I just bought a 1964 short bed truck. it has a 312 with a 3 speed. will a 4 speed transmission fit the motor without much problems?

 

No 312s installed in trucks, unless it is a transplant it will be a 292.

The tranny has to fit the bell, and the bell fits the engine. Will the tranny in question fit the bell?




John

 

it is a transplant, I was told by the previous owner it was a 312 Thunderbird motor. I don't have a tranny now just wanted to know what kind of a job it would be to replace the three with a four. Thanks for the response

 

It depends which 4 spd. A truck Y block 4spd will mount but you will need a 4 spd bell housing. You will have to cut a hole in the floor for the shifter.

You have a fairly valuable motor if it is in fact a T-bird 312. The T-bird motors have several T-bird specific parts.

 

is there any way to tell if it is in fact a thunderbird 312?

 

IT IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ABSOLUTELY IDENTIFY A 312, You would have to pull the oilpan and check numbers on main caps to be sure. 312 main caps are always marked ECZ, all other Y-Block main cap are marked EBU. This is the only positive way to identify a 312 block.

You could start with block numbers, if it's a EBU, EBY, EBV, ECG, ECK, ECL it's not a 312. Anything else could be but could also be a 292.

The bottom of this page will show you where to find block numbers http://www.ford-y-block.com/Block%20identification.htm and what block you have

312's can have the following block casting numbers ECZ-6015A, ECZ-6015B, ECZ-6015C,EDB-6015E, B9AE-6015F. Of these ECZ-6015A and ECZ-6015C are by far the most common 312's and are likely to be a 312. Some 312 replacement blocks were C2AE-6015C. Any of these numbers can also be a 292. The following blocks have never been seen as a 312: EBU, EBY, EBV, ECG, ECK, ECL.

312 crankshafts typically have an aspirin size raised dot on the crankshaft flange. Not all 312 cranks have this. On a manual transmission vehicle the mark might be seen between the block and flywheel. Check here to see a diagram of this http://ford-y-block.com/identify312.htm

Generally these get bigger and more valuable when sold 292's grow to 312's

Only some 1956 Thunderbirds and 1957 Thunderbirds had 312's. That being the main reason they are valuable. All 1956 and '57 312's had a 4 barrel carb.

 

If it is a T-bird 312, it should have cast aluminum valve covers, a tach drive distributor, a 4bbl manifold, a 1" spacer between the water pump and timing cover, an actual rear sump oil pan, rather than the "bath tub" truck oil pan, the generator should be closer to the timing cover, in front of the block, a thermostat housing which points directly ahead not up and slightly forward, like the truck housing. I think that's about it.
Some things will have to have been changed in order to mount it in the truck. At least a few of them will probably remain. If none of it is there, it doesn't mean it was not originally in a T-bird, It's just not likely that it was and hopefully it did not influence the price you paid for the truck. A lot of the smaller Ys become t-bird 312s when they're for sale. In any case, it does not matter which Y block you have with respect to your original question about mounting a 4 spd.

 

312 engines installed in: 1956/57 Ford Passenger Cars, Thunderbirds and Mercury's, 1958 Mercury Medalist only.

No 1958 Ford or Thunderbird had a 312, as it was replaced by the new FE engines (332/352). No Edsel came with a 312.

No 312's after 1958...in anything. 312's were not factory installed in trucks.

1955/56 292/312 4V's came with the awful "Teapot" aka "Toilet Bowl" Carbs. The intake manifolds will not work with any other carbs as the carb bolt pattern is different.

The 1955 manifold is different than 1956, because the choke is mounted directly on the manifold, not on the carb.

1957 312's used Holley "double pumper" 4V's.

What size is the engine? Bore & Stroke: 312 = 3.60" x 3.44" / 292 = 3.75" x 3.30"

The 312, when introduced in 1956 was called the Thunderbird Special, but as y'all can plainly see, that does not mean it was only installed in T-Birds.

In 1957, the 312 was available in Ford/T-Bird/Mercury in three configurations: 312 4V / 312 8V (Dual Quads) / 312 with McCollough Supercharger.
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1955/57 292/312 Thunderbirds use a unique oil pan, not used in any other vehicle.

