I've got a 272 Y block that came out of my 54. It wasn't the original motor as I think it came out of an early 60's Galaxie. I've opted for a flathead for the pickup but before I pulled the 272 I was able to get it to turn over but not to fire. It is a complete motor. Is there a market for these things? I've thought about putting it on craigslist or even the buy/sell thread on the forum but I don't know if it is worth messing with or just sell for scrap at the yard. Any thoughts?

 

Where are you located? I just sold a 272 and 3 speed for 300.00.
I also just bought a 53 with a running flathead......Bill

 

I'm in Charlotte. I failed to mention I have the three speed that goes with it. I broke them apart but that was just to mount the 272 to my engine stand. I got the flathead last week. Where did you get your running 53 and if you don't mind what was it going for? Is it roadworthy now or do you need to rebuild a good portion of it?

 

The purest in me is wondering why you would put a flathead in a 54, with 53 being the last year for them. It also makes me suggest that you find a 239 for it. The 239 can be a heck of a motor - especially the interceptor version. Would look very nice with trips on it!! I know, I know... sorry for ranting!!

 

Well said Bessie. Almost immediately when the 239s came out Hurst had an engine adapter to replace the tepid flatheads with the new OHV. Nothing much can be said to favor the flathead to the 272. Certainly not power, nor reliability, definitely not fuel economy. The flat heads are neat, but most of the public wouldnt know what they were looking at.

Today I was looking at a set of flathead rods in the machine shop. They absolutely wouldnt want to see many HPs.

 

No 272 engines in Ford passenger cars after 1957. The 272 was not available in 1957 Thunderbirds.

1958/62: 292's only. Ford replaced the 292 in 1963 with the 289.

btw: 312's used in 1956/57 Ford's, Bird's and Merc's. 1958 Merc's also used the 312 in the cheap (price leader) models.

 

I am always going back and forth from Ohio-Florida and always stretching-my neck for old vehicles.
I found this 53 and it is complete,but rough. It is near rust free,but put-together rather crudely. I found it in Georgia.
It and a 56f100 with 6 cylinder that is rough,but nice front end for 1000.00 bucks. Now they will go to Florida,on the next trip.

I will paint the flathead 53 and resell it. I also have a 53 shop-truck that has the 6 cylinder 223,and I love it.
I still love my collection of 56s better.....but the slant-cabs are growing on me.
I am starting to rid my 56 parts collection to make room for another muscle car.....and am selling on ebay now. I have got to quit saving all these parts....LOL/ Good luck....Bill

 

The three speed is more valuable for the engine. I'd buy now if charlotte wasn't so far from louisville. List your parts on classified here, also fordforum.org for car use. There is a guy selling 239's in a indiana magazine, original for your truck, 317-634-2664. 272's run fine in anything up to 1963 that had a y-block, I've 272 in my 59 wagon, can't really feel any horsepower difference, really better since the old 292 used to foul the plugs so badly. Number matching matters only for concours use, if your going to drive the truck put in something you like. I never liked the flat head, they didn't have much power. School district had one in a dump truck, way underpowered. Those International bd308 ohv 6's would walk away from the flathead truck. Flatheads are okay at bonneville, they have a special class for them, and they have 2 miles to wind them up to rediculous rpm where they will perform. 272 will run my wagon up to 88 mph, where the front end starts to lift dangerously. Something a 272-292 will do nothing newer will, I dropped a freeze plug in mine getting on the pierce st elevated in Houston in May '70, drove 3 miles to next exit with no water at 85 deg ambient. No damage except replacement freeze plug. Of course I had stainless rings in it, Ford cast iron one were notorious for losing temper if overheated. Any rebuilds you do, get ss or chrome moly rings, it will save your motor if you pull off a radiator hose or something. 272 is also thrifty, mine got 14 mpg in my wagon 3.56 rear, 14" tires. I've had a carburated 5.0, 6-8 mpg, and now a 81 255 F V8, 13 mpg in my similar sedan.

 

...numbers matching is a GM thing.

No FoMoCo vehicle has a VIN or serial number on any mechanical parts!

