So like I knew when I bought it, the 239 Y block in my 54 is rather tired. She runs smooth enough but to be fair, it smokes a lot, has blowby, weak compression, etc. 105k miles and 57 years have taken their toll. Sooo... I have ZERO intention of throwing a Windsor or SBC in her, so what about a slightly bigger Y block? I'm thinking a 272/292 with a 4 barrel.... but... She's a Fordomatic, will that air cooled fordomatic take the torque of a bigger engine or should I consider an AOD? If that's the case then comes the temptation to just build something kinda hot for it. Not doing anything right away.. just trying to figure out a plan of attack.
I'm running a '58 292, its got G heads and 3-94s, and it works as well as it can with my air cooled ford-o-matic. Those are the same transmissions used in t-birds, if I'm not mistaken. FWIW, I'm going t-5 because I'm tired of my ford-o puking fluid, and I really want an overdrive. The Y blocks too look for are the newer ones, anything made after 56 should be a good engine for you!
I would either get a 292 or a 272 and bore it out to a 292 , stick a better cam in it , install a Blue Thunder 4 bbl intake with a 600 Holley , headers and install either a C4 or AOD with adapter or if you have a standard trans now , install a T5 behind it and have some fun . If you go the more modern route , then a 302/5.0 will fit right in there very easily . The 302/5.0 are super easy to find and cheap thanks to the Mustang ! There are also tons of performance parts as well for them . The BIG advantage the 302/5.0 has over the Y Block is , if you do have any problems and need parts , you can find parts for the 302/5.0 ANYPLACE even on a Sunday ! If you have problems with your Y Block then you will have to sit and wait to have the parts ordered to get them . It all comes down to one thing , It's your car and you have to make the final choice . Just be happy with what you choose because you have to live with it and none of us do . Just enjoy the car all you can because that is the bottom line ! Jim
The biggest reason for not building a Y-Block is parts cost check out this listing:http://www.ford-y-block.com/enginepa.htm then compare the costs of 289-302 parts,a Blue Thunder intake lists out at $399 for a Y-Block a Performance intake for a 289-302 about $150 ,the Performance rebuild kit is $2500 and does not even include a block or machine shop costs.For the price of a Y-block kit you could have this :http://www.tuffdawgengines.com/ford_302_328hp.htm Want overdrive? an AOD will bolt right up to a 289-302 or the T-5 with stock parts,AOD or T-5 Y-Block adapter kits will set you back $800-$900 I love the sound of those old Y-blocks too but they will put a hole in your wallet.
Depends on what you want to do with the car and what you are going to expect from it. I personally am a y block fan and have a 312 with three 94's in my '54 with an AOD, but like the others have said the adapters ain't cheap. A y block can be mated to an FMX very easily and inexpensively. The small block ford fits nicely in there too. Just depends on what you are looking for.
Thanks! Well... now, I may be insane, but here's where my head is... I want to keep a Y block in the car, I was more worried that a, say, 292 would blow the stock ****** up. So option #1, rebuild what I have.. if I do all the work myself except machine work that's probably gonna cost me $3,000+. Budget kinda isn't gonna allow for that. So option #2... looks like 272s/292s in good shape are out there for well under a grand in good used condition, this'll fit the budget and give me some more pep... 312s seem to be kinda pricey and tough to find, besides, I don't need this to be a race car or anything, but some more zip would be really nice.
In my 54 I'm running a 1962 312 30 over, 3 two;s performance cam. behind it is a 69 fmx with shift kit. 325 gears in 9inch rearend. My 55 has 302/c4, And the 54 coupe has what everyone hates to hear.....Chevy 350/700r. Of all three engine change over the Chevy was the lease expensive to do .Just my 2 cents on the subject.
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