I have put together a fair amount of SBC's and SBF's, even a Chrysler or two but never a Y-block. All advice and tips are welcome and needed. I am building a 292 from about '62. I am hoping to put 3x2's on it and a good cam in hopes of getting 250-300 HP. This will have a Mustang T-5 behind it and 3:88 gears in an old F-1. Thank You, Tim
Tim, My brother and I built a 272 with a t-5 behind it. It doesn't make much power,but we didn't try to make anything special. They do have a bad reputation for bending pushrods though. the stock ones are weak, but there are tubular aftermarket ones for sale. there are 2 different lengths make sure you get the right ones. We had Headers made by Red's They are great, high quality and fit perfectly in my brother's '57 F100. The bellhousing came with the engine and trans package. It is a modified stock y-block bellhousing. If i remember correctly it is a car bellhousing, the truck ones are different. Two of the bolt holes for the t-5 will line up, the other two had some round stock welded to the bellhousing and drilled and tapped. the T-5 we used was from an early SVO mustang or turbo coupe t-bird. I can't think of anything else that was tricky, but if you have questions I'll try to help. We are about to open up a '58 292.
buy an olds . just kidding .y blocks have some cool speed parts . i've never had any luck with them though ..
I would love to rebuild my 239 y for my '54 customline, but the parts just to rebuild stock are high as hell. Looks like a 302 is going in.
The '60-'64 engines had heads with very small intake valves. If you don't want to go the $$$ for large valve '57-'59 heads, even a pair of '55-'56 heads would be an improvement.
ECG-Z are the large valve / large port heads. I think my brother's engine is a '56 272 and the exh. ports were noticeably smaller then the y-block we have with the ecg-z heads.
Homespun has an enormous wealth of knowledge on y-blocks...hit 'em up. and '*****inRatFink just put one together (i sold 'em my radiator). hopefully they'll chime in soon. oh...and good start here: http://www.ford-y-block.com/
also: http://www.webrodder.com/article.php...&SID=60&CID=15 http://www.webrodder.com/article.php...&SID=60&CID=15 http://www.webrodder.com/article.php...&SID=60&CID=15 http://www.webrodder.com/article.php...&SID=60&CID=15 http://www.webrodder.com/article.php...&SID=60&CID=15 http://www.webrodder.com/article.php...0&SID=4&CID=15 http://www.webrodder.com/article.php...&SID=60&CID=15 http://www.webrodder.com/article.php...&SID=60&CID=15<!-- / message -->
This site has alot of info.. even ***embly errors section, but the rest of it is useful too and plenty of neat parts to drool over http://www.ford-y-block.com/***emblyerrors.htm
Make sure you put the cam bearings in with the oil holes lined up correctly, if not, no oil will go the the rockers. That happened to a friend of mine back in 1967.
Only advice I can give is to fit new cam bearings. Had to do this in my 57 T-Bird to ensure an oil supply up to the rockers. Mart.
Street Rodder in 1999 had a very good multipart series on building up a Y Block. Mods to make, very good article on heads and gave part numbers and manufacturers, options. And on a 292.
Y-BLOCKS are bad*** but I dont think you will gethat much hp from one. Unless you stroke it , there is a new kit but it is expensive. I have had a few 312's and 292' even a 272. I love them nothing sounds like a y-block. I also an puting one in a 1948 ford F-1. PM me if you want some pics of how I'm doing it.
The Jalopy Journal
