[frnkeore]

I was never a fan of the 239/312 Y block. My dad bought a '54 Ranchwagon, in '57 and had to replace the engine within a year. He put a '55, 272 in it and we never had any trouble after that. But, when I was a mechanic, the ONLY cracked Ford block, I ever saw, was a 312, cracked from the main, to the cam bearing. They also had rocker arm oiling issues. I had to put external oiler's on several 292's in my 8 years as a mechanic.

As Ford's premier V8, they only lasted from '54 to '57, I'm not sure why Ford had such a short term engine. I think a short deck 317, would have been a better short run engine.