OK Charlie, You didn't show at the Pitcher House last night so I had a couple of Beers for both of us. Next time I am going to invite Mike...

 

Yeah, I know way

 

GOOD topic though!!

 

Hope you didnt try the MGD Light 64 calorie. It isnt very good .

 

I couldn't figure out how to get the flux capacitor in the truck. I couldn't make it in half an hour from the east coast. So I wanted to try to go back in time so I could leave with enough time to get there.

 

I haven't looked at a Y block for years, but from the description of the sound of the water running into the pan, there must be a welch plug or freeze plug left out somewhere, or there is a huge hole in the timing cover.
I remember the grooves cast in the front of the block between the water passages and the outline of the timing chain cover. They surely would allow water to fall out onto the floor if the gasket were missing.
If the head gaskets will fit all Y-blocks, the only thing you can do wrong with them is put them on 'backwards' from back to front. Both gaskets should have the world FRONT at the front of the block, and one gasket will seem 'upside down' in comparison to the other. In other words, the 'FRONT' will be facing outwards on one bank and facing the block on the other. I don't think they can be installed incorrectly and not have tabs hanging out somewhere, but I'm talking multiple decades since I've seen one up close.
tom

 

A head gasket put on backwards will hold water. Found that out recently when tearing down a newly rebuilt running 292 (rebuild by someone else).

 

How much is a 239 ohv with new headers & 3 spd tran`s worth? It`s all for sale. Taking this project another way.

 

A 239 with a mysterious leak is not worth much. If I was near you, I'd offer something slightly better than the current scrap rates. The transmission, if it works, maybe $50 to $100. I don't really pay attention to transmission prices. On the headers, depending on the coating, and proof that they're new, and look like new, I'd think you can get 1/2 to 3/4 of the original price.

Please tell me you're going with a different Y Block and not taking some human oversight out on the engine family. A coolant leak is not the engines fault.

 

Ditto what Charlie said...

 

46yblock: I knew a gasket put on incorrectly 'front to back' would work, well, at least not leak. I don't know if one put on incorrectly with the word FRONT face up where it should be face down, for example, would leak like a sieve or hold water.
I just paged through the 1959 Ford factory shop manual, the 292 section, and could see no obvious place where the cooling system could fill the crankcase. I didn't see any plugs mentioned other than the temp gauge plug, which is plugged on the passenger side, and has an adapter pressed in on the drivers side where the sender is mounted. Even then, it would be exposed to inspection by the Mk1 Mod 0 eyeball ...
I think I would remove the rocker arm covers, and pressurize the cooling system with air and listen using a piece of hose for the air flow.
tom

 

It would be nice for all interested if the problem could be found and posted. What sounds like a very large rapid leak is really puzzling.

As was mentioned earlier, a big crack in the water pump impeller area of the timing cover could do it. I threw away a timing cover last week that had a crack in the area, but think a leak would be of a seaping variety for that particular break.

 

When I rebuilt my 239 I purchased a kit from Felpro...head gaskets fit but in no way did the water passages line up. I had to take my old gaskets to an old parts shop to match them up. He had bought out old parts stores over the years and had apx. 20 gaskets(metal). Unfortunatly I went by the shop a while back and it had burned. If you have your old gaskets you can match them or at least go by the stamped number on them. My bet is wrong head gaskets.
good luck with the 239