55 F100 engine ID

[tommyleea]

Running into conflicting info on available engines. In the Identify your ford article, it states that a V in the VIN for 55 is a 239 engine, and a V in the VIN of a 56 is a 272. In the Ford Y Block book, it leads you to believe that the 239 ended in 54, and the 272 took its place in 55. Here are some numbers and info on my engine.

Intake..ECG9425H (272)

Timing Cover...DIF EBV6059 (239)

Exhaust Manifold...DIF ECE6430 B

Block by distributor...ECO..which is not listed..picture included..

Rear sump oil pan..

Have not found any numbers on the heads yet..

Can you help me figure it out? Thanks

 

[dmsfrr]

The engine code letters in a vin / serial number had a tendency to change from year to year as the displacement increased and newer engines & options became available.
Example: in '55 Ford cars the 292 was code letter P. In '56 the 312 was code P, and the 292 was (reduced to) code letter M. In '57 cars the 292 (2bbl) was code letter C.

ECO is not an engine block casting number for a Y-block.
It's likely a slightly lumpy marking of ECG, a '55 thru '57 272.
The location of that number at the base of the distributor means the block was cast at the Dearborn Industrial Foundry, DIF.
Often found in trucks, which used a rear-sump oil pan, and were painted yellow as yours is.
(photo below)

http://www.ford-y-block.com/Block%20identification.htm
http://www.yblockguy.com/identify_y-block.htm
http://www.y-block.info/casting/blocks.html
http://www.y-block.info/enginecolor.html
.

 

[dmsfrr]

... Timing Cover...DIF EBV6059 (239) ...

Pretty sure early/'54 239's had a timing cover for a smaller water pump and later engines used a larger one. A 272 like you have would be the larger one.

Compare the water pump size in these photos to what you have. Notice the EBV casting number prefix in the 2nd photo. It doesn't mean the timing cover is on an EBV (239) engine.
Casting number prefixes weren't changed unless that individual part had to be redesigned. The same part was often used for up to several following years in similar applications.

 

[darrell]

55 239 was the same as later y blocks

 

[dmsfrr]

55 239 was the same as later y blocks

The timing cover and water pump, ok.
But wouldn't a '55 239 have an EBV engine block casting number?

 

[darrell]

yes

 

[tommyleea]

So, what engine do you think SHOULD be in my truck?

 

[Daves55Sedan]

It has always been my understanding that the 239 Y-block was first used in 1954 Ford cars and was used in 1955 Ford F100 pickup trucks, but the '55 cars did not have the 239. They all had 272's except for T-Bird and full-size cars with "P" code for the engine in the VIN had a 292. In other words, the 239 was only used in cars for one marketing year ('54). In '56, Fomoco ramped up production of the 272 and used it in both cars and trucks, while the 292 continued to proliferate as an optional engine.

 

[dmsfrr]

It has always been my understanding that the 239 Y-block was first used in 1954 Ford cars and was used in 1955 Ford F100 pickup trucks, ...

Yes, that's what this chart shows.
http://ford-y-block.com/Block%20identification.htm

EBU 239 cu. in. V8 1954 cars only.
EBV 239 cu. in. V8 1955 pickup

So, what engine do you think SHOULD be in my truck?

If more than a few sources for 50's Ford truck information agree that a V engine code in an F-100 truck serial number for 1955 is a 239 engine, and there's a V engine code in the serial number of the '55 F-100 you have, then that's what it left the factory with.
There may have been an optional 272 engine available in some '55 trucks ? (ECG 272 - 1955 to 57 cars and trucks) but the truck would have a different engine code letter in the serial number.

Given the lack of regular maint that many work trucks suffered and the 63 years since then it shouldn't be at all surprising if the engine has been changed.
Example: my '55 Bird project seems to have had 3 different engines before I got it and was put together with 4+ different years & models of parts under the hood. It now has its fourth engine.
.

 

[tommyleea]

Yes, that's what this chart shows.
http://ford-y-block.com/Block%20identification.htm

EBU 239 cu. in. V8 1954 cars only.
EBV 239 cu. in. V8 1955 pickup

If more than a few sources for 50's Ford truck information agree that a V engine code in an F-100 truck serial number for 1955 is a 239 engine, and there's a V engine code in the serial number of the '55 F-100 you have, then that's what it left the factory with.
There may have been an optional 272 engine available in some '55 trucks ? (ECG 272 - 1955 to 57 cars and trucks)
but the truck would have a different engine code letter in the serial number.

Given the lack of regular maint that many work trucks suffered and the 63 years since then it shouldn't be at all surprising if the engine has been changed.
Example: my '55 Bird project seems to have had 3 different engines before I got it and was put together with 4+ different years & models of parts under the hood. It now has its fourth engine.
.

Thanks, that is the info I was looking for. Only reason I wanted to verify is because the truck was advertised as original. Appears not. Thanks again..

 

[dmsfrr]

... Only reason I wanted to verify is because the truck was advertised as original. Appears not. Thanks again..

The engine could have been changed many years ago and unless they were the original owner the person who sold the truck wouldn't have known.
Without a fair amount of research one old Ford Y-block engine looks just like another, and the one it has could even be from the same year. The 272's had improvements over the 239 and will be easier to find parts for in any case.