312 Vs 292 visual differences

3

32phil

Well-known member
Hi All
Is there a way to tell a Ford 292 V8 from a 312 V8...externally?
Any casting numbers/marks that give an indication of what size the motor is? I thought there was a mark or casting code on the tail of the crankshaft. I think it was supposed to be visible with the trans off.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.
Phil
 
Hello Phil,

Here is a link that tells how to identify a 312 Y-Block.
Checking for the mark on the crankshaft, or pulling the oil pan to see if it has ECZ main caps is probably the best way. All block casting numbers for a 312, were also used for 292's. Not sure if you can get a straight enough shout to check the stroke through a spark plug hole. 292 stroke is 3.30", and 312's are 3.44"

Sal

http://ford-y-block.com/identify312.htm
 
According to the Thunderbird Restoration Details and Specification Manual, "[t]he engine casting number is found on the right hand side of the block below the head surface and above the oil filter. ECZ 6015-C casting in most cases indicates a 312 engine. However some of these blocks were machined as 292 engines. Casting number ECZ 6015-B has always been found to be a 312 engine. A 292 engine has never been found with a ECZ 6015-B casting."
"EDB casting on engine block in most cases will be 292 C.I. engine, however some were 312 C.I."
"Flywheel end flange on a 312 crank shaft, half moon cut out opposite the machined area with round dot is the only sure way to identify a 312 crank shaft. Casting numbers on the block is reliable about 95% of the time."
"272/292 crank shaft flange with half moon cut out and smooth on the opposite side is one sure way to identify a 272/292 crank."
"312 C.I. crank main bearing cap is one sure way to identify a 312 engine. ECZ will appear on all main bearing caps."
Hope this helps.
Jim Yergin
 
Hot Rod Reverend said:
..... everyone says a y block is a 312
Click to expand...
Ditto again.
Yesterday someone wanting a 312 asked me if he should bid on a "complete original 312 w/ auto transmission" for sale on ebay.

The block casting number or better details weren't in the ad but all the bolt-on parts on the engine in the photos were from '55, a year 312's weren't made.


.
 
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scicala said:
I've even heard of a 239 being called a 312. Believe it or not. Sal
Click to expand...

Anything for a buck. Or so it seems. When anyone asks what's in my '56, I just tell 'em what they want to hear - that yeah it's a 312 (it's actually a Merc 292) - except that guy who told me he thought it was a SBC! :D
 
32phil said:
I thought there was a mark or casting code on the tail of the crankshaft. I think it was supposed to be visible with the trans off.
Click to expand...
This round dot. It's about the size of an aspirin tablet.
.
 

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If it has the dot - its definatly a 312.

However I have seen 312s that did not have the dot. Usually that would be a Canadian manufactored 312 engine.

If it has the dot your safe with it being a 312.

You can see that portion of the crankshaft by removing the transmission inspection cover .
The cover can be removed with the car up on a lift on either an automatic or standard shift car.

Oldmics
 
And then you have the 312 cranks in 292 blocks. I have cut down more then a few and put them in 292 blocks.
 
In 1974 I bought a very nice '57 Bird for my wife as an Xmas present, paid the princely sum of $3,500 for the car. The odometer showed 68k..
In about 20K the engine started to knock so I had the engine torn down to find the problem. As my luck would have it, the engine was not what it reputedly had been claimed to be by the man I bought the car from.
The engine was a 312 block with 292 heads, miss matched rods/pistons, a typical poorly overhauled engine in lieu of a rebuilt engine. Everything but the block was discarded. I found a set of ECZ heads, took them to the shop rebuilding the 312. The heads were rebuilt, valves, seats, guides, etc.
Shortly after the engine was reinstalled into the car coolant started to appear in the engine. Extensive testing revealed that several of the head bolt holes minute cracks around them on the valve spring/rocker arm side. The result of over torquing the bolts.
An extensive search could not produce a good, re-buildable set of ECZ heads. After a couple of months spent looking for ECZ heads I happened to remember a Y-Block that we had pulled out of a one of my company's '64 F350. The engine was a Ford rebuilt long block that had grenaded when the crank broke.
When we tore the discarded engine down we found that it had ECZ heads on it.. The Ford gods had smiled down on me. Lucky for me the Ford authorized re-builders were not above mixing parts...
 
Grabbed a Y Block my buddy was going to toss, pulled from a "62 Unibody he was resto modding. Turned out to be a 312 from a "59 Merc.
 
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