I got a 64 ford f100 from my grandfather before he past a few years ago. Well I'm gettign ready to do somework the old truck. One of the first things Iwant to do is get rid of the points distributor. Does anybody make an electronic distributor for this motor? also my grandfather always told me this truck had to much power and I'd get hurt in it. Wha kind of hp and torque can these motors get? I know my great uncle use to work on drang cars and put a little extra hp under the hood of all his cars. I also know he did some work to this old truck I'm just wondering what the possibilities for this old truck are.


P.s. I've never even started this truck it's in alabama right now and I'm in california. While on vacation last month i flushed the motor and made sure it turned over. It does I also went ahead and rebuilt the 2bbl. next month I'm going home again and plain on getting it running I'd like to do this with the new distributor any help would be appreciated.

 

There are not a lot of possibilities for a 292 Y Block Engine to up its' performance or efficiency. It's very limited, more of a nostalgia thing engine than anything else. What can be done to any "Y" Block is pricey & does not produce a lot of anything but bills & debt usually. I am not just "Dissing" Y blocks for no reason, I'm saying there're better ways to get return on your time money & effort than spending it on "Y" Block engines.

I have pushed Y Blocks to 340 CID. I've run a 245Hp - 312CID, 270Hp Dual Quad 312 CID and even a 300Hp-312 CID with the Paxton set up. I ran the Dual Quads on 340 I had, but none were really worth all the time & expense in my opinion.

They are older technology. They do not like to rev up/ respond quickly, or produce power fast. In my slanted opinion "Y" Blocks run like flatheads, they will wind & wind forever, but not "pull up"/ accelerate quickly for anything.

You can probably install a Pertronix, Mallory Uni-Lite, A capacitor Dischagre and/or other electronic, breakerless, ignition in your "Y" Block Distribuitor, but don't expect a great improvement other than starting easier. Those old "Y" Block engines were not about what engines a few years later are about. It's why they were discontinued after 64 production run & FoMoCo went on to other, better engines, with more flexibility etc.

In other words Y Blocks basically have a timing problem. They're 1954 to 64 engines and we are now already past 2004. . . . .

FBp.

 

thnx for info, I figured the motor couldn't get to much power, but I did tellmy grandfather I'd keep the thing in the original state somewhat i.e. same tranny, motor , but I still want to do the most i can to makethe motor the best it can be. anymore help out there.?

 

Have you looked in the engine forums on this site? There is a Y-block section.

Try a yahoo or google search using "Y-Block". There are some sites out there. There's a guy, Pete Mummert, that specializes in these. http://www.ford-y-block.com/

Might look for some books on ebay or amazon.com to read up on it too.

 

I looked at MSD website for a distibutor for my 292. They say they sell them for y-blocks but the engines they list are 252 318 and 352 are these y-blocks or FE motors

 

They are not OEM FoMoCo Y blocks.
The only CID I recognize as FoMoCo is 352 & it's not a Y block. If a distrib fits a 352 it will also fit other engines in that family like 332, 360, 390 etc. The other 2 might be misprints for 292 & 312 Y Blocks, but with MSD [an aftermarket company] who knows?

If you go for a digital system, upgrade your charging system from a generator to an alternator tho', as generator supplied current is more irradic than most chips can deal with. Simple Module & reluctor set ups are not current reliant/sensitive as a whole system with a ECM & Distribuitor and all that are. Good Luck.

FBp