At our local Napa store, in 1954 and 1955 they list a 239 L Head.....I am assuming that this is a y-block? Thanks in advance.

 

I don't believe they are the same thing. I haven't heard of an L head before, but I did a quick search and found this site:
Ford 239 L Head 1949-1953 | Northern Auto Parts:

It mentions parts for an L head for 1949-1953. The Y block's first year was 1954. Is L Head another term for flathead???
Here is a link to a picture of an L Head, definitely not a Y block
1951 Ford Custom Deluxe V-8 Victoria hardtop 239 CID L-head V8 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
I couldn't get it to display as an image, grrr.

 

The L head is another way of saying flathead. If you look at the flathead cylinder and combustion chamber from the side it looks like an inverted L.

Likely the Napa parts system simply mis-identified the 54-55 239 Y-block. Ford only made flatheads in 54 out of country (Canada and Aus) and made no flatheads in 55.

 

Thanks guys....that's kinda what I was thinking too, but it was confusing because I knew they didn't offer a flathead in '55, so it really threw me off. I really appreciate the quick responses.

 

That is a beautiful motor!

 

Very nice motor!!!

 

beautiful engine and shows a bunch of attention to detail, thatnks for shareing.

 

The engine in the link sure is clean. However it is not the correct color for a US built motor. The decals and air cleaner look a bit odd too. I wonder where the car is located and was built?

 

Aluminum manifold is Canadian; choke cable and throttle "might" indicate RHD, but the heater hoses still go to RH side of dash. My guess would be AU.

I can only dream about my engine compartment looking like that...

 

I didn't see any specific information for the vehicle, but it does have Ontario plates. The photographer lives in Toronto and welcomes emails. Flickr: carphoto