As some of you may recall, I'm looking for 272 or 292 to replace the 430 lincoln that was cramed into my F350. I found someone willing to give me a 1955 256. Any thoughts on this install? The tranny is the original.

 

The engine will fit very nicely. You'll need a truck timing cover, truck front engine rest (motor mount), truck bellhousing, truck water pump. All this stuff is as common as dirt.

 

Great!! In looking for these pieces parts, do I need to stay specific to the 256, or will these parts from a 239, 272, or 292 do the trick?

 

AFAIK, they all interchange. I'm sure there are minor exceptions, but none that come to mind. Do you want some casting numbers to look for?

 

Absolutely! ...and thanks for the help!

 

Front covers; EBV 6059 G - off of a 57 3/4ton that had a 312. I assume the 312 was a car engine that replaced a 292 some time in the past. The motor mount is still bolted to the front cover, so I'm sure it's a truck part. Also, C2TE 6059 A. Obviously, this was designed for a 1962 truck, but the motor mount bosses look the same as the EBV-G cover.

Bellhousing; TCAL-A or B for T98 4 speed transmissions. Is your 256 coming from a car? I have a 56 car bellhousing that's 6 3/8" deep and the truck bellhousing is 7 1/8" deep. I suspect that car transmissions won't bolt into trucks very well.

I don't have a bellhousing for a 3sp yet. I'll have one in about two weeks. I do have a bellhousing for an automatic if you want that casting number, too.

I have a water pump marked ECE 8505 B that I think came from a truck, but I'm not at all certain about that.

 

That's a great start......

As for the bell housing, this 256 did come from a sedan. The original truck manual transmission is still in the truck - should I assume that it is a T98 as it is a 4 speed? As this 430 was really jerry rigged into the truck - I'll take a good look at the existing bell housing in the morning.

 

The concern I would have is whether the bellhousing frame mounts are still there and in good shape. They might have been cut off to make room for the 430.

Speaking of the 430, I know nothing about that engine. I knew they came with automatics, but this one seems to have a 4 speed bolted to it so they must have come with standard transmissions, too. When you pull that engine off, I'd be curious to hear about the bellhousing; is it a truck part, what is the casting number, etc.

If you need a bellhousing for the T98, email me. I have an extra.

 

Here's the bellhousing number that is currently bolted to my T98. C4TA-7505-G, then to the 430 Lincoln. Can this be a C4 bellhousing???

The bellhousing frame mounts are intact and appear to be in their orignal location - they are being used to hold this C4TA - etc..

The front engine rest (brace between the two sides of the frame) that the front engine mount would sit on has been completely removed - any thoughts on finding another and the method for putting one back in?

 

I think that's a Bellhousing for an FE; a 352/390 type of bellhousing. As far as replacing the front engine rest bracket, I'll offer two suggestions. The first suggestion is the obvious one; find one in a salvage yard and have it removed carefully (or have them cut the front crossmember off with the front rest intact, then remove the front rest yourself with a grinder.) Then bolt that on. The front engine rest on my F100 has a single mounting point and that's the type I'm referring to here.

The second option is to use an engine mount like the ones on a F250. It's a bracket that mounts to the front cover and has two mounting points, left and right. These mounting points are about two feet apart and nearer the side frame rails. I don't remember off the top of my head what exactly they mount on. You could ask George (his username is Earl). George has a pretty extensive gallery and there may be a good picture of that system in his gallery. George's truck is a F250 and I think the frame design is different than a F100, I think the frame rails are thicker and stiffer. I mention this because I think that explains why the front engine mounts are different; I think the F100 frame is designed to flex and the front engine rest is designed to allow the frame to twist without changing the orientation of the engine. (Does that make sense?)

How is the front of your current engine mounted? Is it using the side engine mount bosses or is there a mount on the front cover. Are you pretty certain that the engine is a 430 and not a 390 (352, 360, 390, 410, or 428 - an FE engine).

 

I learned something interesting, today. An early MEL will fit to an FE bellhousing. I think that's a very interesting combination. Big engine power with all stock Ford parts, fitted to stock motor mounts.

 

That all does make sense...... I also have a 54 F100 and can see that the frame and front engine mount is a bit differant then F350.

Current engine (and I am certain that it is a 430 Lincoln as I just ordered and replaced a number of engine parts as well as having the shop manual) is mounted using the orginal side mounts from the engine, connected to welded on braces/mounts. What is a MEL??

As for the bellhousing that is mounted, the botton half is not attached as the frame cross member mount will not allow for it - the fly wheel, clutch and all is quite visable. Also, in taking off the floor board cover, I have found that two of the bolts holes on the T98 do not match and are not being used. What a scarey mess.......

The jerry rigged set up, combined with the original tranny and rear end, just does not add up. With a four barrel on the 430 Lincoln, I'm thinking that a little too much push on the gas pedal and the entire thing is going come apart.

 

Ok, I overlooked the fact that you're putting this into a F350. That takes a different front mounting bracket. BTW, if you need one, I'll horsetrade you for some of the stuff you're taking off the truck.

I found out tonight that the early Mercury, Edsel, Lincoln (MEL) 430 had the same bellhousing bolt pattern as the FE engine. The years are 58-61 or 62. The flywheel is also compatible, so it's not hard to cobble a 430 into a 50's Ford truck. What a hoot.

I'm suprised that the transmission doesn't fit better.

Back to fitting the y-block; sounds like you got the whole picture now. Front engine bracket, front cover, bellhousing. If you wanted to use the T98 you could. Or you can opt for a top-loader bolted to a 3 speed bellhousing. Some top-loaders have two bolt patterns drilled into the mounting flange and the narrow one will fit the 3sp bellhousing. The SROD truck transmission, an overdriven 4 speed, has two bolt patterns, too.