i just bought what i believe is a 1955 272 complete with generator that i got for my 1959 f-100 project, is this a good engine for a build? will it handle power adders like nitrous, supercharger, turbo...etc? where can i get performance parts? help!

 

with a little work you can get 350 + hp from a y block. i had a 312 many years ago. put out around 305-375 hp with a 4 bbl. big crower cam and stock heads. the heads really needed better flow. ran the 1/4 mile in high 13s. could go faster if i had different gear ratio. running 333 ratio in a 4000 lb car
now days you get more hp with a small block ford. but i sure pissed off a lot of big block fords,chevys.dodges back then

 

Look online for JOHN MUMMERT and he is the yblock guru.
Personally--I have 4-5 yblocks and am not all that enthusiastic about them. They had alot of top side oiling problems and most mechanics just never heard of them. 289/302 Iis more my speed. My 56f500 still ticks like heck and is rebuilt.
Someother guys will come aboard and tell you how great they are. I have a 289 studebaker engine that is supercharged,and I have an extra complete supercharger setup and wonder the same thing about mountingt it on my 56F100 project./Bill

 

I am new to this as well but I have a 1959 292 Y-block and the previous owner had since 1984 with no rebuild. It may or may not have been rebuilt before that? It runs very strong and does not use oil or smoke. I think paxton makes a supercharger for a y block? Hope this helps?

 

thanks to all, i am excited about building a kick azz Y so anything will help...i'm thinking along the lines of healthy cruiser, not drag racer...although it would be funny that a 4000 pound truck would spank 'stangs and camaros! lol

 

i soon found out after aquiring a 292 from stu here , and this is like the 6th one i've had , but the only one i've thought about seriously , that they are a : dain near as cool as my flathead , B: even more expensive than my flathead much to my dismay !!!!!!!!! . oh well it's gonna get used and abused yet !!!!!!!!!!!

 

Y-'s like flatties have that nestalga, parts are sure spendy

 

With all due respect that oiling problem is really not a problem nowadays. Unless you have a plugged block right now. Those oil passages must be clear before you put it back together however....

We have good detergent oil now and people actually change it on a regular basis! Also, Ford later went to a grooved cam instead of cross-drilling. (mine is cross drilled though)

A cross drilled cam should lube the top just fine with todays oils and it gets changed regularly....

Go to FORD Y for a lot of good info on the Y .....there's a particularly good section on "common assembly mistakes"



Cheers,


Rick

 

In 1955 there was one V8's available for F100, 250 &350 Pickups. That was the 239.
For F600 and up there were 256, 279 & 317. There were no 272's or 292's.
Not sure what passenger car engine sizes there were.

 

even back in the 60s never had any problem with oiling. keep everything clean and clear. if i remember right there was a spring in the oil pump that you could stretch a little and get more oil pressure.

 

pass cars had the 239 , 292 , 312's in some cases , and an occassional 272 from what i can find . the later stuff had 292's in the larger trucks , i got a pos 1ton 61 sitting on my son in laws gramma's farm , she bought it new , and it's still got the 292 in it that has been there since day 1 . gonna go retreive it as the guy's on y blocks forever say it's got the forged {?} steel crank and heavy rods that you want for y block builds ! oh well i'll be quite now and back to the black hole to tear some more stuff up !!!!!!!!!!!