I am considering doing a drive train swap on my 54 ford custom. The car currently has the origanal 239 yblock. The engine was rebuilt around 30k miles ago but but still runs a little rough. I was considering going through the engine again. I have a new Tri-power set up for it and some other odds and ends to get it running again. Heres the question, should I bother or just do a drivetrain swap (I would be swaping either a 78 ford 351m or a 401 nailhead, both of wich I have laying around) I have done some research on the early yblocks and have found that the 239 was of poor design and has many problems such as a soft crank. I am really thinking of swapping the Ford 351m in it with a c6 just to keep it ford and then the car would be a reliable driver. What do yeah think?
Take all the "cosmetic" pieces of the Y-block (generator, oil bath air cleaner, paint color) and stick 'em on the 351. It'll fool probably 8 out of 10 people at car shows into thinking it's the stock mill.
I hear you on that!!! I am not the kinda guy that keeps my hood open at shows anyways. I seen an article in R&C on how to make your sbc look like a desoto hemi!!!! argh what is the world coming to. Not that I care anyways. hah ah ah.
Yeah I think I most likely will rip out the old heart and toss in the 351m. A reliable car has alot to be said for. The 351 is pritty built. Its bored 60over, 3/4 cam, performer intake, msd ignition, new distributer, all the gooddies I would normally never put in a rod motor, but what the hell its laying around and I can use it, so I think I will. Just in case you were wondering the motor came out of a F150 my father built up in the 80's. Yee-Hawww.
If you want to make life easy find your self a 292 y-block, they are still around and all your stuff will bolt right on with out any mods. A 312 will also work but alot harder to find for the same money. A 292 would make you happy.
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