53 FORD Question

I know a local guy trying to sell a 53 Ford 2 door. He said it was the anniversary edition and had a flathead. If I rememeber right my dad had a 53 Anniversary Edition Pickup with a Y Block. I thought the Y Block came out in 52 or 53? I have not seen it yet, but I do plan to go look soon.

Does anyone have any pics of 53's? What body styles were available?

 

'53 F-100's have flatheads . . . so it sounds reasonable to me.

 

I think they changed during that year. So the answer is,they had both.

Cars with a helluva potential,they`ve got some really nice lines. Go for it.

Z

 

The official introduction of the Y block was with the 1954 models. Can't say whether any were released early as one of Ford's notorious "running changes"......

 

As far as I know, the Y-block was introduced in 1954. The two door body styles available would include the coupe, sedan, vicky, convertible, wagon and sedan delivery. The coupe has a shorter roof than the sedan. The anniversary editions had the extra chrome spear over the rear wheelwells and a special steering wheel emblem. Here's a vicky:

 

This is a coupe;

 

Two door sedan:

 

Yep! 1953 was the last year of the 8BA, 239 cu in flatmotor unless your a Canadian. They changed the body in 54 but ran the 8BA and just for your info, the first "Y" block, the one for 1954, had 239 cu inches. Odd little number ain't it. Musta been really odd as it only was made in 54. By 55 272's were the thing.

 

Remember back then the next year's model came out in September of the previous year. 54s were released in Sep 53. I have known some people to refer to their cars by release date.

 

One diff is the frame. the 53 had rear sump oil pan so cross member is wide. On the 54 had a tube cross member with front sump oil pan. If you put a y block in a 53 you will need a truck/tbird rear sump oil pan.one last thing the wheel base is a half inch longer on a 54.

 

Here is my 53 it has a flathead auto.

 

the y-block came out in 54. the 53 still had a flattie

 

While we're on the topic of '53 Fords, I've got a quick question regarding the 8ba. What's the deal with the valve seats on these things?

I must have picked it up from one of the many flathead posts recently, but I seem to recall someone saying that the "later" flatheads didn't have the valve hardened seats. True?

-r

 

did any of them have hardened seats? if not,it doesn't cost that much,if you're already rebuilding the engine.i was quoted just under $125 to do all the ex,seats in the rambler I-6 flatty i'm building for my friend.

 

[ QUOTE ]
Yep! 1953 was the last year of the 8BA, 239 cu in flatmotor unless your a Canadian. They changed the body in 54 but ran the 8BA and just for your info, the first "Y" block, the one for 1954, had 239 cu inches. Odd little number ain't it. Musta been really odd as it only was made in 54. By 55 272's were the thing.


[/ QUOTE ]

Buddy has a '52 with a ohv 6 in it, 239 ci.

 

Ford sixes were ohv starting in 52 I believe. The ohv V8 started in 54.

 

Fords and Mercs in the US market had flathead V8's up thru 1953 production. They changed over to the ohv Y-block for 1954 and on. The flathead V8 for '52 and '53 was the EAB version for Ford (EAC for Merc). The 8BA/8RT/8CM version was used from 1949 thru 1951. The 8BA/8RT/8CM engines had exhaust valve seat inserts only. The EAB/ECM engines (52-53) had no valve seat inserts at all. No big deal to have a machine shop cut the blocks for them if you wanted. The EAB engine (used on Ford cars) had the highest compression heads offered on the late style Fords (higher than the Merc heads) so some guys prefer them if staying with stock iron heads vs aftermarket aluminum heads. More info on the Ford Flathead V8 engine website:

Ford Flathead V8 Engine site