I was wondering what exactly a Y block is. What makes it a Y block? I have a 312 mercury engine in a ford truck, is it a Y block? Are they hard to find? Sorry for all the questions but i am curious as to what I have.

Thanks guys
Dustin

 

The shape of the casting of the block is like a Y. Lot of metal between the top of block where head bolts on and the pan.

 

Dustin near Twin,

Most V8's have a crankcase that forms a V with the point of the v at the centerline of the crank. The Y8's have a crankcase that continues past the crank and extends below it to provide a stiffer saddle for the crankshaft.

Ford made many blocks like this; the 239, 256, 272, 292, 312 line of engines (including yours) is the original Y-block. There is also the early Lincoln Y-block engines (such as the 317, 341, 368), the MEL family (383, 410, 430, 462), and the famous FE engine family(352, 360, 390, 406, 410, 427, 428). The reason that there could even be a cross-bolted main cap on the 406/427 is because the block has this deep skirt.

Paul

 

Since the 239 was introduced in 54, doesn't that make this statement incorrect? Wouldn't the 239, etc. be the second line of Y-blocks, since the 279 and 317 Lincolns were used in the Ford Big Jobs since 52? Just my thoughts, since my stable hold mostly pre 54 Y's.

 

The issue regarding "What is a Y Block" is a bit complicated, because there are two answers:

1. A "Y Block" is a Ford engine made from 1954 to 1964 in the USA displacing 239, 256, 272, 292, or 312 cu. in.

2. A "y block" is a particular design of engine block where the skirt of the block extends significantly below the center line of the crankshaft.

Other engines do have that "y block" design. These include: The small block Buick, V6 Buick and aluminum Buick (actually, all of these are derivatives of the Aluminum Buick, as are the Rover and Repco Grand Prix engines), the nail valve Buick, The 1952-1957 Lincoln (and truck engines), the FE, MEL and Super Duty (477-534) B and RB Big Block Mopar (including 426 hemi), 287-327 Rambler/AMC and others that don't come to mind at the moment. Many industrial engines use the y block design because it increases the stiffness of the block. (Contrary to what Hot Rod Magazine geniuses think: They are NOT smarter than all of these engineers by a long shot!)

So, the Y Block Ford is also a y block, but I think that the difference is that it was advertised as a "Y Block" (capitalized and specific, not generic). You can see this in Ford's Y Block logo, where the "V" sits within an outlined "Y". The Y Block was specifically marketed this way as an advantage of the design, but none of the other engines (to my knowledge) were.

So yes, the Lincoln is a y block, but it is not a Y Block. I often call it a "Lincoln Y" myself, since there doesn't seem to be a better way of designating that worthy motor.

I think the confustion results from getting the generic design, y block, from a marketing name for a specific engine, Y Block.

 

Just visit our website http://www.fordfront.nl to see what the Y-block is all about. Goto "Techniek"and than to 292 c.i. Ford Y-block, to see lots of pics of the Y! And if you like, sign our guestbook cause for us in Europe it's always nice to hear and read reactions of fellow Y-block-fans! Thanx in advance.

 

The original FOMOCO Y block was the 52 Lincoln 317 of Mexican Road Race fame and continued as the 341 and 368 into 1957 to then be replaced by the MEL in 3 (Mercury Edsel Lincoln) brands. It also came out in a slightly modified edition as the 279/317 Big truck motors and later the 302/332 Big Truck motors. Externally the same and shared some internals.
In 65 trucks got the FE (58 in cars) and FT.

Ford decided to capitalize on the concept by promoting the 54 Ford and Merc as the Y BLOCK since Lincoln was not a household name especially in the fledgling NASCAR community.

The Y concept is still in current production as Fords modular motors.

 

I think it's even funnier than that, Carl. I was at a swap meet a couple of years ago, and there were some chevy crate motors there. They were all aluminum and I think were Corvette type motors -- they had those typical alphabet soup chevy names on them.

Anyhow, the motors I saw were all y block deep skirt design, and they all had evenly spaced tall and narrow intake ports, like an FE. Nothing like progress, when you recognize a better idea, I guess.

But what I wondered was where all the manure-mouthed Hot Rod Magazine crowd was -- you know, the ones who had all this "scientific" knowledge about how stupid it was to have deep skirts on a block and how such things were only advertizing ploys. Those mealy-mouthed know-it-all hacks sure seem to be keeping a low profile now, especially as their "Heartbeat of America" brand seems to be ready for an electroshock treatment. Hope that their Chapter 11 electrodes have the energizer bunny in them.

 

References to the MEL motor are fairly common. However, I remember only seeing one MEL motor, 14 years ago in a field. The owner told me what is was, a 383 MEL. Recently on another forum a man posted an illustrated drawing of a long block with all the exterior component, generator, belts, aircleaner etc. It had Rams Horn exhausts. I asked him if it was an MEL, since it was just the picture, no description except Mercury Merauder 400 hp. He said it was a 1958 430 cu in MEL, with 3X2. Good looking engine. The Y design was evident and it looked like it had a heavy timing cover like the Y. I wish our variety of Y's had its same distributor location at the front. Tried moving the picture over to here but it didnt work. http://www.hotrodders.com/forum/favo...ily-78545.html may get you there if anyone wants to look. Scroll down about 3/4 way through the first page of posts.
What years were the MELs in production? They must have weighed half a ton.

 

Kultulz runs the MEL forum here http://www.network54.com/Forum/257364/

That Merc Maruder 3 carb setup is worth gold these days. Ive a 58 Lincoln 430 that will be going into a 49 F3/62 F250 marriage and surface as a vintage wrecker. Im doing it strictly since it is something different and sure to confuse the gawkers who have never heard of a MEL much less seen one. A guy on HAMB is making finned valve covers, valley pans and 6-8 carb log intakes. He is a bit serious about his MEL's! Im just going to put in a mild cam for the sound and mount a big Edelbrock carb

They were built from 58-68 in 383, 410, 430 and 462 sizes

I got a kick out of that Hot Rod Community claim that they are the worlds largest! What a joke; HAMB has them beat by a mile.

 

I was thinking that a 400 hp motor with three 2's has to suck some serious air. Were the carbs up to the task?

 

I was thinking that a 400 hp motor with three 2's has to suck some serious air. Were the carbs up to the task?
The MEL forum was interesting. Maybe too much so. Directly across the highway from me, in a garage, sits a 1959-1962 Linc convertible, rough but complete. The owner did himself in 5 years ago. His dad and brother still live on the property in other houses. HMMM. Y-blocks are frustrating regarding parts access, and it sounds like the MEL may make them look like 302s in that respect.

 

Well, maybe not that bad. Egge & Kanter's still have basic rebuild parts, & if I recall, Chris Nielsen has cam blanks, or did, anyway. I still run across E-brock & Weiand MEL intakes occasionally here & there. There's even a Weiand 6-71 intake..always out of my budget, though.

 

46YBlock, I know where another 430 MEL is located in our neck of the woods! It's in my 56 F350 and its just begging for you to come over and pull it out - free of charge!! Its a great engine that runs/sounds as smooth as silk. I intent to put a 272 back in the 56, so the MEL is all yours if you want it!

 

Oh man. Even before I read your post I was thinking to myself that it was rediculous for me to be thinking MEL thoughts. I have needed to replace the rods and/or crank in my 292 for the last year. So as I sit here teetering back and forth on your great offer, I have to say thanks very much, but no thanks.
Mike