Derogatory Y-block comments
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 55
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From: Las Vegas, NV
Derogatory Y-block comments
I have a '63 F250 with a 292 in it....
I was on here awhile ago (https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...969#post978969) and had great responses to questions about having my 292 rebuilt, so I thought I would get your guys' opinions on some comments I heard today regarding Y-blocks....
I had my whole 292 rebuilding planned (https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...272#post917272), complete with the addition of different manifolds, carbs, headers, etc. based on suggestions by you folks. I was excited and I've been looking forward to sending it to Bob Carlisle. I've read that y-block popularity is on the rise and it seemed like a no-brainer to me.
Now...
A friend of mine was getting his '54 Ford worked on by a mechanic we both trust that specialized in working on classic cars and trucks. I told him about my truck and its engine and he said....
Y-blocks are always underpowered, they always leak oil, and they are noisy...he suggested I put a windsor in it or something like that....
What do you guys think of these comments? They kind of bummed me out and had me rethinking the whole thing. He's a very honest mechanic and I've known him for awhile, so I didn't want to just dismiss what he said. Maybe he just isn't familiar with y-blocks? He said he's rebuilt a few of them in the past...
Any thoughts?
I was on here awhile ago (https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...969#post978969) and had great responses to questions about having my 292 rebuilt, so I thought I would get your guys' opinions on some comments I heard today regarding Y-blocks....
I had my whole 292 rebuilding planned (https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...272#post917272), complete with the addition of different manifolds, carbs, headers, etc. based on suggestions by you folks. I was excited and I've been looking forward to sending it to Bob Carlisle. I've read that y-block popularity is on the rise and it seemed like a no-brainer to me.
Now...
A friend of mine was getting his '54 Ford worked on by a mechanic we both trust that specialized in working on classic cars and trucks. I told him about my truck and its engine and he said....
Y-blocks are always underpowered, they always leak oil, and they are noisy...he suggested I put a windsor in it or something like that....
What do you guys think of these comments? They kind of bummed me out and had me rethinking the whole thing. He's a very honest mechanic and I've known him for awhile, so I didn't want to just dismiss what he said. Maybe he just isn't familiar with y-blocks? He said he's rebuilt a few of them in the past...
Any thoughts?
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 503
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From: Edgewood, NM
I have heard the same things about Y-blocks. Maybe under powered for their weight but I am keeping mine anyway. Personaly if I was concerned with noise and oil I would just drive a new truck. Thats just my opinion, but I like the nostalgic qualities of the old Y.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 960
Likes: 5
From: Spring Texas
How is 250 HP+ underpowered? From what I see a stock 351 0r 302 put out far less HP and have far too many problems of thier own. I have a y-block and from what I understand that if you rebuild them to the same specs as one of the other engines and add a good cam and a 4B Carb along with duel exahaust it is easy to get over 250 HP. Those items are identicle to what you would do with a windsor and still not get that kind of HP. Ed
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 344
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From: Lancaster, So Carolina
Sounds like you need some bucking up. Yes the Y is heavy, but nearly any kind of build up should get you equal or better torque per CI than a small Windsor. Plus dont forget about radiator, trans, etc etc to make one happen.
Novelty torque and correctness for your truck are worth plenty in my book!
Novelty torque and correctness for your truck are worth plenty in my book!
New User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16
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From: Southern Oregon
derogatory comments about Y
I agree with Fordication. 250 HP is a fairly easy accomplishment. The engine is heavy, but in an F-250 who cares. For persons who want to lighten a Y up, you could probably drop off 40 lbs with aftermarket aluminum engine parts. Noisy? The Y has a great sound and the little bit of noise from the lifters shouldn't bother anyone.
Mike
Mike
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,389
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I think that the mechanic does not have much experience with a GOOD y-block. They are very torquey and capable of excellent horsepower. I have been challenged (in my '61 f100) by a newer mustang and some stupid ricers. The mustang was no challenge and the ricers are all jokes. My engine is built with original or repro stock '57 high performance parts. It is blue printed and though I have not had it on the dyno I am sure that it is somewhere between 250 and 300hp. My truck has the stock 3spd manual, and rear axle, and suspension. The only leak is coming from the valve covers and that is because they are 44 years old and slightly warped - an easy fix. Build your Y and watch your mechanics jaw drop. Noisy? Not really. That can be controlled with mufflers and the valve clatter is really not that loud when the valves are adjusted properly.
