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11-16-2017, 12:12 PM | #21 |
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Re: 55 T bird question
The car looks pretty straight btw! good start.
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11-16-2017, 01:25 PM | #22 | ||
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Re: 55 T bird question
Quote:
The bare block is effectively the same as the full sized cars & trucks but many of the parts that bolt on to the block are "T-Bird" specific and usually pricey: Timing cover & front motor support (extended bosses on 4 lower bolts, for front engine support) Oil pan, pickup tube & dipstick (T-birds & trucks have a rear sump pan, but they aren't the same) Valley pan cover (road draft tube hole at rear, 6 inch tall oil filler tube) Water pump spacer (one inch thick, between the water pump & timing cover) Exhaust manifolds (the '57 version was upgraded from the '55/'56 style) Intake manifold, carburetor and distributor sets (they are 'one-yr-only' specific: '55, '56 & '57) You can try 40 Deluxe's suggestion... Quote:
Misc parts are available online (ebay, craigslist, etc.) and from several T-Bird restoration suppliers. Free parts catalogs are available. . Last edited by dmsfrr; 12-09-2017 at 03:09 PM. |
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11-16-2017, 08:03 PM | #23 |
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Re: 55 T bird question
thanks DMS and everyone else-my brother has a 302 fuel injected engine with a trans connected.
I'ld rather wait it out and get a 55-57 T bird engine. I have seen them in the past, being pulled for modified motors. I have enough other stuff to do, that I can wait a year if need be. My experience is that something always comes up and I'ld prefer to keep the car somewhat original and not end up building a hot rod if at all possible. |
11-16-2017, 08:19 PM | #24 | |
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Re: 55 T bird question
Quote:
The guy had the trim part, we agreed on a price and he asked 'if I needed anything else' so I jokingly asked if he had an extra Y-block Thunderbird engine, he did and I bought it. . Last edited by dmsfrr; 11-29-2017 at 11:34 AM. |
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11-18-2017, 06:14 PM | #25 |
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Re: 55 T bird question
so another question dms,
what are the chances of a 272 truck engine bolting up? there is one nearby. I know I am losing power, but not that concerned over that, as long as the car will move down the road. Lucky you on finding the motor. I was hoping to see more of them out there. |
11-18-2017, 06:57 PM | #26 |
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Re: 55 T bird question
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11-18-2017, 07:47 PM | #27 |
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Re: 55 T bird question
thank you ford, so it sounds like the 272 should bolt in. regarding the original trans, 3 spd with overdrive, will that also bolt up to the 272 or do I need an adapter of some sort?
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11-18-2017, 08:01 PM | #28 |
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Re: 55 T bird question
check the swap meet a 292 in mass. for $200
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11-18-2017, 09:07 PM | #29 | ||
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Re: 55 T bird question
Quote:
Fords were changed to 12v in '56. The temp sensor from a '56+ engine won't work with a '55 dash temp gauge. Quote:
Double check the fit of the clutch disc onto the splines of the trans input shaft & input shaft to pilot bushing in the crank. If the bell housing you're planning on using is the one in the truck and it has cast on mounting ears, it won't fit. 99% sure some of the clutch linkage parts will be different. At the least you'll need to change a few other things... A 272 truck oil pan looks like the middle grey one in the attached photo, T-Bird pan is the red one in front. The block sits lower in a T-Bird chassis so the middle & front of the pan isn't as tall, to clear the steering linkage & frame cross member. You probably won't want to use the crossover style exhaust from a truck in a Bird, if it'll even fit. Not sure if the carb setup from a truck 272 will fit under a T-Bird hood, it may depend on the year. IIRC the earlier carbs (pre '57 ?) are too tall. Last edited by dmsfrr; 11-19-2017 at 01:33 PM. |
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11-19-2017, 08:06 AM | #30 |
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Re: 55 T bird question
saw the 292 in swap meet, seller said I would need an adaptor plate to make it fit the t bird..............
the 272 is local and comes with the bell housing, whether or not that will bolt up, im not so sure, coming from a trk. |
11-19-2017, 10:38 AM | #31 |
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Re: 55 T bird question
The 272 may be a good fit for now. It should have the right front cover and engine mount on it. You would need at the least, a Bird oil pan, not sure why the Bird has the 1 inches spacer on the water pump, but you will need that, and the damper that is longer for the Bird. Also you will need a Bird thermostat housing, and generator brackets. As pointed out the truck bellhousing will have the mounting ears that will be in the way. Could be cut off, but make sure your trans will bolt up first! The one dmsfrr has pictured does not have the correct trans pattern as I remember.
