The build plans for my project truck just got scrapped and sent back to the drawing board. I'm building a '51 Ford F-1, and the plan was to power it with a 351W, but I just got a crazy idea. There's an old Lincoln V-8 and trans tarped up behind the garage of the house I just bought. Why run a bellybutton small block when you can Dare To Be Different?!? Unfortunately, although I've built flatheads, small blocks, big blocks, and FE's, I know nothing about y-blocks. I did a little research and this is what I know:

It's a 317 built between 53-54. These motors were apparently the first y-block configuration built by a Ford division. They were also used in the big F-8 trucks in 52-53. They are different from the Ford y-blocks, but there are also a lot of similarities. They look the same on the outside and quite a few of the parts will interchange. The big difference besides the bore and stroke as far as I have been able to find out is that the Lincs ran hydraulic lifters and a conventionally designed intake and the Fords had solid tappets and over-and-under intake runners. There are also some differences in how the rocker arms are oiled. Through #2 cam bearing in the Ford and #3 in the Linc.


Here are my questions:

Were the big truck 317's virtually identical to the Lincoln car engines? Specifically, did they also have the hydraulic lifters? If there are any differences, what were they? I am positive that some of the Ford y-block parts will interchange but what? Can you stuff a solid tappet Ford cam into the Linc motor? Will any of the heads interchange? I need a rear sump oil pan in my truck and the Linc has a front sump. Will the Ford rear sump pan and pickup tube fit? Is the bell housing and crank flange bolt pattern the same on the Ford and the Linc? That C-4 conversion kit would be just the ticket if it will fit. Will the Linc accept a Ford water pump, accessory brackets, and distributor? Mine are all missing. Can I get a Ford intake manifold on this thing? I can't find ANY parts listings for the Linc motor, let alone aftermarket intakes or cams. If I stick with the stock 4BBL manifold, what carb besides that teapot thing will fit it? It has a fairly small mounting flange.

Well, that's enough questions for now. I don't want to even haul it into the shop and tear it down until I know if I can get it to do what I want it to, and Ford parts interchangeabilty is likely going to be the key to that. Absolutely ANY help, answers, comments, or info would be greatly appreciated. I'd really like to make this work, but it's in your hands. Help me out and I'll put another y-block on the road. Pass me up and it's back to the boring small block.

In the immortal words of Commander Cody, "Son, don't ya know you're gonna drive me to drinkin' if you don't stop drivin' that HOT ROD LINCOLN!"

Peace, brothers.

 

I printed off a list of Y-Block head casting #s from http://www.ford-y-block.com and it says the Lincoln and Ford heads are NOT interchangable.

Nathan

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 29-Jun-01 AT 08:07 PM (EST)[/font][p]Here's a pic of a 341 in a '55 Lincoln Capri.

https://www.ford-trucks.com/dcforum/User_files/BBB/3b3d0fa864ee98eb.jpg

Yeah, I'm a really big help huh.

 

Well, I spend some time at the library and the bookstore, and answered several of my own questions. Apparently, about the only parts on this engine that will interchange with a Ford y-block are the air cleaner wind nut and the fuel pump gasket. I checked around town and most of the parts dealers don't even have listings for the 317. Unless somebody out there knows something I don't, it looks like this one's headed for the boneyard.

Peace, brothers.

 

Kanter has engine parts and overhaul kits.

http://www.kanter.com

Barry

 

I had seen Kanter's offering before and apparently they are the only ones anywhere who bother making parts for this boat anchor and they are all stock. Did you happen to look at there prices? 90-some bucks for a timing chain WITHOUT the gears?!? Forget that! I don't care that much! This whole idea has pretty much gone out of my head. I guess that the fuel-injected 5.8L is as dare-to-be-different as I'm willing to get.

Peace, brothers.

 

I would agree to stick with the 351, but you might want to offer that Lincoln engine for sale in Hemmings or E-bay. Someone may just have to have it for their old Lincoln resto. and I hate to see obsolete iron go to the melting pot. Even if you only get $25 for it, chances are its not worth that for scrap.

