More common, I6 or V8?
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From: Saskatoon Canada
More common, I6 or V8?
This is something I have been wondering for a while, I have a '52 F-1 with a 239 flathead V8 and have visited my share of junkyards for misc parts. I have found 6 '52s, 1 '51, and 1 '53... however, they ALL had 239 V8s! I have never found a Ford flathead I6... actually, I have never even seen a flathead I6 except for in pictures. Were the V8s a lot more common than the I6?
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From: Canada
More common, I6 or V8?
All Canadian built Fords and Mercurys 48-54 Cars and trucks were L-head v/8s (flat heads)(239 and 255 cid). The American models came out in 1954 with a ohv 6 & 8. Pre 1954 6cyl were L-heads (flatheads).
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...?&albumid=1600
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gal...?&albumid=1600
Last edited by mercuryblues; Feb 5, 2003 at 06:15 AM.
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More common, I6 or V8?
I think it's a regional thing. While living in the Ozarks, I never saw a '53/'56 with a six, and only a few '48/'52's. It's pretty hilly there, so the trucks needed the extra power. Now that I live in Kansas, where it's flat, I see lots more six cylinder trucks. There are quite a few '48/'50's with sixes, fewer '51's, and even fewer '52's ( they're kind of the odd man out with the 215 ohv six ), but lots of '53 and up with the sixes. Almost the opposite of what was in the Ozarks. I think most literature shows about a 60/40 split between the V-8 and six with the majority being V-8's.
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More common, I6 or V8?
I had a 53 with a OHV I6.... In Philadelphia, PA, most trucks came from the Chester, PA plant. I know a retired roofer who has a 1951 F-1 with a Flathead 6. Six's seem common around here. I did a alot of reading on this, and I think it goes like this.........
-Trucks up to 1951 had a 226ci flathead I6 or a 239 flathead V8.
-Trucks in 1952 and 1953 had a "Cost Cutter" 215ci OHV I6 or a 239 flathead V8.
-Trucks in 1954 had the "Milage Maker" 223ci I6 or a 239ci OHV (yes, I think it was OHV!
) but this V8 was not a Y-block.
-Trucks in 1955 had the 223 I6 and the new Y- blocks in 272ci and/or 292ci.
Sound right?
If I'm wrong, please tell me!
Damien
-Trucks up to 1951 had a 226ci flathead I6 or a 239 flathead V8.
-Trucks in 1952 and 1953 had a "Cost Cutter" 215ci OHV I6 or a 239 flathead V8.
-Trucks in 1954 had the "Milage Maker" 223ci I6 or a 239ci OHV (yes, I think it was OHV!
) but this V8 was not a Y-block.-Trucks in 1955 had the 223 I6 and the new Y- blocks in 272ci and/or 292ci.
Sound right?
If I'm wrong, please tell me!
Damien
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From: Central PA
More common, I6 or V8?
Damien, your info looks good except for a slight error with the year 1954. You wrote:
-"Trucks in 1954 had the "Milage Maker" 223ci I6 or a 239ci OHV (yes, I think it was OHV! ) but this V8 was not a Y-block. -Trucks in 1955 had the 223 I6 and the new Y- blocks in 272ci and/or 292ci. "
The V-8 in '54 was the 239 Over Head Valve but it was a Y-block. The enigine in the '55 F-100 was still the 239. The bigger trucks (F-600 and up) in '54 and '55 had bigger engines. I don't know the size with out running upstairs to get my books and risk wakeing up the wife!! but they are talked about and pictured in the '54/'55 shop manual. The 272 appeared in F-100's in 1956.
Abe '54 F-100
-"Trucks in 1954 had the "Milage Maker" 223ci I6 or a 239ci OHV (yes, I think it was OHV! ) but this V8 was not a Y-block. -Trucks in 1955 had the 223 I6 and the new Y- blocks in 272ci and/or 292ci. "
The V-8 in '54 was the 239 Over Head Valve but it was a Y-block. The enigine in the '55 F-100 was still the 239. The bigger trucks (F-600 and up) in '54 and '55 had bigger engines. I don't know the size with out running upstairs to get my books and risk wakeing up the wife!! but they are talked about and pictured in the '54/'55 shop manual. The 272 appeared in F-100's in 1956.
Abe '54 F-100
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More common, I6 or V8?
I hear ya ABE! Looks good to me! The books are the most accurate, but every now and then you come across an old mechanic that "swears" otherwise. I'll look at my books before bed tonight. That 239 OHV is my question? What was the deal with that? They had the same cid as the flat V8, but the OHV technology was around for a while. Wasn't the new OHV 239 block derived from the old 239? Help me, I'm confused! The bigger trucks in the early 50's, like F-6, F-7, etc had OHV engines ( some 312ci Lincolins) so why that oddball 239 OHV? What was ford thinking? I think there was a bigger I6 too!
I'll never forget the first time I popped the hood on my 53 F-100....... like none other!
I think there was a bigger I6 too! I'll never forget the first time I popped the hood on my 53 F-100....... like none other!
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From: Lancaster, So Carolina
More common, I6 or V8?
As the keeper of two '55's I can vouch that the std v-8 on the F-100 was a gowdawful yellow mustard colored, crossover-piped-on-top, 650 lb Y-block. The runt of the Y-litter (see the Y Forum, but oops, for some reason the webmasters wont even admit that 239 existed- Why Kenny?)
Ive got a free-turning 239 if somebody wants it in their Easter Basket (it is a nice yellow)!
Ive got a free-turning 239 if somebody wants it in their Easter Basket (it is a nice yellow)!
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From: Canada
More common, I6 or V8?
Originally posted by Midnite Cruiser
As the keeper of two '55's I can vouch that the std v-8 on the F-100 was a gowdawful yellow mustard colored, crossover-piped-on-top, 650 lb Y-block. The runt of the Y-litter (see the Y Forum, but oops, for some reason the webmasters wont even admit that 239 existed- Why Kenny?)
Ive got a free-turning 239 if somebody wants it in their Easter Basket (it is a nice yellow)!
:
As the keeper of two '55's I can vouch that the std v-8 on the F-100 was a gowdawful yellow mustard colored, crossover-piped-on-top, 650 lb Y-block. The runt of the Y-litter (see the Y Forum, but oops, for some reason the webmasters wont even admit that 239 existed- Why Kenny?)
Ive got a free-turning 239 if somebody wants it in their Easter Basket (it is a nice yellow)!
:
the 239 y block was data plate designation u .The 256 y block was a p
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