[updated:LAST EDITED ON 19-Apr-02 AT 11:41 AM (EST)]Could someone please straighten me out on the 239 Y-Block. I have a 55 f100 with a numbers matching 239 Y-block. I see post saying that the 239 was an earlier engine and was not in a 55 then I see info in books and tech manuals that the ONLY engine in a 55 was the 239. Mine is a 239 and is the correct engine for my truck(I've run the numbers). The 239 engine is not even listed in the title of this forum. I know that the 239 is not the most desirable engine, however it would be a crying shame to modify a 47 year old truck with the original engine with only 120,000 miles on it. I plan on tearing the truck down and starting a total frame off this summer and will be needing info on the 239 so I can rebuild it. Where can I get info specific for the 239? And could SOMEONE straighten out the confusion on this motor.

 

Based on what I have read, the 256 was also available in the '55 (source: 50 years of Ford trucks or something like that title). I don't think there is such a thing as a numbers matching combo in the Fords back then...the best it gets is date code consistency...the date code on the block should be similar to the date of manufacture. That said, James Eickman has a book on the Y-block (I believe the pub...without knowing exactly what info you need. Here's the specifics on the book:

The Ford Y-block : origin-maintenance-rebuild. Osceola, Wis., USA : Motorbooks International, ISBN: 087938185X (pbk.)

Also, I presume you've been to Mumfort's Y-block website:
http://www.ford-y-block.com/

Definitely also check out this: http://yblock.web-page.net/

Finally, I applaud your decision to stick with the original drive combination. Careful when you send it out (if you do)....you'll want to be sure you get your original block and all that back, not one off the shelf. You'll pay extra, but it's worth it. I rode in a '54 F-100 as a kid and I was old enough to remember conversations with my dad about how little power it had, but, man, did it ever have a sweet sound. That's what it's all about. If you wanted power, you'd have gone out and stuffed a big ol' 460 in there or something. There was an NOS 239 block on e-bay about a month or two ago.

Good luck!

Paul

 

Thanks for the info Paul. I have read Eikman's book that is where i got a lot of good history. I also read the Ford truck history. I bought the truck from a family friend who was the second owner who knew the original owner. Always garage kept, NO rust!! I will post pictures in my gallery giving updates on the progress.Is the fact that they were such a poor performing engine the reason no one talks about them or was it that there just so few of them made?

 

RogerF100
'55 F100

Do you have a copy of the 1954-55 Ford Truck Shop Manual? It has very detailed info on the 239 Y-block. Another very good source of info is http://members.aol.com/YBLOCK/YBLOCK.htm

I also have a 1955 F100 with the original 239 Y-block. It needs a rebuild but still runs. I am not too concerned with keeping my truck 100% original since I am hot rodding it. I have a 292 Y-block that I am rebuilding to put in place of the tired 239. From the outside it looks very similar to the original engine and will bolt right in. The only obvious difference is the high mount fan on the 239. The parts to rebuild a 292 are easy to find compared to the 239, especially pistons.

I too searched for info on the 239 Y and found that it was used from 1954 to 1955 in trucks and cars. There are some differences in the truck engine vs the car engine in mounting, fan, and timing covers. But the block is the same. The early 1954 engines were made at the Dearborn plant and had a 13 tooth cam and larger journals compared to the 1955 239 that has a 14 tooth cam and was made at the Cleveland plant. Look for the CF cast into the block for Cleveland Foundry. These blocks are not interchangeable because of this. The 239 has the smallest bore of the Y-blocks at 3.50-inch and a 3.10-inch stroke. It also has the most restrictive intake (small ports) and heads. The oil pump shaft changed in 1955 to the hex type. The cam shaft is a cross drilled journal for oiling the rocker arm shafts. Cams changed to a grooved journal sometime in 1958 for better oiling which was the main weak point of the early engines. A counter balance is used on the cam shaft behind the fuel pump eccentric but was eliminated on later engines as unnecessary. You may also find lock nuts on the connecting rod bolts, these too were eliminated on later engines. The 1955 engine used a vacuum advance Loadamatic distributor. It had no mechanical advance. This changed in 1957 and is one of the best performance changes you can make to the earlier Y-blocks without it showing.

;-)

 

My guess is that the reason why the 239 isn't talked about a lot is both the low volume and the low horsepower. Probably the former reason is the biggest. They were only made, what, two years perhaps..I'm going off the top of my head here, but it certainly wasn't more than two years of production.

 

BTW: You've got a real find there....good luck with it!

 

The 239 wasnt that low in production. All 54 cars and trucks and a large # of 55 trucks (late year 55 had 272).

The 272 was also a 2yr wonder.

The 256 is the real orphan.

Carl
54 F-350
57K original

 

I've got the 239 Y-block in my '54 F350. Lots of torque with the 5:14 rear axle and a sweet sound! Not a highway cruiser, though!

Tim

 

Hey Tim, another 54 F350 owner!

Mine also has the 5.14 rear, glad it wasnt the 6.17. I can cruise at 50-55 comfortably with the 750x17 tires but I havent gone more than about an hour at a time on the Interstates.
A warmed over 292 is in the future along with a 4.10 Dana 60 out of an 85 E350.
Then get front 16" steelies made to match the 6 lug pattern or maybe redrill the drums for 8 lug to match the rear.
It was originally a landscapers truck and has a dump lift adapted to the 9' bed.

How about yours?

Carl in New Hampshire

PS, Neil in Buffalo, if you read this my E Mail account is messed up so I cant check or send anything until Monday.

 

Its August and I'm sure this is a dead thread but here goes...

I have a 239 block that was sent to me by accident. I bought a 292 to swap into my 59 f100. All of the accessories are 292 but the block is a 239. I had the machine shop look at it and they said its a good motor, just the wrong size. So I swapped all of the accessories onto my motor, since that what was I needed.

So I have a tight 239 block that is supposed to go back to the original seller. but I am sure that he and I both want to see that block go to a good home. If you are interested, let me know. The motor is in Florida and i can arrange to get it to a shipper or amtrak located in Orlando.

Let me know if you are interested and I'll give you the seller's contact info. He's been great to me, so I don't mind returning the favor by getting you the machine shop's contact info, palleting it, delivering it to a loading dock, or whatever ....

Greg

 

 

Scott,

I know this is a 5 year old thread, but I'm wondering how you made out? I have a 239 in my 54 F100 and I am in the middle of desiding weither to keep it or not. It is within 11# or so of a 460 in weight. A 5.0 and T5 was my choice if I throw it out.

 

Keeping a 55 original just seems kind of weird to me. For what purpose? It isnt like they are rare and unusual. Dont get me wrong, I like Ford trucks from way back up to 1964 or so. Changing a motor from a 239 to a 292 is a good change, in keeping with the truck design, and makes it a little more user friendly.

 

I don't know if changing to a 292 would be all that much of a tradeoff. The 292 from 57 on was a decent motor and you can still find a few good parts for them. They still weigh in at about 625#. A 5.0 will come in a little over 400! you can find a myriad of parts for the 5.0. I could go with a sbc 350 and gain more parts, but I really don't want to go that route!