B5S-6675-D .. Oil Pan / Without Clean Out Plate / 24.35" Overall Length / Drain Plug on Angle at Rear of Sump / Fits: 1955/57 Thunderbird Only.
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1955/57 Thunderbirds have three unique harmonic balancers, not shared with Ford's or Mercury's.

B5SZ-6312-A .. Double Sheave Harmonic Balancer / Fits: 1955/57 T-B except 1957 w/Supercharger.

B7SZ-6312-A .. 1957 T-Bird Triple Sheave Harmonic Balancer / Use with 3 speed manual/3 speed overdrive w/Supercharger.

B7SZ-6312-B .. 1957 T-Bird Triple Sheave Harmonic Balancer / Use with Ford-O-Matic w/Supercharger.
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The finned aluminum valve covers were optional on 1955 Thunderbirds (292), standard equipment on 1956/57 Thunderbirds (292/312).

These valve covers could be bought at the parts counter or dealer installed on any 239/256/272/292/312 Y-Block.

Mercury's have their own version of these finned aluminum valve covers...try and find...just one!

btw: I've owned 10 1957 Ford's, the 5th 1955 Thunderbird assembled, one 1956 Thunderbird and one 1957 Thunderbird with a "Bird Nest."

 

I have to disagree with the 312 bore. A 312 should have a 3.80" bore.

 

Correct. That 3.60" ref was a typo on my part.

However, the stroke is correct and measuring it will tell the difference between a 312 and a 292 without tearing the engine apart.

 

Couple of questions ND -

First, weren't 312's used in Mercs in 59-60? Found that info on several sites about y-blocks.

Second, are you sure the '57 312 came with a "double pumper"? I think you will find they are 4150 series vacuum secondary carbs, but not double pumpers. I've never seen an accelerator pump on a stock '57 secondary.

Just curious,
SPark

 

My 1959 Mercury Shop Manual states that the 59s had a two barrel 312 engine as a base engine for some models for the 1959 MY. .

I also seem to remember that the 1960,1961 Mercury's also had the 312 as the standard engine-but my memory may not be correct on the 60s. I was only 9 in 1960 and the car salesman didnt like me drooling in the new car engines nor the brochures back then for some reason!!! And didnt like me "power shifting" the "three on the tree" and making motor noises in the new car in the show room!!

There is presently a 1961 Mercury on Ebay with a 312 with 21k original miles.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1961-...=p4506.c0.m245

 

This is about all the info I could come up with

All 1956 and '57 312's had a 4 barrel carb. That doesn't mean the other years did. 1960 monterey and commuter were equipped with a 2-barrel carburetor 312ci 205hp 328 ft-lbs

In 1956 312's were installed in Mercurys, some Thunderbirds, and Ford Cars.
In 1957 most Thunderbirds and all 1957 Mercurys had 312's (unless equipped with the 368 Turnpike Cruiser engine).
Some 1957 Fords had the 312, typically station wagons, Fairlane 500's ect.
No 312's were installed in trucks at the factory!!!!!

From 1958 to 1960 312's were only installed in Mercurys. Montereys and Commuter carried a 312-cid V-8 (383-cid optional), while the more costly Montclair and upscale Park Lane stuck with their Lincoln-derived 430-cid V-8

1961 Meteors carried a standard 223-cid Ford six with 135 bhp or the optional V-8 was a 175-bhp 292. No 312 was available. That car on ebay is probably the same situation, a 292 being sold as a 312 because they're more desirable. Plus if you'll look again they called it a 315

 

The 1960 Mercury still had the 312:

Code Letter Engine
M 430 CID-2V Carburetor
*F 430 CID-2V Low Compression
N 383 CID-2V Carburetor
*E 383 CID-2V Low Compression
P 312 CID-2V Carburetor
* For Export Only

But the 1961 Mercury didnt have a 312 offered-it did have the 292 though--as dusty1964f100 states. Just trying to make two points:

1/There were factory offered 312s after 1958 MY-but never officially in trucks.

2/There were factory offered two barrel 312s.

I had thought also that all 430s and 312s only had factory four barrels.But apparently they all didnt.

If the Original Poster has a 312 two barrel-the two barrel intake and carburetor could be factory installed on that engine-but I agree with Mr Bill and others that the 312 was never officially factory installed in a Ford truck.

I have heard people say though--that some 312s made their way into 1959 F100s because of a shortage of 292s at one time at the Ford factory. But this hasnt been documented as being truthful.