Original 239 Y-Block, Keep it or Not

C

Calspal99

Junior Member
Brand new to the Ford Barn Forum and my first post.

I am customizing my 55 F-100 "farm truck". It had no cool factor and with a little bit more work should be ready for cruising. It runs great with the 239 and only needs just a bit of mechanical work to serve my purposes. So the question is "is there any reason I shouldn't keep the 239 Y-Block knowing I will need to invest a little to clean it up and add some after market stuff like intake, carbs and dual exhaust." Keep in mind that I'm no restoration expert. I'm just a home garage guy that can get by with the basics of a project like this. I don't have the skill, tools or space to swap out a crate motor, ******, Crown Vic front end, etc. I do have some body skills and that part of the project is progressing perfectly including the other bolt on parts already completed. What's left is lowering suspension, wheels and tires, and the engine bay. Is anything I've said too crazy or should I stay the course? If not, I'll need professional help with the mechanicals and I really want to do the work myself. Thanks for your opinions. Cheers. Rick.
 
Welcome!

Nothing wrong with keeping a perfectly good 239, just don't expect 10 second quarter miles or land speed record top ends.
 
drive the 239 until it dies, then swap in a 292. it would be almost a complete bolt in. keep in mind that the intakes on the 239 will not work very well with other Y blocks ,if they will work at all, due to port size. so I would not spend my money on an aftermarket intake, the reason being the port size will not match up well with the 292/312 if you ever do decide to upgrade at a later date. almost all internal parts do not interchange either. so my advise is keep it stock except for dress up stuff. ( valve covers and air , etc . cleaner ) those parts will work on other Y-blocks. then down the road when the 239 wears out, you can use them on a 292. this will give the best bang for your bucks, and keep things simple. just my .02 ---Jim
 
Alaska Jim said:
drive the 239 until it dies, then swap in a 292. it would be almost a complete bolt in. keep in mind that the intakes on the 239 will not work very well with other Y blocks ,if they will work at all, due to port size. so I would not spend my money on an aftermarket intake, the reason being the port size will not match up well with the 292/312 if you ever do decide to upgrade at a later date. almost all internal parts do not interchange either. so my advise is keep it stock except for dress up stuff. ( valve covers and air , etc . cleaner ) those parts will work on other Y-blocks. then down the road when the 239 wears out, you can use them on a 292. this will give the best bang for your bucks, and keep things simple. just my .02 ---Jim
Click to expand...

Times two :)

Keep your eyes open for a complete 292 pickup truck engine, maybe someone doing a late model engine swap, then put it in as your resources allow.
There are some car/truck differences in a few of the bolt-on parts, so starting with another truck engine can save on surprises.
IIRC... dual exhaust manifolds from a 'car' won't fit in trucks.
Is the truck still 6v? There are parts to change for 12v electrics.

Find and join a local club for similar vehicles to help with; locating parts, helping hands, increasing your knowledge, etc. etc.
.
 
I agree about not trying to increase the power on the 239. There really aren't any performance parts out there except maybe the Edelbrock 4 barrel manifold that came out in 1954 for the 239 Y-Block. Good luck finding one of those. Could probably use a '54 Mercury 256 factory intake. All other Y-Block intakes would be a port mis-match. Don't think any cams are made also because of the difference in distributor gear teeth with all other Y-Blocks. If you really wanted too, you could put later heads with bigger valves and ports. That would solve the port mis-match problem with later intakes too.

Sal

Sal
 
this is a 55 engine and everything from the later y blocks will fit unless im missing something.i had a 256 truck engine from 55 and it was the same as a 272.
 
IIRC... the 239's use a timing cover with a smaller water pump than the 272 & newer.
The driven gear at the bottom of the dist shaft may have a 13 tooth gear w/ flat & slot drive if it's an 'early' version, or 14 teeth & hex drive if it matches the '55 to '64 style engine & camshaft drive gear.
 

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darrell said:
this is a 55 engine and everything from the later y blocks will fit unless im missing something.i had a 256 truck engine from 55 and it was the same as a 272.
Click to expand...
Winner, Winner, winner, chicken dinner!!

Specifically the EBV block (at least all of the ones I have disassembled) shared 272 and 292 block, camshaft, distributor, and oil pump characteristics. The heads would be the kicker. There are some EBV blocks that had the EBU heads and some that had the heads that would fit the 55 and 56 4 barrel intakes.
 
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If you are going to have to dump the engine and transmission; I'd go with a 302 or 351.

#JustMyOpinion
 
the 54 car engine was the oddball.most of the 54 truck engines from what i have heard were the same as later y blocks.there were a few truck engines built at the car plant just enough to mix things up.
 
Well, I guess since he said the truck is a 55 it probably is a 272 even though he said it was a 239. before he does anything he needs to verify what he actually has. I would start with the block and see what it is. he can use the info on John Mummerts site to find out .
 
Alaska Jim said:
Well, I guess since he said the truck is a 55 it probably is a 272 even though he said it was a 239.
Click to expand...

Somebody correct me if I am wrong, but all the '55 F100 pickup trucks had the 239 (if that is still the factory engine). I don't think any 272 engines were installed in trucks that year.
???????
However I agree with Alaska Jim about the idea of keeping it as long as it still runs and when it quits, swap it for a 292.
 
239 or 272 ?
The truck could be an early or late '55, and the engine could be original to the truck or not,
but it looks like a '55 model year truck could have had either one.
Possibly a mid-year change or option?

(below from the Mummert engine block casting number webpage)

 EBV .. 239 cu. in. V8 .. 1955 pickup, small cam bearings
ECG .. 272 cu. in V8 .. 1955 to 57 cars and trucks. Typically Dearborn casting.

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