"Y" Block Heads - interchangeable parts?

[mercman from oz]

The above pictures are of a Head from a 312 V8 "Y" Block Mercury Engine. Only the 272 and 292 Ford Y Block V8 Engines were fitted to cars and trucks sold in Australia. Are the Heads of the 272, 292 and 312 interchangeable? What about the Valves? My original Heads may be suitable for reconditioning, but if not, can we use parts from the 272 and 292 Ford Y Block V8 Engines?

 

[Y-Blockhead]

Yes all can be used on the different size engines (except the early 239 heads). In fact there is no such thing as a 272, 292 or 312 specific head (except for maybe the supercharger heads). The same head would have been used for all Y-Blocks of a certain year, i.e. the ECZ-C heads you have were used in 1956 for 272, 292 and 312's.

As far as parts being interchangeable between heads you will have to check valve sizes as the different heads used various size valves.

And of course, heads should be used in pairs as different castings have different combustion chambers and compression ratios.

Check here for casting numbers and use;
http://www.ford-y-block.com/cylinderheadchart.htm

 

[mercman from oz]

Thank you for your helpful information and Link. Very helpful.

 

[JAKEFORD]

In my younger days when money was scarce, I used one 312 head and one 292 head on a 272 block. Paid no attention to part numbers or valve sizes and drove the car. It ran well and I put a lot of miles on it.It was a 1957 Ford two door and made a lot of highway trips.