How is '54 Yblock (239) water pump different than all later ones?

[34pickup]

If I had a 54 that I was going to keep, I would keep my eyes open for replacement parts that I didn't even need and buy them for later when I need it and can't find it. I have a parts 239 out of my old 54 coupe if you need some used parts.

[dmsfrr]

Originally Posted by 34pickup

If I had a 54 that I was going to keep, I would keep my eyes open for replacement parts that I didn't even need and buy them for later when I need it and can't find it. ...

Originally Posted by JimNNN

... I would get an extra fuel pump, too, but I couldn't find one 15 years ago when I needed a replacement, so I had mine rebuilt. Regardless of what others say the later ones won't work for my original '54 motor...I know, I tried. Maybe they changed fuel pump design mid year or something. I don't know if the oil pumps are the same or not. Any year specific part is worth having.
It would even be fun to rebuild an extra 239 engine for a spare...but that's going a bit overboard.

Back in '12 I took a '54 long-block to the Y-block Guru at a local machine shop to see if it was rebuildable. He told me it was, but only because it was a 'late' version. It seems the early cam bearings and a few other parts(?) hadn't been available from his suppliers for a long time, so he couldn't do those engines. If 'someone else' could round up all the obsolete NOS parts then it would be possible.
'55 and up parts are more commonly available.
The handwriting is on the wall ???
.