I'm going Sat. to look at a '59 Edsel,he wasn't sure which engine it has. I know what a Y block looks like and 410 or 430 style MEL 's but how would I tell if the y block is a 292 or 312? I ***ume it wouldn't be a 272 because of the year.The push ****on trans is different completely or just the shifter part? I probably will part it and use as a donor car for a T project but would prefer the 312 as far as $$$ goes . Thanks Happy Thanskgiving everyone.
I didnt know they put a 312 in an Edsel. A 59 should have the good heads though. There is no way to tell a 292 from a 312 from the top. If you can see the crank flange where the flywheel bolts on, turn the engine over slowly. On one side of the crank flange is a cut out the shape of a half moon. Oposite this is a flat spot cast in. If there is a dot in the center of the flat spot is a 312. If no dot, its a 292.
Ole don is correct, look at the crank flange if you can. If not, pull the oil pan. 312 main caps are always marked ECZ , all other Y-Block main caps are marked EBU.
Tim McMaster has a very informative site. Google Y-Block and look for how to identify a y-block. Thats what I did. Good site and a good guy to know. Hope this helps.
A couple of things... 1) Every Y block made from 1958-1964 for installation in a production vehicle was a 292, at least in the United States. There is some speculation that the 312 may have been available in Canada through '59...I've not yet seen do***entation. The 312 was also available for marine use as well as replacement engines, and there are a few cases of dealers putting them in new vehicles on customer request...but bottom line is that if it was made by FoMoCo from '58 MY on up, in the U.S, it's a 292. It follows that no American Edsel would have a 312, unless it was swapped in at some point. 2) Guys...guys...not to bust yer chops...but the absence of the dot does NOT....REPEAT NOT...mean it's a 292 crank. There are some 312 ECZ cranks without the dot!!!! Most have the dot, but not all by any stretch. I owned a 312 crank, verified by me, that did not have the dot. Other people have mentioned finding them as well. At one point, I believe Mummert even mentioned this on his site though I don't know if it's still there. There are some other differences in the 312 cranks (besides the stroke & main journal diameter changes), but the dot is the quickest way to say for sure that it is a 312...so far as I know, the dot is only found on a ECZ crank...but not having a dot doesn't definitely mean it's not a 312. The only really reliable method is to pull the oil pan. As *****in' noted, the caps are the easy indicator at that point.
I second what Homespun91 said. Log on to Mummerts web site www.ford-y-block.com and you'll find all the info for y blocks.
I used John's site because it was referred to in a post above. But I also have other material that lists a 312 for '59 and '60 Mercurys, so John's not the only one. I've never seen one, but believed I might come across one someday. Also, I've never heard or read of a 6 cyl. Mercury until the '60 Comet, but have seen and know of a 6 cyl. Edsel. Again, just curious, and maybe learning something new.
The 312 was the base engine for the 58/60 MERC . When MERC reverted back to a FORD based ch***is in 1961 (breakup of MEL Division), the 223 Inline Six was the base engine and the 292 base V8 (until replaced by the SBF in 1963). The 59 EDSEL would have the 292 base engine (FORD based ch***is- MERC based body dropped) and the FE 332 and 361.
A buddy had a '58 Canadian Merc with a factory 312, but it was a weird car all around. 3-speed stick, power seats, and no radio! Must have been a special order.
From my understanding Edsels did not get Y-Blocks. Info shows only a 6 cyl. , 361 FE called a 410 (torque figure) and the 430 Mel. If the car has a Y-block thenI'd think it's a transplant. Movin/on
The EDSEL TELE-TOUCH transmission range selector was deleted in the 1958 model run. MERC had the push ****on selector on the dash. The tran(s) used in 1959 (EDSEL) were the COM (FX and MX) AND THE F/M/2
We had a 58 Edsel with a 361 cu in, 303 hp. It was an E-400. The bigger Edsel was an E-475, and was a 410 cu in. And I believe the later Edsels did have Y-blocks. Lippy
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