54 horsepower

[Alan O'Connell]

What was the horsepower of the first Ford overhead valve engine in 1954?

 

[scicala]

Also, I believe the '54 Mercury 256 Y-Block with Holley 4 bbl. made 161 HP.

Sal

 

[Ole Don]

The new OHV ford engine was the same cubic inch as the old flathead, but made more rated HP to prove its efficiency in advertising.

 

[40cpe]

The new OHV ford engine was the same cubic inch as the old flathead, but made more rated HP to prove its efficiency in advertising.

I believe that, Don. In the late 50's I took a 59a engine out of my '37 coupe and installed a '54 y-block. The fellow I bought the '37 from said the 59A had a 3/4 cam and lightened flywheel. I was a teen-ager and, of course, not very smart. I didn't have access to a dyno, but I couldn't feel any improvement over the flathead.

PS: I traded the '37 to a buddy for a '40 convertible. His Dad said it was the only deal he had seen where we both got beat. The buddy put a Edsel E-400 in the '37 and it would fly.