 

Galaxie.org would look up the casting numbers on the motor, or the b9dy***** number, and count off at their meets if it is not right for the car. I quit reading their site when they ran an article about pulling the seatbelts out of the car because they were aftermarket, and hence a detractor from the condition of the car. I quit going to Performance Ford Club of Ohio, they had a field full of Fairlane Thunderbolt clones, and they gave grand prize to a 62 Sunliner with stocker 289, 21 miles, sitting on blocks, wheels not even touching the grass. Bleah! My whole 200000 mile '59 Ranch Wagon was aftermarket, that was how the dealers sold the car for a price. It had '57 hubcaps, a '55? 6 volt radio with a balast resistor, aftermarket rain shields on the windows, aftermarket floor mats, junkyard not-matching right sun visor- yeah, sun visors were an extra cost option. My '59 Custom sedan doesn't even have door pulls, they were an extra cost option. I'm lucky to have a heater on it. I don't trailer my car to concours, I drive it daily, but everybody has to have a hobby, if one is a concours hobbiest.

 

There is no such thing as a 1962 Ford anything with a 289, because...the engine was not introduced till 1963!

1962: The only so called small block engines available were the 221 and 260, but NONE were installed in full sized Fords.

1962 Fairlanes and Mercury Meteors were the only Fords to use these engines.

The smallest V8 offered in 1962 full sized Ford's was the 292. The 352 2V and 4V, 390 4V and 406 were also available.

Casting numbers on engine blocks cannot be used to ID the engine size, these numbers also cannot be cross referenced to Ford part numbers.

Some "concours" type car shows want the vehicles to be correct, so they think by the casting numbers, that the blocks were only used certain years, which is a bunch of CACA del TORO.

It's possible on FE engines to have 2 or even 3 casting numbers for the same engine used in one year only.

I'm an accredited Ford (1961/64 Galaxies, 1955/66 T-Birds, 1965/66 Mustangs) and Packard (1932/34, 1946/56) car show judge, and have been for nearly 40 years.

I DO know what is correct and what ain't!

I attended a Galaxie Club of America car show in NC once (I'm a long time member). I flew in, so didn't bring a car.

One judge and car owner ('63 Galaxie) were going at it tooth and nail, because the judge said the car had the wrong air cleaner.

WRONG..it was an oil bath...and it was an OPTION. When I told the pinheaded judge that...he said..."I've never seen one." I said...it's listed in the parts catalog, you idiot!

This so-called judge did not have the parts catalog, and admitted he had never even looked in one!

btw: I've owned over 30 1963/64 Galaxies, over 80 FoMoCo vehicles from 1936 thru 2008. 60 Packards from 1921 thru 1956, and over 200 other (mostly old) cars/trucks, foreign and domestic.

 

Number Dumby, I am in no way attempting to question your expertise, but regarding casting numbers and engine size, wont a block casting of C2AE always mean it is or was a 292?

 

I realize the 53 was the last year for the flathead and if I was after a pure 54 rebuild then you are correct on all points. Honestly, I would like to have a flathead in it. That's about all the reason I have. Not trying to disparage the Y block in any way.

That was a guess on my part. Early on after I had pulled it and was checking the numbers, I posted them on the thread and that was some of the feedback I got. Frankly I don't know what it came out of. I'll see if I can't get the numbers off the block tonight but it sounds like that won't tell the whole story.

 

Sorry it took me so long to pull my info together. I think the extra time may have also helped my memory. This is the number off the block...



As I now recall I had posted a number for the carb and not the block. The feedback on that number suggested a carb from an early 60's model. I incorrectly jumped to the conclusion it was packaged together. I don't know the origins of the 272 that came in the truck. Based on the decals on the valve covers that I can hardly make out anymore more resemble something from a 57. Again, that's a guess because I don't know.

Here are a few pics of the 272 itself...

 

Closest I can getis ECG and that G looks alot like a O to me in the photo but this is what I have in my foldr (copied from Mummert's site)

ECG - 272 cu. in V8 - 1955 to 57 cars and trucks. Typically Dearborn casting.

"Block identification number generally on side of block above oil filter for blocks cast at Cleveland. Dearborn block I.D. number near distributor and above generator. most dearborn blocks used in trucks. No Dearborn block after 1957."