Technical what can be done to a Ford 272 Y-block

Got a low mile rebuilt Ford F-100 272 Y-Block in my 54 F-100 project---any way to improve a 272 Y-Block engine or just get rid of it and go with a 302-351 W engine ? ?

 

'54 Cad & a hydro ....

 

Keep the Y.

 

Due to inherent design limitations, the 239 isn't really a viable motor; any power you could add will prove to be expensive. A larger Y-block will bolt in. If you're after cheap power, go with a 351W.

 

Noting wrong with a Y-block,it's a good engine,not a racing engine but a good driver engine.

Dress it up and enjoy the ride. HRP

 

It's a perfect start to a single seat racer!

 

y blocks rule, except 239s
unless its a numbers matching resto, build a bigger one
or just dress it up

 

Just got all the #'s off engine and heads and all numbers come up to a 272 Y- Block not a 239 so that is a plus--- so engine was changed during the years

 

The 272 is a good engine and should respond well to a basic hop up.
Why replace the good engine you already have with another good engine?

 

My question is, what do you actually mean by "improve" ?
The Wizzard

 

272 cool
you can go 292 with it if ya want to

 

Basic 4 barrel intake and duals and make sure the distributor isn't wore out. Don't go too big on the carb.

 

If it is a low milage rebuilt 272 I would drive it and enjoy it. Of course a lot depends on how you are going to use the truck and what your expectations are.

Charlie Stephens

 

1957 up distributor.

 

You could do what I did and bore it .180 over, put 312 pistons in it, G heads on it, and a B intake. Makes it like a 299 cid and gets my Victoria down the road real nice like.

 

272s can be made to run.... I knew a guy in the late '60s with a 272 with lightly-ported heads, big cam, single carb, headers, and a T10/4.11 gear in a '56 Ford 2-dr sedan that terrorized the 350 SS Camaros....

 

Bought and paid for. As above, minor mods will ensure drive-ability. And get the project on the road that much sooner.

 

I would swap to a better design engine. I like FE,s and the 351 W is a good choice also. Sell the 272 boat anchor to someone who likes them.

 

Back in the day when I had a Y block powered 56 Victoria Htp. 292 bored 040 57 312 four bbl heads and intake late dist and dual exhaust (I still have the engine). The warmed up 235 chevys could give me fits. A stout 283 would blow my doors off. I installed a 59 FE 300 HP 352 interceptor and I could give the 327,s fits. But a good running 350 I never had a prayer. There where a few 283's that displaced 352 cubes long before Chevrolet came out with the 350.

 

The guy I knew had the motor built by his brother, who was a wizard with Ford motors. His brother later had a '65 Falcon (stripped for racing) that got into the 8s with a 302 running a single 4 barrel... and no power adders...

 

Nothing wrong with a Y block, they are a good nostalgia engine that produce good torque.
These engines years ago had a couple of small issues, but all these issues have been identified and can easily be addressed these days.
The two issues that I can recall were leaking rear main and cam bearings could spin.
All you need to do really is to improve the ignition system , better exhausting and upgrade the carb and you are good to go.
Go further if you feel the need or consider the 312 route which would be nice but probably a luxury...
Enjoy it and don't spend a fortune I say.

 

How about this ? http://bangshift.com/general-news/v...hp-at-the-tire-and-looks-beastly-on-the-dyno/ Good build article here: http://diyford.com/high-performance-y-block-engine-build/

 

Y-blocks have a one of the best sounding exhaust notes of any engine. Firing order is same as Flathead. Run a set of dual straight pipes and see what you think. If it's in decent shape with good compression, run with it. It's yer money, but why go through all the contortions otherwise? This took me a long time to discover, because I didn't know the finer points of engine and carb tuning. Y blocks like lots of ignition advance, they are low compression engines and will tolerate crappy gas. They idle smooth and have a nice deceleration rumble. I like that sound for some reason.

 

Contact Rob Lee on the H.A.M.B. here, he just bought a built 292 out of a Company that delivered it at a less than parts price and it is one bad Mo Fo. He isn't on here every day but send him a message and I will alert him to watch for it. I rode in his model a coupe with the mill in it and my comment to him was, damn bro, this thing runs lick a small block Chevy, ha ha.

 

Go to Yblocksforever site. You will find tons of info... I like mine.

 

Show Off JD!

 

all of this is good info but the guy posts almost daily with different questions I;E engines rear ends brakes, so he needs to decide first what he is going to build

 

Not to mention he has the truck shown listed for sale in the classifieds

 

Ya keep the Y