Just a thought.
Nathan

 

What would be really sweet would be finding somebody who just HAD to have that old 317 for a resto project and happened to have an old set of cherry rust-free front fenders for a '51 F-1 in their garage. That might make having this thing parked behind my garage worthwhile!

Peace, brothers.

 

Ya know, I might still consider tearing this thing down and trying to rebuild it in stock form for my truck if somebody out there knows if it shared the same bell housing bolt pattern as a Ford Y-block. It was rated at 210 H.P. stock and a little balancing and some decent head work along with a good ignition and carb could probably get it to around 275 in otherwise stock form. But, I'd have to have a better transmission option than the two-speed automaitic that it's tied to now. Anybody got any idea? I'm still gutsy enough to try this if I can bolt it to a C-4.

Peace, brothers.

 

My Dad has a 56 Big Window F-100 Custom Cab that had a Lincoln V-8- I think it was the 317 truck motor, but am not positive. It was bolted to a 2 spd Fordomatic, and the F-100 was an original Fordomatic, so.... while it could have been a Lincoln car tranny when it was swapped, being an original automatic truck would lead me to believe that the bolt patterns might be the same. Unfortunately, the pickup was wrecked, and the drivetrain has been removed currently. I will check with my Dad and see if he knows any more about the interchangeability. I think you have a great project, and I hope you go with the Lincoln- talk about unique! My dad and I have several "big Ys" in 49-56 big trucks- F7/F-8s, F800s, C-750. Good luck and enjoy your truck!

 

Not too much can be done with the Lincoln Y blocks as they dont really interchange that well. However there are a few things you can do with it. You can bore it and stroke it to a 368, use heads from the later model 368 and such, I've heard that you can use a four barrel manifold from an f7/8 and upgrade the carb with that (I havent tried that yet o mine), also McCulloch made a supercharger (the VS57) that worked really well with it. Somewhere out there is a dual quad manifold as well but I have yet to find one. As far as the tranny goes I think I remember hearing that there was no adapter made for it. Although I could be completely wrong. Feel free to email me. I have a lot of info on the lincoln ys, mostly the 341 but I do have a bit on the 317

 

Your two speed Fordomatic is actually a 3 speed trans. If you were to put it on L, it is a different gear than the normal startup gear. Ford turned it into the Cruis-o-matic in 58/59 by changing the valve body to acutally use low gear. Interesting, the junk you carry around in your head.
Lying on a cold concrete garage floor with oil dripping every which where, trying to get a rope seal to go where I wanted it to go rather than where IT wanted to go. And then, those funny fiber side-seals for the rear main. Had to kinda put them in too far, push into place, and hope that they were in far enough. That is one horrible motor to try to seal while lying in the dirt.
tom

 

hello, they used the 317 from 52-54 in lincolns, they went to 341 in 55 and 368 in 56-57. they also used the 368 in the 57 merc turnpike crusier. they also offered a 335 HP,2x4 ( across the counter only ) option, the intake and valve covers had the big __M__ on them. they made 6-2's, blower, and fuel injection intakes aftermarket. all these parts are hard to find. they used the same engine in ford trucks 700 series and bigger, 279 and 317 from 52-55 and 302 and 332 HD from 56 to 64. they used a very nice 4v intake for the late holly from 57 to 64 you just get rid of the governed 4 bbl and replace with any of the late holly carbs. they also used rams horn exhaust manifolds on the cab overs. for valve train they used solids in the big trucks, also the lifters are the same number as FE's according to TRW's products catalog. the 302-332 truck used the same stroke as the 368, 3.66. the reason most of the parts don't fit the ford y-block is because the lincoln motor is about an inch longer. as for trans they made a stick setup for the 57 merc,or the truck setup,they also made aftermarket trans adaptors, or you could use the auto from a lincoln. they used the hydro-matic from 52-54 and a HD cruis-a-matic 55-57. the bell from a ford y does not fit. the 56-57 lincoln mark II used finned aluminum valve covers, they had the continental emblem on them. you can identify the lincoln style engine in trucks by the double rib at each bolt. hope this helps, wayne.