This is what I have, a Y block that is in very good shape but it has a crack at a main bearing saddle. This is not my block but an internet photo, mine is almost the same. Mine only has one crack off to the left of the bolt hole and no crack across the bearing area. My question is, can this be repaired? If you know anything about Y block motors, you know there was misprints in manuals and they listed a torque that was too high and Ford used bolts that were too short in the main caps. (they went to longer bolts at some point). So many of these blocks are cracked like this. Is there anyway to repair this.
yes, that is what I thought just hoping for someone to save me on this. Shame to toss out a 292 block.
My luck I'd machine the block put main studs in it and line bore it and that peice would crack the rest of the way.
That is the one area I would not do a repair. For a engine who extened pan flange was hyped for a strong bottom end I have seen many main web failers.
Yes a 272 will work. Ive got a 272 in my hoard that has a fresh rebore to a 292. The best fix is to swap in a FE
Not sure if this would be an option or even worth it. Some of the rarer, # match type engine blocks it's definitely the way to go. https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&sou...aw3XJx8oOgMJU7rQNw4oV5x6&ust=1579020190183388
I just looked them up, thanks. It looks like that is more for a crack that is in like a flat area, don't thinkit would work for me.
Oldmics, I have been to your place I bought that 3 speed from you a year and a half ago or so. Tell me more about that 292 you have.
Oh man, don't say that! I have a running Y block in the car now I was just building a better one to swap in at some point.
Unless it is in a matching numbers restoration where the numbers count for show points or resale $$ I'd think that one could find another 292 block that wasn't cracked and have it machined with a lot better results. In this area at least they aren't all that rare yet.
When I rebuilt my 312 I found the same cracks at three main bearings. On close inspection I found the cracks extended upwards towards the cam journals. I had a number of people familiar with Y blocks say that almost all the blocks, especially 312's, have these cracks and no one had ever heard of a failure because of them. A fairly long search resulted in finding a good 312 block and crank not too far from me. I did find that everyone that has an old Y block laying around is sure it's a 312. Most are 292's because they were in production the longest.
I had read something on cracked main bearings and quite a few y-blocks were ruined with over torquing the the main caps. The early shop manuals stated 130 lbs. of torque which is a misprint. The real torque values are 95-105 lbs.
Ford at that was not a numbers matching company. Date codes on the cast iron would be the best way. I think Ford got into it around 67-69.
Do you have a pic of your actual block,,it might not be as bad as you think. Some of these old iron pieces can be repaired,,,welded very well. If it is not too bad,,,,,after repair and using studs,,it might be okay. Many years ago,,,I had bad problem,,,a Mopar 906 cylinder head with a hole in the chamber. These heads had many dollars of porting involved,,,so a replacement was a lot of work. The chamber had a 3/8 inch slot about 3/4 inch long in it,,,,in the flat of the chamber ,,into the water jacket . Hummm,,,,sounds like a piece of valve stem,,,,doesn’t it. Anyway,,,Indy cylinder head said they could fix it,,,I didn’t believe it,,,but they assured me they could. When I got it back,,,it was perfect,,,just like it never happened. I have heard of Hemi main webs and saddles being welded too. I know it probably easier for you to get another block,,,but you could keep your options open . Has anyone ever put 4 bolt main caps on a YBlock,,,,that night be an option too. Tommy
ted is actually here on the hamb. hamb name is Tedd. that said, he was last here on new years eve @Tedd