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11-19-2017, 11:57 AM | #32 | |
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Re: 55 T bird question
Quote:
You'll obviously need a 'car' style bell housing that matches both the trans & engine. IIRC the 'full-sized car' and T-Bird 3spd manual trans bell housings for Y-blocks may be the same, never had my hands on one. Not sure what kind of adapter plate he'd be talking about. Ford put them together without add-on adapters. Water pump spacer, generator mount & pulley and the crankshaft damper pulley... I'm guessing Ford made them T-Bird specific just to get them closer to the radiator, because the engine compartment is longer. Those parts can be kind of pricey, especially the crank pulley (if you can find one) and it will likely need to be rebuilt. Approx $150/$200 for a used part and approx $175 + shipping to get it rebuilt. A new re-pop T-Bird crank pulley is available for about $520. You may(???) be able to get away without using those parts, just using what might already be on the engine. But the fan will likely be too far from the radiator to get good air flow thru it, esp if the shroud is missing. An aftermarket electric fan kit could be a good option in that case. Last edited by dmsfrr; 12-04-2017 at 11:55 AM. |
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11-19-2017, 02:03 PM | #33 |
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Re: 55 T bird question
all great advice. Thank you everyone!
going to look into that 272 this week. |
12-04-2017, 11:17 AM | #34 |
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Re: 55 T bird question
found a 61 y block firetruck motor with 27k original miles.............
thoughts for bolt up? same as the 272? thanks. |
12-04-2017, 11:49 AM | #35 |
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Re: 55 T bird question
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12-04-2017, 11:54 AM | #36 |
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Re: 55 T bird question
40, thank you for the quick reply.
this one is real close by |
12-04-2017, 12:12 PM | #37 | |
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Re: 55 T bird question
Quote:
Yes, as long as it's a 292 Y-Block. Make sure it's not a LIncoln Y-Block that was available in heavy trucks in '61. If it's a 292, it may even have the desirable 292 steel crankshaft. Sal |
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12-04-2017, 12:20 PM | #38 | ||
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Re: 55 T bird question
Quote:
Quote:
Yes, make sure it's a 292 (check the block casting number) Ford Y-block '55 to '64 bolt-up is the same, it's the parts that bolt on to the block that are different. How complete is the firetruck engine, what other parts does it have on it? If the truck carb & air cleaner come with the engine, chances are they won't fit under the hood as-is. You may only need to change the air cleaner. A firetruck engine may have an rpm governor on the carb or distributor. It might even have a tach drive distributor, a good thing. At the least you'll need the Thunderbird specific oil pan w/ it's pickup tube and the correct exhaust manifolds. The '55/'57 T-Bird oil pan & pickup tube aren't reproduced and can be pricey if you can find one. Theoretically ??? it may be possible to modify a rear sump oil pan from a pickup truck to fit a T-bird, but I certainly wouldn't look forward to trying it. http://www.ford-y-block.com/Block%20identification.htm http://www.ford-y-block.com/technical.htm http://www.y-block.info/casting/exhaust.html . Last edited by dmsfrr; 12-04-2017 at 02:19 PM. |
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12-04-2017, 01:22 PM | #39 |
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Re: 55 T bird question
how to tell the 292 from the Lincoln y block?
serial numbers or? 700 series firetruck engine |
12-04-2017, 01:44 PM | #40 | |
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Re: 55 T bird question
Quote:
The engines don't look the same, but that won't help you unless you already know what both of them should look like. The block casting numbers are a different series so check at the two engine ID links I posted above. There are a couple images of the Lincoln engine. Also, and likely easier than trying to find block numbers who-knows-where on a grubby engine... The exhaust manifold bolt holes in the heads of a Ford Y-block engine are in a straight line, the Lincoln engine has them zig-zagged. (It's the only clue I know, never seen one in-person.) . Last edited by dmsfrr; 12-04-2017 at 09:10 PM. |
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