In the course of dyno testing various Ford Y-Block engine combinations, there have been a number of items tested that by themselves did not necessarily account for big horsepower gains but when added together do add up for a significant increase. Included in this list would be exhaust systems in general, upgrading to higher ratio rocker arms, harmonic damper design, crankcase ventilation and/or air evacuation, electric water pumps, oil pan modifications, cylinder head modifications or upgrades, intake manifolds, carburetion, and carburetor spacers to name just a few. I’ll add that in many instances where the power is being increased, the efficiency of the engine is also being improved; be sure to look at some of these modifications being suitable also for fuel economy increases.
Continue reading “More Power for the Ford Y-Block. Part 1 of 5”Tag: 272
More Power for the Ford Y-Block. Part 2 of 5
This is a continuation of a series of articles that goes into the different areas of the engine that can be worked on to increase the power and efficiency of the Ford Y. Keep in mind that many of these also apply to almost all other makes of engines and not just the Ford Y. These topics are in no particular order in regards to their benefits. Some are more beneficial when added or combined with others.
HARMONIC DAMPERS
Continue reading “More Power for the Ford Y-Block. Part 2 of 5”More Power for the Ford Y-Block. Part 3 of 5
This is a continuation of a series of articles that goes into the different areas of the engine that can be worked on to increase the power and efficiency of the Ford Y. Keep in mind that many of these also apply to almost all other makes of engines and not just the Ford Y. These topics are in no particular order in regards to their benefits. Some are more beneficial when added or combined with others.
INTAKE MANIFOLDS
Continue reading “More Power for the Ford Y-Block. Part 3 of 5”More Power for the Ford Y-Block. Part 4 of 5
This is a continuation of a series of articles that goes into the different areas of the engine that can be worked on to increase the power and efficiency of the Ford Y. Keep in mind that many of these also apply to almost all other makes of engines and not just the Ford Y. These topics are in no particular order in regards to their benefits. Some are more beneficial when added or combined with others.
SPARK PLUG GAPS
Continue reading “More Power for the Ford Y-Block. Part 4 of 5”More Power for the Ford Y-Block. Part 5 of 5
This is a continuation of a series of articles that goes into the different areas of the engine that can be worked on to increase the power and efficiency of the Ford Y. Keep in mind that many of these also apply to almost all other makes of engines and not just the Ford Y. These topics are in no particular order in regards to their benefits. Some are more beneficial when added or combined with others.
BLUEPRINTING
Continue reading “More Power for the Ford Y-Block. Part 5 of 5”Ford Y-Blk Distributor Hold Downs
Who’d have ever thought that something as simple as the distributor hold down on the Y would require an article in which to point out some manufacturing differences on them? But differences there are.
Continue reading “Ford Y-Blk Distributor Hold Downs”Flywheel Bolt Lengths
Add the flywheel bolt lengths to that list of items that must be watched out for when working on the Ford Y or for that matter, most engines in general.
Continue reading “Flywheel Bolt Lengths”Ford Y-Block Oil Pumps
When the Ford and Mercury Y-Block (FYB) engines were introduced in 1953 for the 1954 model year, the oil pumps being used on those first models incorporated the same pump that was already being used on the Lincoln Y-Block (LYB) engines. The Lincoln engines using that oil pump were introduced in 1951 for the 1952 model year offerings. That pump incorporated a cast iron housing with a pair of side-by-side gears and is known as a spur gear design oil pump.
Continue reading “Ford Y-Block Oil Pumps”Y-Block Top End Oiling Woes
A commonly asked question on the different internet forums has to do with the top end oiling problems that the Ford Y has been noted for over the years. Some of the answers are the result of years of misinformation and urban myths and have nothing to do with the actual reasons. And still other answers have to do with the disdain of this family of Ford engines and what the responder feels is the apparent need to swap the Ford Y out of the vehicle and replaced with anything else. But regardless, that top end oiling problem did and still does exist on some Ford Y engines. The occasional core engine does still show up here with those overhead oiling lines on it so that’s always a reminder that top end oiling issues are not only something that cropped up back in the day but is still with us today on the Ford Y family of engines. And I do still get the random call from someone with a freshly rebuilt or low mileage Ford Y that is not oiling at one or both of the rocker arms.
Here is the short list of probable causes for top end oiling issues.
- Rocker shaft orientation
- Improper cam bearing install
- Shallow camshaft journal groove
- Soft cam bearing babbitt
- Stopped up oil galley(s)
- Low oil pressure
- Cam journal groove is not aligned with oil feed hole
New Life for a 1955 ‘P’ Code 292 Police Engine
When David Church acquired a 1955 Ford Customline two door sedan, it was found that it was originally ordered as a law enforcement car with the P code 292 and a three speed standard transmission. A little back tracking finds that the car was purchased new in North Carolina and when found by David, still had the 1967 North Carolina license plates on it but was now sitting in a South Carolina field. It had been well over 40 years since the car had been last registered and state inspected. Although that car had been sitting in a field for a number of years, a bit of fuel poured into the ‘Teapot’ 4V carburetor and a battery boost gets it started. It drives itself up and onto a trailer for the trip back to Mississippi. The odometer is showing 60K miles but when looking at suspension, pedal wear, and general oil and grease build up at various parts of the car, the assumption is the car has 160K miles instead. More time elapses and now the car is undergoing a complete restoration including an engine rebuild. The engine rebuild is where I come into the picture.
Continue reading “New Life for a 1955 ‘P’ Code 292 Police Engine”