I'm going to be bringing my 317 y block into the machine shop for cleaning and inspection. If it needs to be bored out in order to get the cylinders clean, was wondering how much it can be bored out before it'll need bigger pistons. Plus I heard if there's too much taken off next to water jackets, will it cause overheating?
How much can a Y block be bored out
- Thread starter B-ster
- Start date
rotorwrench
Well-known member
You may have to check with Southside Obsolete for pistons on the Lincoln Y-blocks. Those that advertise them like Kanter & Performance Now Direct, don't show the finish diameters so I have no idea what oversizes would be available. The 368 motor seems to be one of the only big Y-blocks that has availability on the larger diameters.
If your bores are still within usable specs and the old pistons are still serviceable then your lucky. Most Y-blocks don't have real thick cylinder walls but I don't know what the max bore size would be. Someone out there may know more than I do about them.
Just to add: The cylinders should be sonic tested for thickness prior to a large overbore. A 317 might make it to 368 specs and it might not. A 368 block has room for a large overbore but it is a different casting. The 279, 317, 302, 332, & 341 may all have similar blocks but there may be at least three different castings and possibly more. Trucks had solid cam followers but Lincolns had hydraulics.
If your bores are still within usable specs and the old pistons are still serviceable then your lucky. Most Y-blocks don't have real thick cylinder walls but I don't know what the max bore size would be. Someone out there may know more than I do about them.
Just to add: The cylinders should be sonic tested for thickness prior to a large overbore. A 317 might make it to 368 specs and it might not. A 368 block has room for a large overbore but it is a different casting. The 279, 317, 302, 332, & 341 may all have similar blocks but there may be at least three different castings and possibly more. Trucks had solid cam followers but Lincolns had hydraulics.
Last edited:
I was actually asking about honing, not boring. Used the wrong word.
Am having difficulty getting the power glide ****** off the engine. All bolts are out and there is separation most of the way around it but one side is being a pain. I don't want to get too physical with it and damage it. Anybody know what I should do?
Am having difficulty getting the power glide ****** off the engine. All bolts are out and there is separation most of the way around it but one side is being a pain. I don't want to get too physical with it and damage it. Anybody know what I should do?
miker98038
Well-known member
Both RB and Ted Eaton have experience with the early Lincoln y blocks. Try over at yblocksforever. Due to hacking, you’ll need to contact Ted at
https://www.eatonbalancing.com/
To get registered. It’ll be worth your time. They can probably help with the transmission problem too. Pwerglide? Or Hydromatic?
https://www.eatonbalancing.com/
To get registered. It’ll be worth your time. They can probably help with the transmission problem too. Pwerglide? Or Hydromatic?
KULTULZ
Well-known member
If you notice in your WSM under ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS, the piston to wall min/max clearance will be given. If the machine shop decides to hone and the bore(s) cannot be cleaned/squared correctly, it will have to be bored and a O/S piston(s) used. It may be that not all cylinders will need to be bored.
This can only be answered at the machine shop. Anything else is just guessing and it will do you no good.
Old Redneck
Well-known member
My 56 T Bird has a 292 bored 40 over. That was done before I got the car. I found it in the paper's that came with the car.