I have a 1963 F250 with a 292 Y-Block in it. Last month I pulled it out and replaced the cam, lifters, and push rods (the old cam had 2 rounded lobes and it was running pretty rough with only 6 cylinders functioning).

It has been running great since I put it back together....until today! I heard a noise, and watched as steam came out from under the hood. I pulled the dipstick and found chocolate milk instead of oil. I also have removed the valve covers and see that cylinder #1 intake isn't working. Looking deeper into it, I don't see the lifter for that valve even moving! I'm guessing the cam is shot again.

I am pretty tired of engine problems on this truck and am thinking about replacing it with something else. I have never done anything like this before. How do I know what will fit?

 

Sounds like more than a list lobe, a head gasket maybe.

 

Welcome to FTE Eric

Sorry to hear about this. You'll get some great info here. Not necessarily from me, though still, i'd be inclined to rebuild the Y block.

 

Just about anything will fit but engine swaps in my opinion are a PIA and always cost more than you think. The easiest and most trouble free swap would be another Y block.
Honestly you rolled the dice and came up short. Sometimes you can get by sometimes you cant. It sounds to me like the original cause popped up again.

I suggest you pull it and taker all the way or nearly all the way down. That engine might can be saved. It sounds like you have a problem in the heads. Hopefully you have not sent a valve through the block.

If the carnage it not too bad after the heads are off I would check all the bearings with a mash gauge to see if they are in spec. If you get the caps mixed up...that's trouble. Since it ate at least two cams...you need to get all that stuff out of which means cleaning all the passages out.

Maybe just maybe if the cylinder bores are in spec as far as taper and the bearings and journals look good and check out you can have the heads rebuilt or replaced, new bearing and rings and you should be good to go.

I would still tear it down to see what the failure was even if I was set on an engine swap.

 

Even a small block (or big block or inline 6, fill in the blank) will round a lobe for any number of reasons so try not to get upset at the engine.

Here is a link to a list of reasons for a camshaft failure. This list is applicable to almost any engine. Have a look, see if there is something you may have forgotten to do. If so, learn from it and try again.

Eaton Balancing » Camshaft and Lifter Failure Causes

Y blocks don't just eat cams, so there is a reason for it. you need to find out why and fix it. One thing a lot of people do is go cheap on the lifters, in other words, made in China. Do not do that. Get them and the cam from a reputable supplier. That is an area you do not want to skimp on.

 

sorry didn't mean to post here and I don't know how to delete a post so I Just edited it to say this