.Is this old "Y"block a 54 or 55 ? or what?

D

Dana Barlow

Senior Member
Small base 4bbl intake,carb missing,with ,dual EX,n vac dis. with one vac can n no cic adv.,autotran but tran is not there gone.trying to fig size an year with out ripping it apart if it can be done?:confused: has block yellow painted "FORD"letters on top valve covers. Rest looks kind of redish allover.

thanks for any help like what # were ? will be a size n or year .
Try to fig out 54/55/56? an 239/272/ or 292
 
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start by finding the casting numbers on the block itself - over the years everyone and their grandma swaps out parts and the like. The casting numbers will either be above the oil filter or at the distributor boss - there were a few that were cast near the generator from my understanding but a very small percentage.

Once you have those numbers/letters then go here:
http://www.ford-y-block.com/Block identification.htm

that will tell you the block you have and therefore how that engine began its life.

one question, what does this mean?
"with one vac can n no cic adv."
 
Sorry I think you have to pull the heads and measure the bore. I know cause I have two 1956's that have yellow blocks = a 272 But color after all these yrs don't mean too much.

Could be the first 239? could be a 272, could be a 292, could be a 312?? You may want to pop a valve cover off, does it have lock nuts on the rocker arms = that's early, if not that's later, maybe 1957 and up till the end. all I can say. sam
 
"One vac can" refers to the distributor. For instance, 55 models had a single distributor vacuum pot, whereas 56 models had a double (stacked) vacuum pot for the vacuum advance. Neither had mechanical/centrifugal advance. If you remove the distributor cap and see advance springs on top of the breaker plate, it's a pre-57 distributor/w no mechanical/centrifugal advance. Keep in mind that a lot can happen in 66+ years. It's possible that you have engine components from multiple years. Start with identifying the block, keeping in mind that 292 and 312 blocks can have the same numbers. 312s were machined to accommodate the larger 312 crankshaft mains.
 
Hot Rod Reverend said:
start by finding the casting numbers on the block itself - over the years everyone and their grandma swaps out parts and the like. The casting numbers will either be above the oil filter or at the distributor boss - there were a few that were cast near the generator from my understanding but a very small percentage.

Once you have those numbers/letters then go here:
http://www.ford-y-block.com/Block%20identification.htm
. . .
Click to expand...
Dana Barlow,
Like HRR said, you have to find the engine block casting number first. It will have "6015" in the middle of it.
There are sample photos of their locations at the link he provided.
Any part that bolts on to the block could have come from any another Y-block engine built from '54 to '64, 239 to 312. Those swapped parts will not tell you what the engine was originally.

I've personally seen '54 engines in '55 & '56 T-Birds and a '56 truck engine in a '57 Bird.
.
 
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Thanks,
Did some cleaning,very nasty,but kind of fun too clean off an find info. So valve covers kind of clean now,an look black painted with block letting painted on}clean looks more red letters then yellow<letting said FORD on top an over on side of valve cover said 292< lettering looks like done with stencil< not a decale.<dose not look factory type.more like someone trying to lable it with wishful thinking maybe?
First look when dirt on,was wrong idea of what I saw color, even through dirt city LOL.
I cleaned off block above spin on oil filter,under the crap,looks like # ECZ 8015A or 6015A
Could not find any # on heads yet,may need to remove valve covers,nothing showing near sparkplus I can find,enless the EX man is covering some.
OK,removed EX man, an under I can now see ECZ-C on head.
I just pulled a sparkplug and,not happy with crap on plug an can't see in plug hole=blocked up with black looking crap=maybe cyl are full/so will for sure need to pull apart every thing ! Nut's ! was hoping not needed.
 
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'55 Mercury's had pale yellow blocks, heads and intake. Like dmsfrr said, it's best to get the block and head casting numbers. Could be anything from a '54 239 or 256 Merc, to a 312 with mixed parts. '54 through '56 used the small base four barrel manifold.

Sal
 
ECZ-A block is more than likely a '56 292, but also used to make 312's. Don't think they were used in '57.

Sal
 
Thanks,block after some cleaning is a redish color under the crap.
Turnout the yellow I thought I saw was part of dirt.
I'm going to try cleaning small 4bbl intake some to find #s.
Be back later
 
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Dana Barlow said:
OK,got intake cleaned off enough to see what looks likes ECZ 9425-A
Click to expand...
Yes, ECZ-9425-A is a '56 4bbl intake manifold casting number. (photo 3 below)
Dana Barlow said:
. . .
I cleaned off block above spin on oil filter,under the crap,looks like # ECZ 8015A or 6015A
Could not find any # on heads yet,may need to remove valve covers,nothing showing near sparkplus I can find,enless the EX man is covering some.
OK,removed EX man, an under I can now see ECZ-C on head.
. . .
Click to expand...
ECZ-6015-A is a '56 292/312 engine block number.
http://www.ford-y-block.com/Block%20identification.htm

and ECZ-(6090)-C is a '56 head number.
http://www.ford-y-block.com/cylinderheadchart.htm

Is it a 292 or 312? Only 312 crankshafts have a dot on the rear flange, and original 312's have ECZ main bearing caps.
http://www.ford-y-block.com/identify312.htm
See attached photos below.

More info...
http://www.ford-y-block.com/technical.htm
.
 

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Thanks for all the help !
So very likely a 1956 292. That's good for me,that's what I was hoping for,but didn't really know an nether did the seller, I got it,as the asking cost was with in my take a risk piggy bank fund of $100. I have a 292 Y in my old hotrod,still runs,but is starting to smoke an making plans to do something,but want to stay with "Y" power.
Happy about that much,not so happy about finding crap below sparkplugs< will not know tell I get heads off,how bad things are.

Now comes the take apart an clean an fix what is fixible if anything. If I can't make it a runner,then maybe sell some of the parts to those that need them to fix what they are working on.
 
Dana Barlow said:
. . . I have a 292 Y in my old hotrod,still runs,but is starting to smoke an making plans to do something,but want to stay with "Y" power.
. . .
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IF you're using the original Temperature sensor in the head... be aware they aren't all the same.
Before '56 they were built for 6v, '56 was made for 12v but they look the same. May be marked 12v?
'57 and newer are smaller. None of them will work right if connected to mis-matched gauges.

Does the engine have an oilpan on it? Front or rear sump?
.
 

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I would rather have a 292 than a 312. 312's had some issues with main web cracking because of larger diameter main bearings. Pretty sure the serious performance engine builders use a 292 block with a 312 crank that has the main journals turned down to 292 size.

Sal
 
55blacktie said:
"One vac can" refers to the distributor. For instance, 55 models had a single distributor vacuum pot, whereas 56 models had a double (stacked) vacuum pot for the vacuum advance. Neither had mechanical/centrifugal advance. If you remove the distributor cap and see advance springs on top of the breaker plate, it's a pre-57 distributor/w no mechanical/centrifugal advance. Keep in mind that a lot can happen in 66+ years. It's possible that you have engine components from multiple years. Start with identifying the block, keeping in mind that 292 and 312 blocks can have the same numbers. 312s were machined to accommodate the larger 312 crankshaft mains.
Click to expand...

I was referring more to this part of the quote... "... n no cic adv." :confused:
 
FYI, the easiest way to tell a original '54 engine, from any other year, is the spark plugs.

Only '54 Yblocks, had 14mm plugs. I've know this, since 1957, when my dad replaced the engine in our '54 Ranchwagon with a '55 272.

This includes Iblock 6's.
 
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Sounds like it is a '56, 292 Y-block, but then it should have had the dual vacuum advance distributor for the 4-bbl intake, right?
 
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