First, this is my first posting although I have been a regular on this site reading all the other posts concerning classic F-100's. You guys do a great job.

Second, I was given a '54 Ford F-100 for Christmas. It really is in fantastic shape. It was used as a service station service truck until 1981 when it was driven into a garage and just parked. Although there is some surface rust and minor body work that will have to be done, there is no rust throughs, major body work to be done, etc. Yes I know, brakes, brakes, brakes. I am going to replace the brake lines and turn the front drums into disks.

Third, I have removed the front clip and I am down to the engine. I was told that it was a 292 engine YEA! BUT the engine core says it's a 239 BOO! Now what I want to do is take PEE-WEE and give her some COHONAS. I don't want to make this a Hot Rod but I'm looking for some extra HP.
A. Looking at some cam action, need some ideas.
B. Looking at some carb action, need some ideas.
C. Looking at some ??? action, need some help.

Thanks in advance for all the help coming my way. I know I should scrap the 239 but it's whats in her guts and that's what I am going to work with. As I progress, I will post pictures of this project.
Mark

 

I would definitely scrap the 239. If you want a Y-block with more power it will be a lot easier to build a 272, 292, or 312. The 239 was a one year production engine and even finding parts may be difficult. Remember, there is no substitute for cubic inches and the 239 falls way short...

 

You should post this question on the Y-block forum also.

The 239 was used in 1955 in addition to 1954.

 

two words for you....Forced induction. Congrats on sticking with the little motor, after all I am running a flathead so you are still ahead of me in the HP department. Choose your parts carefully and you will have a stout little engine. What do you have for a transmission? First establish that the engine is in good order with a compression test. If that checks out good then select a cam and carb that will work good togeather. I don't know what the compression ratio is on you engine but I would imagin it is lower than 8.00:1, if so that will limit your cam size so you will need to select a cam that will not bleed off to much cylinder pressure. You can probly polish the heads yourself if you are up to it and get a good multi angle valve job.

 

Welcome Mark, great to have you on board.
Looking forward to seeing your gallery.

 

Ditch the 239 and go with a 302, 347 stroker or go Big block if want "some COHONAS" as you say......... Now watch the fireworks

 

Mark, I too have a 54, welcome. Motor choice should depend on what you want to do with truck, ie resto ect. I want mine to look like what a hot rod truck in oooh say 1958 might look like. This would be guessing since thats before my time. So I'm keeping the "Y". They do sound nice, but mines out of a 63 F100. They can be hard to get parts for. If it runs I'd drive it and do motor last. IMHO. Kurt G. Y blocks rule.

 

my 55 had a 239 . key words HAD A 239 . i got it from my bud norm and he told me that it , even with 5;14's in the diff it was pulling it's guts out . first thing i did was find a 292 out of a 61 , then later went with a fe . oh yeah the truck never made it on to the road with me . t-wises bro in law has it now .only he got a 351 w .

 

Hi Mark,

I was also given a 54 with a 239 engine and planned on keeping it. IMHO, the 239s were a hodge podge motor with many 239-specific parts. Even a rebuild will be more expensive and parts harder to come by.

I decided to upgrade to a 292 engine for a few reasons. Mainly just better performance. There are better performance parts available for intake manifold, heads, exhaust manifolds etc.. There is really little value in a 239 cam swap if it still has that tiny intake manifold w/ a crossover exhaust. Even an upgraded 292 lacks "COHONAS", but its much better than that stock engine. My advice is to start with 292 donor engine from a truck or a 272, which can be opened up to a 292 bore.

Don't listen to the darksiders, resist that FE block!! good luck with your project, it will be nice to have two 54s back on the road someday!