Ok well while I am waiting on my new project I am already planning. I have a 49 Ford COE on the way, with a running Flathead v8 in it. I want to upgrade the engine to something that looks very stock but will be able to cruise on the highway and pull a light trailer. I was thinking a Y Block because I believe those came in later model COEs. What is the size difference of the two motors will it reasonably fit. Does someone make a adapter that will fit the COE transmission. Thanks, in advance.
The Y-block you'll be interested in finding/running is a 272, 292 or 312. Stay away from the early ones. Go to http://www.ford-y-block.com and to http://www.y-blocksforever.com for a good start on a Y-block education. An all iron Y-block is only slightly heavier than a flathead and will easily give you 2x the power on a reasonable budget. There is a forum here: http://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/index.php that covers older trucks like yours.....maybe somebody already did the swap and can give you some insight. If the '49 truck has an open driveline then axe the flatty transmission as well (you won't be sorry) and use a more modern transmission behind the Y-block. If you want to stay stock appearing a number of 4-speed and 5-speed manual transmissions can be used/adapted for use behind the Y-block bellhousing. If your not opposed to automatic transmissions there are adapters available to install C4, AOD and (if I'm not mistaken) the 700R4 behnid the Y-block as well. Good luck with it! -Bigchief.
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