on tree it would "lay rubber" for blocks w/ him driving it.
Just a quick question. How late were the Y-blocks installed in pick-ups? I found a 71 in the local pullapart with a Y-block in it. Looked like a factory install.
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