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Las Vegas, NV
Thanks for all of the comments! I had a feeling everyone would say that my mechanic wasn't quite up to speed on y-blocks... 
Charlie: I've seen a lot of comments about '57 parts...why are they so special? Can they be used on my '63 y-block?
Fordication: Sorry for the dumb question, but....I've read it before, but I've never quite understood: what improvement does a "good" cam make?
Charlie: I've seen a lot of comments about '57 parts...why are they so special? Can they be used on my '63 y-block?
Fordication: Sorry for the dumb question, but....I've read it before, but I've never quite understood: what improvement does a "good" cam make?
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Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
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From: Lancaster, So Carolina
"57 is generally considered the year the Y was developed for its highest HP for cars as the very next year the FEs arrived on the scene and the Ys by the early 60s were relegated to mostly truck application where their high torque and toughness made sense. Scan around this forum and you will see some of those later heads had smaller valves, were not as free breathing as a result. Also in 57 the distributor changed to the unit Ford used for the next 2 decades, so perf parts are avail.
"Better cam" usually equals some combo of higher lift and duration which gets power in the mid and higher rpm (and more total HP) somewhat at the expense of rougher low speed ( usually called 'lumpy') idle.
"Better cam" usually equals some combo of higher lift and duration which gets power in the mid and higher rpm (and more total HP) somewhat at the expense of rougher low speed ( usually called 'lumpy') idle.
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Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,389
Likes: 58
'57 was the peak of Y-block performance. High lift cams, high ratio rockers, high compression heads, bigger valves, "modern" holley bolt pattern intake - you can used modern carbs instead of the old t-pots, factory 2-4 and supercharged options. I wanted to be able to tell people that my engine is bone stock even though it sounds like it wants to be at the track and this is how I can do it! There are a lot of new aftermarket parts available now too. You can get 350hp out of a Y with little effort.
Elder User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 910
Likes: 4
From: Maryland
Some people are to quick to say pull some old thing out and put something more modern in. I feel that when you do that you open up a whole set of new problems. It may take parts from 10 different cars to make that modern engine work. And you need to make this and that and if this and that breaks then you need to make a new this and that. Engines havent changed much over the years they still work basicly the same. So Y NOT A Y. Your truck is already engineered or a Y. I am very happy with my Y block and it doesn't leak any oil uses maybe less than a quart in 3000 miles. And with the modern up grades it will be like a new engine. They run strong at low speed and at high speed they are very durable. I trust it enough to take my famaly on very long trips and for its age it realy has been trouble free. It is true that they need to be adjusted correctly but that is no big deal. The solid lifters are realy not that loud at all. And it is a cool looking engine.
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Junior User
Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Las Vegas, NV
Once I have it rebuilt, out of curiosity, how much HP would be added by...say, removing the crossover pipe and converting to dual exhuast and switching to a 4 bbl manifold/carb (or 2 x 4 bbl) ....in other words, what it the fastest way to generate more HP....I think the original engine only has something like 170 HP...
New User
Joined: Apr 2004
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From: Southern Oregon
derogatory comments about Y
The first thing you should do, if you havent already done it is to change your intake valves, if performance is of interest. If you haven't done that I would not suggest going the 4 barrel route. Your year Y-block came out with the smallest intakes they had, so with that, performance in terms of horsepower is extremely limited. With the original size valves inplace, and going to a dual exhaust I would guess you could get 15 hp.
New User
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16
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From: Southern Oregon
derogatory comments about Y
I forgot to mention that your heads also have a low compression ratio. As 286 Merc said in one of your earlier posts, he recommended a change of heads to C's. Or you could even add a pair of 113 heads. For specifications of heads check Mummert's site.
Performance gains will be achieved with different heads, valves, cam, dual exhaust, etc. But the heads, valves and cam should be, I think, the first considerations. Get those taken care of, add dual exhaust, late model 4 barrel, and pointless hot ignition and you should be in the 250 plus hp range.
Performance gains will be achieved with different heads, valves, cam, dual exhaust, etc. But the heads, valves and cam should be, I think, the first considerations. Get those taken care of, add dual exhaust, late model 4 barrel, and pointless hot ignition and you should be in the 250 plus hp range.