1954 F100 engine questions

Seth Swoboda

Seth Swoboda

Well-known member
My father in law's first truck was a 1954 f100 and recently I spotted a nice 54 f100 restoration candidate. I am more familiar with the 1928-1948 fords. The Y block stuff I don't have as much information on.

What engine or engines were available for the 54 F100's? Was there only a 6 cylinder or was there a V8 option? The truck I looked at had a 292 Y block in it and I am assuming that someone in the past put that engine in the truck and it is not the correct engine. Any help with engine and transmission details is appreciated.

Thanks,
Seth
 
Hello Seth, 1954 F100's came with a 223 6 cyl., or the 239 Y-Block V-8. First year for the Ford Y-block. The heavier trucks that year F200 and up used a 256 Mercury Y-Block (used in 1954 Mercury cars and same basic engine family as the 239 ford y-block), and also the Lincoln based Y-Blocks 279 and 317 (different engine family and not interchangeable parts with the Ford and Merc Y-Blocks). Hope this helps you out. Sal
 
Looking at the engine, the 292 looks very similar to the 239, but is a much stouter engine. There are more parts readily available for it.
Leave it as it is and enjoy it.
Regards
 
You should be able to tell by the nameplate data which engine was installed at the factory. Since it now has a 292 in it, there is a good possibility that it was a replacement "crate" motor.
At some point, seems like back in the 1970's, the 239 and 272 Y-blocks were no longer serviced by the "crate" motor suppliers. 292's were supplied as replacements for the older 239's and 272's as they were more plentiful.
The 292's were first offered in the '55 Ford as a police interceptor. The 292 engine was offered in cars thru the early '60's. The last year the 292 was offered was 1964 in trucks only. "Crate" motor suppliers rebuilt a lot of the truck engines because they had a steel crank.
 
Thanks guys. I am taking my father inlaw back to look at the truck. I will look at the data plate for the engine code. I would keep the 292 in it, however.

If he doesn't buy it I may, I kind of like the truck and would enjoy the Y block experience.
 
Yeah, if it's a replacement 'crate' engine it could be a duke's mixture of yblock parts, assembled to replace the old 239. I worked at a Ford dealer back in the 70s in the Detroit area and we'd get replacement long-Yblocks from the Ford authorized rebuilder; 272, 292 etc. blocks, mismatched casting # heads... all sold as - I think - 292s.

292s were also in '55 Mercs; my '56 Fairlane has a ECK 292 out of a '55 Mercury.

About the only real way to find out what you've got in that pickup is to check the casting #s on the block and heads, and don't be surprised if none on them 'match up'. But as said, the dataplate will tell you what was in it from the factory.
 
For many years I had a company that had several trucks with 292 Y blocks, there years ranged from '59 to '64. I purchased several Ford rebuilt engines, always opting for the long block assembly..
It is very true that Ford re-builts were not always what they appeared to be.. On two occasions I purchased 292's which turned out to be 312's with the correct T-Bird heads..
For my money I found the most desirable 292's to be the emission engines, PVC's.. These engines do not have the crankcase ventilator on the lower left side of the engine.
 
blucar said:
For my money I found the most desirable 292's to be the emission engines, PVC's.. These engines do not have the crankcase ventilator on the lower left side of the engine.
Click to expand...

None of the Y-blocks had PCV valves. They had a crankcase ventilation tube "road pipe". I dont think any engines had the PCV valve until somewhere around 1970.
 
PCV valves were starting to be used on some Fords in the early 60s. Example: Ford # C1AZ-6A666-A went on - I think some 352s/390s, probably with then-new and evolving emission control systems in '61. Not sure when or even if they were used on any Yblocks. Those early PCV valves were heavy, not like the later stamped steel or plastic ones.
 
I recall running across the later year yblocks that came with pcv sys. Most were trucks. Had a plate that sat under carb with the necessary plumbing to make it work. Port would plug up & blow oil out everywhere.
Can be a hot item on epay.
 
Daves55Sedan said:
None of the Y-blocks had PCV valves. They had a crankcase ventilation tube "road pipe". I dont think any engines had the PCV valve until somewhere around 1970.
Click to expand...
I was at a Linc Merc dealer in the early 1960's . Our first eng with PCV was in the 1961 Merc. Y block. We had no info on it and did not know far sure what it was. Bill
 
All California cars and light trucks had to have PCV after 1960.Starting in 1963, Federal law mandated PCVs on ALL cars and light trucks.Except for the 1961 and1962 California vehicles,the only Y-blocks with factory PCVs were all 1963 and 1964 light trucks.Ford discontinued the Y-block in cars in 1962.
 
1961-1964 292 powered pickups and trucks had a PCV valve screwed into the threaded boss in front of carb. The combination rubber and hardline tapped into the cap at the rear of the valley pan. Like stated above the valves were long lasting, and often are still completely good for service. Some of the valves have a body that can be unscrewed and disassembled for cleaning.

Once I had to clean out the hardline part of a 50 year old PCV, which was virtually completely occluded. It required a LOT of work.
 
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