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My 54 OE EBU 239 is in rough shape. I've had it for 43 years and from day one it has had a little bit of water getting into the oil. Changed all gaskets and still this never stopped. Made me think it has a cracked block.
Because of this, when a 55 EBV 239 came along I decided to go with it. When I went to start it, it too has water, and not just a little, flowing into the oil passages. Yep, changed all gaskets and the water still flows. No the gaskets are not on wrong.
Both need rebuilt. With that in mind, this opens up the possibility of using a 272, 292 or 312, but I'm a 100% stocker - my preference is to use the OE EBU. I'm not interested in more power as Bessie is a fair weather and hopefully a slow driver in the near future.
Thoughts? I realize finding parts for the 54 EBU are a little more difficult to find. Mine is a Fordomatic. Would a 272, 292 or 12 bolt right in?
A few years ago I had a guy bring a 272 block into the shop. He was rebuilding it for an old Ford truck. Piston availability was really bad for that engine so I sonic tested the block and I found that it would bore to standard 292 size very easily. After looking at my data I think that a 272 or 292 used exactly the same casting and it was just bored to a different size. Going to standard 292 made getting pistons easy.
As far as i know as long as your vehicle came with a y block any other y block should fit in. You might have to change the motor mounts on the engine but that's pretty minor
I guess you need to decide if you truly are a 100% stocker or not. If so, then there is only one answer. If not, then a 292 makes the most sense because they are the most plentiful.
...though I suppose a way that you could straddle the fence is to find one of the big brothers to keep it on the road until you can track down a good ebu 239.