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Y blocks - the goods - the bad

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by BLUDICE, Jan 26, 2014.

  1. BLUDICE
    Joined: Jun 23, 2006
    Posts: 1,511

    BLUDICE
    Member

    I'm looking at a '54 Vicky with a Y block. Don't know a thing about them, so help is needed on what to look for and what to expect. Thanks
     
  2. The Y block was the first overhead valve engine used in the 1954 Fords,,good engine and there are a lot of parts available for them. HRP
     
  3. scrap metal 48
    Joined: Sep 6, 2009
    Posts: 6,079

    scrap metal 48
    Member

    I would stay away from the 239 CI 1954 engine and go with a 272,292 or 312 variety.. The first year was not a particularly good motor...
     
  4. y blocks look cool, sound awesome and are good reliable engines. You wont be able to buy parts for it at McDonalds like a small chevy and don't expect a stock yblock to perform like one. 272 and 292 are the most common,239s are a little rarer and have many parts specific to that motor.312s are more powerful but are know to have crack issues. They all sometimes have top end oiling issues. There is plenty of info here on determining which motor it is. Good luck
     

  5. young'n'poor
    Joined: Jan 26, 2006
    Posts: 1,281

    young'n'poor
    Member
    from Anoka. MN

    John mummerts website fordyblock.com has a technical info section that is a good resource, and yblocksforever.com is full of good info as well. I'm not sure on specific areas to look for on a running driving engine but I know even thigh the 312 Is the most likely to crack around main web areas, all years of y block were susceptible to the cracking. The first year engines (239) had problems with overheating so I would look carefully for signs of previous overheating and blown head gaskets.


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  6. sunbeam
    Joined: Oct 22, 2010
    Posts: 6,214

    sunbeam
    Member

    #1 problem lack of oil to the rockers
     
  7. yblock292
    Joined: Oct 10, 2006
    Posts: 2,937

    yblock292
    Member

    x2 239's were terrible
     
  8. Mr48chev
    Joined: Dec 28, 2007
    Posts: 33,861

    Mr48chev
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

     
  9. Listen to Tedd eaton and Mctim only, forget the rest.
     
  10. Roadagent2
    Joined: Apr 15, 2010
    Posts: 243

    Roadagent2
    Member

    Nothing sounds as nasty as a Y-block. I got mine in 2010 , it was never opened, I rebuilt it so it will be good for another 55 years…it will outlive me!

    Mine is a 272 with the crossover exhaust into a single cherry bomb…people can't believe it is such a small motor with a single exhaust when they hear it! Lots of fun.
     
  11. Blue One
    Joined: Feb 6, 2010
    Posts: 11,459

    Blue One
    ALLIANCE MEMBER
    from Alberta

    Tim McMaster has the solution to that with his positive pressure rocker shaft modification.

    Best advice ever, and why I have a Y block built by Tim. :)
     
  12. R Pope
    Joined: Jan 23, 2006
    Posts: 3,309

    R Pope
    Member

    '54 also had a 256 Y block, had one once.
     
  13. BobF
    Joined: Dec 30, 2004
    Posts: 232

    BobF
    Member
    from Poway, CA

    My Dad had a 57 292/auto bought it new. He had warranty work done on the top end (oiling) three times. The 3rd time the service mgr inquired if he considered trading it in, which he didn't and they fixed it again one more time. Finally traded it in on a 63 while I was in the Army.
     
  14. BLUDICE
    Joined: Jun 23, 2006
    Posts: 1,511

    BLUDICE
    Member

    The car I'm thinking about buying has the 239 in it. I don't know if anything has been done to the engine. So what should I look for when I go see the car? I have very bad hearing so I won't be able to listen and hear for something.
     
  15. scrap metal 48
    Joined: Sep 6, 2009
    Posts: 6,079

    scrap metal 48
    Member

    I believe all Y blocks are solid lifter motors and a little more noisy than hydraulic lifter motors...
     
