I'm actually not sure about that but you may well be right. I have one and I'll have to go look. I am just keeping it for trading stock and I have no intention of using it. To tell the truth, in my opinion the Y blocks had their fair share of problems. I remember them having lubricating problems on the rocker arm shafts and there was an ad hoc sort of fix for it which involved installing external oil lines. that was a bummer. In the scheme of things the Y blocks didn't really last all that long. As kid I do remember those old Y-blocks sending more than on early sbc home with it's tail between it's legs. You have to remember that Ford used the flathead V-8 for over twenty years and the y-block was the first transition to OHV for their V-8's. Sometime the best laid plans go awry for the best of us. In a relatively short period of time they more than made up for the short comings of the Y-blocks. As for the distributor location, they quickly rectified that. Something that never happen with the sbc.

Back in the mid 60's I had a '57 Chevy Belair and I went through five sbc's in that thing. They just could not hold up. After that I went back to Ford and I have never had one blow up. Yes, I have put two to three hundred K on them and finally just wore them out to the point that they had nothing left to give. Before the '57 I had a '53 Merc with the old flathead V-8 and to this day I regret making the switch. If for no other reason than the above, there wil NEVER be a sbc in any thing I build unles it's a Chevy and that ain't likely to happen.


Those bone stock vehicles you were talking about... They look great in museums but they just are not practical in todays world. If you do right by them you need to keep them in an environmentally controlled place which cots money and all you can really do is go look at them. But hey, if you got the jack and it gets you off, then have at it.

Later Man...
Later Man...

 

Hi Scott,
I can't believe you uttered those words Man. Please tell me you're on medication and not responsable for your words. Man, that's no laughing matter... Well, maybe if you are laughing at one...

Later Man...

 

getting darker by the day!

 

My F-1 was so far gone when I got it going Dark was the only way to save it. All the sheet metal is now stock, including trim, but the mechanical is completely dark. Well, with the exception of the window winders and e brake handle.

 

Ya know, I went back and read the very first thread post. I got to thinking, " What is a dark-sider by definition, and is there an agreement by everyone that can be met and stickied?" Probably not. Secondly how many dark-siders are there? It seems about 10-1 over the stock purists. More now than from about 5 years ago. I don't know if I should find this disturbing, or rewarding.

 

The reality is that it's a spectrum. A real purist won't use any bolt that didn't come off the assembly line, and with the same finish it had back then. I don't think we have any of those folks here, but they exist. Lots of people on here (me included) stick with stock drivetrain and suspension but make the changes that make them more practical without substantially losing their character (i.e., 12v, alternator, electronic ignition). Once you start swapping engines, trannies, or running gear, you're getting mighty Dark.

I hate to see labels like this anyway, cuz face it, we are already just 1 of 25 groups on FTE, why subdivide it even further? Does it really matter?

 

i always thought that a darksider was someone that ran something other than a ford motor. but if it's like people say than i'm really dark. everything on my 56 is changed except the body, doors,front fenders,hood, grill and front bumper. hell i even changed the emergency brake handle. as for the y block, i used to race them back in the early 60s. surprised a lot of chevys mopars, even big block fords.
just do what you like have fun and drive it

 

WOW almost a hundred posts and its still open and I didn't see any bodies.
This subject is usually good for at least one suspension or a note sent home to the Parents.

 

wait till next year

 

You got that right Dick.

Not only have we established a strong majority but there has been a lot of ground stomping and marking of teritory by the minority. A good time was had by all. Now, can we just get down to the original business of this thread, counting the Darksiders and dispense with the obvious objections of the purists. They could start their own head count. This is one Darksider who would never intrude upon a Purists Head Count thread. Of course there would be no point in it so why bother?

Later Man...

 

No good deed goes unpunished!

 

I was told this was a darksiders thread so I am staying out of it.

I don't really have any issues with any of it anyway.

I just tease a few people with the wrong brand of drivetrains.

 

Well ya'll know me, if there's boot peein to be done I'm all for it.
I always pride myself in being an equal opportunity troublemaker.
I've even been known to pee in my own boot just to keep things goin'

 

Dick, the only thing holding you back is the lack of a bigger spoon to stir with.

Later Man...

 

Let me get this right. Back in the day when I only had AM radio's in my Ford trucks and then in the seventies the FM converter came along and I put one in, I became a dark sider?
My preference is for stock, but practicality will be my choice most of the time. I only clicked on this link to see what your count might be up to with the number of pages you had used up. I must admit, it made for interesting reading but there dosen't seem to be much agreement. But, that really isn't needed is it? The whole point is to have fun with your stuff and to have fun talking about it. It is good to hear strong veiwpoints, it's that kind of rugged individualism that made our country great!!
I guess compared to the rest of society, the majority of the folks on this site are darksiders! You know what I mean, folks that stick to a job, even have a job in the first place or had one enough years so they don't need one now, daring to dream their own dreams and being patient enough to wait for a finished project as opposed to the immediate gratification crowd. I could go on but I believe you people get my drift. I believe this is a great group to be associated with!!!