O.K. I know I'll catch alittle ribbing when I talk about hopping up my little 55 239 OHV, but it's all about the nostalgia for me, not cost -VS- speed ratio.

I'm gathering parts to rebuild my 55 239 OHV and I'm really not clear how one determines length of pushrods, and whether the use of high ratio rockers has an effect on the pushrods used.

I found a nice set of Erson ChromeMoly 3/8" 8.300" pushrods listed for a 272 / 313 Ford. Per previous discussion on this forum It sounds like my late 239 OHV is interchangable with later Y-'s.

1)Are these a suitable set of pushrods for my little 55 239 OHV?

2)Will they work with a set of High Ratio Rockers?

I've already gathered a nice Pr. of ECZ-C's rebuilt for the engine, Pr. of Ramshorns, Edelbrock small port #553 3X2 intake, and mild cam from mummerts. I want to stroke it with a set of 272 pistons (but that question is for another day), awh heck I wanna lightweight flywheel too.

Thx. ya David

 

Won't that small port intake be a mismatch for the ECZ heads? The 239 has smaller ports in the heads than the rest of the Y blocks. The main reason for using ECZ heads is to improve airflow with the bigger valves and ports.

Another item that should be on your list of parts to get is a 1957 or later distributor to take advantage of the increased HP you will be making.

 

Can't tell ya, my previous research on this forum before I started collecting parts suggested the ECZ-C heads were smaller port heads unlike the more sought after ECZ-G's. One of our fellow FTE'rs thought those heads would be a perfect match for that 553 intake.

Course I could have gotten some misleading feedback? I suppose if your right I'de have to find an Edelbrock #573. Would sure like to clarify it before I send a box of parts to the guy who's gonna do the rebuild / build.

Keep on Truckin, David

 

You have a part # for those pushrods? -4speed

 

I don't know if the pushrods will be right you are going with, but do know you will need an edelbrock that would fit a 292 for the heads you want to use........Janet

 

Mr4SeedFord, part #E917261 What do you think? Thx. David

 

Hi, I'm happy that I'm not the only one that wants to "build" a 239 OHV. I'm currently considering the same thing for my 55 f100. Kind of want a hot rod of it's day. Any help in gathering parts and information on how-to would be appreciated.

Greg Yost

 

The ECZ-C heads do have a smaller intake port than the G or 113s. I learned the hard way. Had one of each, C and 113, on my motor. Took it in for a rebuild. Upon assembly noticed the difference.

 

Your Edelbrock 553 should work fine with your C heads.

Best way to check it to lay your intake gaskets on the manifold and heads. The FelPro set used to come with 3 sets of intake gaskets. the smallest was for the EBU 239 heads, the next (a little bigger) was for the C sized 55-56 heads, and the last and biggest was for 57 and up, which are quite a bit bigger.

FYI I used a 9425 B manifold with my original 239 EBU heads and it worked. When I tore the motor down, there was about 1/16" of crush, so the seal was almost hair thin. Would I recommend it or do it again? No. Did it work? Yes, it worked fine.

I don't think that the pushrod length had anything to do with hi ratio vs regular 1.43 ratio rockers. I believe that it had to do with the baffles the original Ys had underneath the rocker shaft stands, and which were later eliminated. The original rods were listed as being 8 19/64" long (just about 8.3"), and the later ones were listed as being 8.188" (8.1875 = 8 3/16) or 8.158 (.030, or 1/32 less).

So, if you use them with the baffles, they would be factory length for that application. If you don't use the baffles, the rocker geometry will change a hair, but I would have to think about whether it will cause you to loose or gain a little bit of the ratio.

I don't think you would have any problem with either pushrod, and the hi ratio rockers should work well.

When I put together my 239, it will get teh G big port heads that are on my 272. I use a 312 390 CFM Holley thats not at all too big (contrary to what useless formulas and know-it-alls think) and I also have a pair of Ram's Horns set up for installation. I use a 57 distributor set up like I've detailed on my page m571.com/yblock.

Have fun.

Don't worry about what others think. Do what you like, and try out a few things. That's how we all find out new things. Does your rig have any other purpose than to please yourself?

 

Thx. W.B. Your talkin my language.

My only regret was I bought the C heads, and paid a chisler $750.00 for a Comp. rebuild (Inc. Valves and Springs) last year when I was young and dumb. I'm stuck with them now. I've got a Pr. of ramshorns to finish em off.

Well sounds like I can go for the pushrods, I've learned to be gun shy on these old Fords, nothins interchangable.

Keep on Truckin David

 

Deuced, it is too bad people can't get together. I tried for a year to get rid of the one C head I referred to earlier. It was completely rebuilt, never run, with new valves, springs, seats, etc. Finally dissassembled it, sent the new intakes to Mummert as a gift, and the rest to the metal salvage.

 

Dueced, don't sweat it. We've all been burned, and now that the money's spent, you might as well get your money's worth and enjoy driving the rig. Besides, those C heads will probably be just fine on the 239.

9 times out of 10, you can find some interesting power by paying attention to the details. Knowledgable people, the sort whose opinions we all respect, can always hear a good running and well tuned machine.

 

Deuced--

You know I'm going to be starting my 239 teardown in a few weeks, so soon you won't be lone 239-oddball much longer.

Mummert should be a sponsor. He's one of the few vendors whose advice on 239 Y's goes beyond the "throw it out and put a 302 or 351 in." He was very helpful.

Concours Parts also emailed me and said they have parts for 239's, but I haven't phoned them for the details yet. Been waiting until I can check my 1955 F-100 and make sure it actually has a '55 engine. I've always had good luck with Concours, but that's just my experience. There are vendors that friends of mine swear by and I have nothing but bad luck with. Take with grain of salt. I keep mentioning them too. Someone in charge ask Concours to take out an ad, too.

Sometimes I feel guilty because Deuced is going to have all the fun being on the leading edge 239 experimentation. I just get to sit back on the trailing edge and learn from his hair-tearing and knuckle-scraping.

 

Sis that 239 come in that pickup? . [butut in your 55? because im sure the 239 was not used in the 55 pickup. the reason you cannot use a a 292 intake maifold on a 239, is because the gaskets just barely lipover, and can cause some trouble. Now i have a 292 in my 56 two tone Pink/wjite 56 fairlane, because those has a dual sound that was so beautiful, but my plans on my 292 63 ford. unibody ford pickup was to drop me a little 302 and C6 in it, but still planed on saving the 292 out it, to save the orriginality of it, and years to come, and have my original parts to throw in, if i went to a car show, or so the next owner wouln't have the original later on. Even though i like Yblocks, i can;t help that a 302 ford is just a better and more reliable engine


Janet

 

Janet, since you are such a 302 fan, there is a long thread going on over on the 1948-1960 Truck forum, tittled Girly Powered Effies. Girly powered refers to the 302. Check it out. I like 302's as well.