Well I've had no luck in finding bell housing specs I needed, so I guess I need to find someone out there with a 368 bare block or complete engine. I need one I can cut it apart and measure some things on. I'm planning on making some new parts for this engine and need something I can bore and mill on just to see what the maximum limits are on one of these old guys. I plan to build a 420-430 inch Lincoln y-block in the next 3-4 months and put it in a 54 Capri with a AOD transmission. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Tom

 

Tom,
I have a Cragar manual bell housing for Lincoln Y sitting on my rainy daydream shelf. Sorry...I've had other vehicles on my mind past few weeks; haven't checked in at FTEforum in a while. How can I help?

Sounds like a sweet project your planning.

 

 

That is a super sweet looking bellhousing. If you get tired of it sitting on your rainy day shelf, I'd be happy to store it on my sunny day shelf.( I hear 54 Lincoln with Richmond 5-spd calling) Several year ago I bolted a bellhousing to a Aluminum plate and used transfer punch to mark the holes. I made a plate and it turn out to be wrong. So I think what I'm going to have to do is get a block and cut back of it off ( whole block won't fit in my machining center standing up) then I can get the exact bolt pattern right down to the .001" Unless I can find a factory blueprint with the specs on it. Otherwise I think this is the only way to get it right. Thanks For Reply Tom

 

Maybe I'm missing something here but...

The Lincoln derived 279/317 was used in F7/700 and up 52-56. Find an old truck with a 4 or LD 5 spd and take the measurements from that bellhousing.
Another possibility is the next generation 302/332 which is also Lincoln derived and more than likely has the same bell.
Those engines are relatively easy to find.

The other alternative is setting up shop at Dearborn archives as you have to know a drawing # to be able to easily find anything.

 

Carving a block up seems a bit extremish. You might ask Dave Shoe over at www.fordfe.com ...He has complete set of FE blueprints, he can point you in the right direction or may even have them...if anyone. I'd be happy to post for you if you don't want to register...a little archeaic over at network54 as I recall.

You might want to contact: Rick "the lincoln engine guru" Martin
click on link below...click on "Email Rick" link once there.

Rick Martin's Ride

 

Thanks that would be nice of you to check with Dave Shoe, I called Benson Ford Research in Michigan today. Lady told me that they might have what I'm looking for, but that it would be best for me come to Dearborn to look. Problem is that's 8 hrs. from me. I could saw a block apart, mill it flat, turn it over plot the bolt pattern it before I could even get out of Indiana. I had a bad experience the last time I made a plate using a bellhousing for a template. Dowel pins are in the right place, but bolt holes have to much tolerance to get a perfect pattern. Either way I'll find the blueprints or cut up a block to get it the way I think it needs to be done. Thanks to all who now read my madness. Tom

 

Shoes response:
http://www.network54.com/Hide/Forum/...eid=1073715577

"www.y-blocksforever.com"

 

Thanks, Looks like old Dave Shoe has got it together, He said it has to be 50 years old to get info, I'll just get specs from a 317 engine. I going to call back to Michigan next week and see when I could make a trip up there. My madness now has a road to travel. Thanks Again Tom

 

Hey Tom, If you discover a tastey treasure trove of info on our Lincoln Y's please take a few notes on their location for the rest of us nutjobs ;o)
If you can, take spy photos, xerox, or scan whatever you can. I love to see and collect that sort of stuff...I'm sure there are at least several others who would be interested too. I've a ton of unused webspace I could post for all to enjoy.

Thanks...Goodluck, and keep us posted.

 

Well I spoke to a gentleman at Benson Ford Research Center today. He informed me that they do infact have the drawings I'm looking for. He also said that they have a 10,000 sq.ft. building full of drawings available from 1903 thru 1955 . Most of the items are now on microfilm. All you have to do is make appointment with them and tell them what your looking for, they then round up materials you wish to see and have them ready on the day you arrive. Best part it does'nt cost anything. Hey Carl want to meet me in Detroit ???

 

Hi Tom exactly what are you looking for. I know somewhere
I have a housing from a 332 but for a heavy duty 5 speed
Clark. Sam

 

Tom I forgot to mention years ago I went through that route
and a lot of money to machine a 430 to a 337 5 speed bell
housing in a F8. 30 years later I found that any FE round back
bolts right up to the 383/430's and they have I think 5 or
six holes for different 4 or 5 speeds. I the case of my 54 F800
has a 391SD with a 79 F600 Bell into a heavy duty Clark 5 Sp.
Sam

 

Sam, That is right because a 391SD is a FE engine so any FE transmissions and bellhousings will bolt to it. But the confussion strart when you tell someone your looking for info on a 332 Y-block and everyone assumes your talking about a 332 FE engine. I have no idea about a 383/430 engine I've never messed with one of them. I did'nt know Ford made a 337 engine or if you typed it in error and wanted to type 332 advise. I own a complete 430 a friend gave to me but I've never really thought of using it for anything. I also see that there is a guy making a adapter plates to run a AOD behind a Ford y-block, but I think it looks a little on the thick side, and think there is a better way to make one, and since a Ford and Lincoln have the different bolt patterns it would'nt work fo me anyway. I have found where to get the specs I need, now I just need to go to Dearborn, MI to get them. Thanks Tom

 

What I should have said was that the 383/430 is actually a Y
block derived as the MEL and the 337 a 8EL Lincoln basised
flathead, and the 332 Lincoln based Y Block (Not FE). By
looking at the two FE & Y block boy they look pretty close. As
soon as the temp get up over the frostbite stage, I'll measure
all three > 332&368 390 and 430. I know later they made
330 &332 FE but mine is a sure 302/332 Y truck Its in my
56 T800 ten wheeler. Not to ramble on but, 2 yrs ago I installed
a crate 391 super duty in my 54 F800. replacing a tired 352.\
Now no strain no pain no noise no viabrations at all It runs all
day goverened at 3150, but at only about 53mph thats why I
want a clark 5th OD so bad cant beleive I cant find one in the
country. Now the 56 10wheeler 5sp +4SP Aux w/OD >You
really got to get use to this 3324V. Its scarey Like the green
on the tack is like 3800 (I don't like winding the sh out of my
trucks but when it get up say 3400 & up, hold on Its got scoop
on the hood and you hear that 4bbl kicks in, then wack over
drive and I dont want to go that fast. In Over drive you have
to be on an Interstate. Im thinking of a 391 in it, 391 will do all of that in the 2500 to 3000rpm range. In close I will measure
the housing. Signed 50 dollar bills going up the chimmney