Restoreing a 54 and need to know where I can get parts to rebuild the 239 Yblock motor it runs right now but smokes heavy and rear main seal leaks. I want to do a complete rebuild. All help to locate parts welcome.

 

Hi James, my name is Janet. I saw no one answered this topic, so i will try my best. I have two Yblock 292 engines i rebuilt, the way i got parts for mine is i got lucky and just kept calling machine shops until i found a guy that had a connection for getting the parts i needed. Were i you, i would definitely rebuild that classic, the 239 engine was a very good engine James, in this forum we have two 54 pickup owners with the 239, i understand they are hard to find parts for. All i can do, is tell you what i would do. I would be persistent on calling parts (automotive) shops, machine shops, and i would end up finding the parts i needed. For starters use that search engine, any are good, alta vista, google, webcrawler, just keep typing in Yblock. Eventually either that way, or in the outside world through parts houses, you will find what you need. Hopefully someone will come in here and be able to direct you to where you need to look..One thing that may help your rebuild, is something i learned from another user in here, from what i understand, if your crankshaft were scored beyond being turned, you can go with a 272 crankshaft, one other thing, i would not take that engine apart right now, not until you are absolutely sure, you will be able to get oversized pistons for it, because it's a good chance you know that engine will need a cylinder bore, a user named Abe and a user named Bessie in here both have 54 pickups with the 239 Y, and i'll bet they can help you out........Janet

 

James i backtracked in these topics, and remember Abe mentioning his mechanic rbuilt his 239 Yblock. If we can get Abe in here that would fix you up if that mechanic that rebuilt his is still around....Janet

 

Thanks for the info Janet I have been on the search web but not having any luck. My mechanic is willing to do the rebuild as soon as I can find parts.

 

James i hope you don't give up, because i know if you will be patient, what you need will fall in your lap, i can't figure out where everyone is this week, usually it's popping in here. What i can do is this, i will try and email Abe....Janet

Edit: Okay i emailed Abe, he has a 54 pickup with a 239 that was handed down to him from his Grandfather that he had rebuilt. I hope he shows up, because he's a smart guy and his mechanic may hopefully still be around...Janet

 

everything should be easy to get except cam and bearings.fel pro still has gasgets.same crank bearings,timing chain,lifters,rockers,etc as other y blocks.rings are easy to get.

 

Check the sponsors here first. Then you can move on to specialty sites like John Mummerts www.ford-y-block.com , or Mid FIfty, Dennis Carpenter.
If you get in a major pinch, I have a 55 239 that ran a couple years ago, but I could part out a bit. You will find that 239 a bit of a red headed step child on things like those cams and brgs (as noted before), carbs and distributors too... To be 101%stock with the yellow motor might be getting more rare, most did easy swapouts for later 272,292 312 motors that were lounging in many Ford & Mrec cars and trucks.

 

Thanks for the help,after 4 days of searching I found a company that carries complete rebuild kits for all of the Y blocks including cam bearings for the 239 Kanter at 1-800-526-1096 Basic kit $845,Master kit $975, Delux kit 1275 plus a lot of other parts.

 

Hey james that's great!! I figured after a little while everything would fall in your lap like i said above. I'm really happy for you..Oh By the way James, recently myself and another guy went and studied deep on that f100 239 engine, and found through original color brochures, your block will be ford red, and your valve covers will be argent silver color with a black air cleaner, We discovered it was the 55 to 58 that had yellow engine blocks...Janet

 

Janet wanted to pass on info that I tracked down Kanters have rebuild kits for Y blocks in stock Basic kit $845 includes Gasket set,Piston and Rings,main and rod bearings,timming chain and gears,valve lifters. Master kit $975 includes basic plus rockre arms and oil pump. Delux kit $1275 includes basic and master kit plus push rods,intake and exhaust valve,valve guide and springs.Kanters 1-800-526-1096

 

I wrote it down James, looks like you hit the jackpot!! ....Janet

 

The motor I was sure of it still has most of the red paint intack motor only has 55,657 miles accordin to the speedo but could not tell color of valve covers that is worn off, so thanks for the info.what are you driving or working on, I have always had a love of 53-56 Pu but 54 are few and far between so chose to do that year

 

I drive a 55 fairlane and a 63 unibody ford pickup, both with 292 yblocks. Now the 55 fairlane came without an engine years ago, so i found a 292 out of a 1960 galaxie and put in it, but the truck has its original engine 292 in it, at least i was able to help you out on that valve color for your 239, at least i got that right. My dream is to add to my collection a 54 to 56 ford pickup next though...Janet

 

The 54 are really getting tough to find, the grilles are the hardest to find next to the engine parts so I found out I was lucky to find this truck in Wymong all intack with every thing there got the truck for $1900 brought it home put new plugs wire and pionts and the truck started up.

 

You got a great deal James!! I want to tell you something and it's not just to make you feel better because you have a 239,... but im nearly 50 and when i grew up on a farm, i remember those 239 Yblocks in those 54 pickups because two families by us had one, and i always thought the 239 Y block was the best Yblock out of all of them, because i can remember back, and even though the 292 and 312 Yblock can be fixed, i don't remember oil slinging in those engines until they started coming out with the 292 on up Yblock, Seems to me those people didn't have all that trouble with the 239. If it was me, i would buy that darned deluxe 1200.00 rebuild kit for that 54, and i think it's a good choice for a pickup for that year too, hopefully Abe will come in here and you can see the gallery pictures of his all restored 54 pickup, it looks real good James, and Bessie that has one says hers cruises good at 70 or so, i think you have something there and you sure got it for a good price too....Janet