  16. mtkawboy
    Joined: Feb 12, 2007
    Posts: 1,213

    mtkawboy
    Member

    Yes, solid mushroom lifters, must go in from the bottom
     
  17. Ole don
    Joined: Dec 16, 2005
    Posts: 2,915

    Ole don
    Member

    At overhaul time, there are a few minor changes that can be made and with modern motor oil they will outlive their owners. Listen to Tman above, he knows the good guys. I have some pictures on the Fordbarn and the Y Block page at the top of this column telling about the changes. Stay tuned, more to come.
     
  18. Y blocks rule!!

    John Mummert's heads are awesome!
    [​IMG]
     
    Last edited: Jan 27, 2014
  19. daily_driver
    Joined: Jan 5, 2009
    Posts: 152

    daily_driver
    Member

    X3 They know their stuff! There's nothing wrong with the early motors if your building a cruiser. If your wanting a power motor, the later truck motors are plentiful and a good start on builds. Oh, and by the way, yblocks were use all the way to 64 in trucks and there is a lot of interchange with other fords, so even your average corner autoparts place has the basics. Good motors, I love mine with duals and Porter steelpack's!-dd

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  20. BLUDICE
    Joined: Jun 23, 2006
    Posts: 1,511

    BLUDICE
    Member

    more info please
     
  21. Does this make me the 4th one to agree with this statement? BTW, I am biased as I am the proud owner of a YBlockguy engine:cool:

    www.yblockguy.com
     
  22. blowby
    Joined: Dec 27, 2012
    Posts: 8,661

    blowby
    Member
    from Nicasio Ca

    What's the Y stand for?
     
  23. daily_driver
    Joined: Jan 5, 2009
    Posts: 152

    daily_driver
    Member

    The Y stands for the shape of the block. It has a deep lower block skirting designed for strength. Of all the supposed problems the Y block had, block strength can not be said to be one of them.-dd

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  24. arkiehotrods
    Joined: Mar 9, 2006
    Posts: 6,803

    arkiehotrods
    Member

     
  25. Early y-blocks are known for their problems eating up cams and lifters. Most of those got picked through over time. All things considered, it takes about three hours to swap out a 239 for a later 272/292/312. Really easy to swap out a bad one.
    People were swapping out blown up 239s when they were relatively new. First year motors always will have their issues. Also, the load-o-matic distributors are j-u-n-k.
    All that being said, mine took me around Indy for a couple of years until I swapped in a EDB-E 292.
    The big thing with '54 fords is the air deflectors, inner fenders and fenders eyebrows rotting out, as well as the body mounts/hatch channels and the front cross member. If you need any advice or anything you can shoot me a PM or get in touch with dad or something. Take it easy Gary.
     
  26. Good......Cool non belly button engine.
    Good......Talented people are making a lot of go fast goodies for the Y
    Good......You may just hear two drunk idiots argue over it being a Chevy or not
    Bad........Go fast goodies cost a lot of money
     
  27. 35du
    Joined: Sep 22, 2013
    Posts: 16

    35du
    BANNED
    from missouri

    There is an easy and cheap way to fix the oil to top end problem. The cam has a hole drilled that passes oil to the heads. Take the cam to a machine shop have a small grove cut full circle full time oil to heads.
     
  28. luke13
    Joined: Oct 25, 2013
    Posts: 381

    luke13
    Member

    ha har , the skirting at the bottom of the block adds more in wieght than it does in strength, cause.......... the skirting doesn't contact or support the mains caps, but it would not be hard to fabricate some support into it if you felt the need to.
     
  29. summersshow
    Joined: Mar 3, 2013
    Posts: 899

    summersshow
    Member
    from NC

    Built a 312 in a 56 t-bird... The only thing I noticed about it that was odd was how a mouse got so much shit in the cylinders... Also make sure to put all the rod bearings in, they dont run to good without them... (the engine had been rebuilt 3 years prior but had only been ran a few miles)...

    O and theres a bolt that holds on acc on the front that drains the water out of the block...

    And Im pretty sure people have problems getting head gaskets on right...
     
  30. BLUDICE
    Joined: Jun 23, 2006
    Posts: 1,511

    BLUDICE
    Member

    Thanks a bunch Wes, I'm looking at a couple different deals so ----
    Tell your dad hi for me, maybe see you next weekend.
     

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