1956 Big Truck Engines - confusion

[raceron1120]

Recently I got into a discussion on another site about the engines used in 1956 F800s & maybe other Big Job trucks. Some are saying they were 332s (not the later FE series).
I always & maybe mistakenly thought there was just one Lincoln Yblock version & it was a 302.

Or were both sizes used in the big trucks during that period?

302 A.jpg

302 b.jpg

[ms fowler]

Sure LOOKS like a Y block to me.

Here is a link to a brochure for 1956 F900 trucks and has details on the 332 engine. They call it the "Torque King Y8"
http://www.lov2xlr8.no/brochures/ford/56_9/56_9.html

Interesting that they call 3.66" a short stroke. I guess it is all relative.

[raceron1120]

Originally Posted by ms fowler

Sure LOOKS like a Y block to me.

Here is a link to a brochure for 1956 F900 trucks and has details on the 332 engine.

Thanks for that info, I had never seen it before. BUT - wasn't there also a 302 cid version of that same basic design engine? Perhaps it was available in the smaller "big trucks" (F500s & 600s)? I don't know.

I was a Ford truck parts guy in the early/mid 70s; some of those old trucks were still on the road at the time but not enough for me to be very well educated on the details.

[ms fowler]

I am not a Y block expert--I am sure some will chime in later--
There were several versions of the Y. Ford introduced it as 239 cubic inches and later increased it to 272, 292 and 312, No factory 302 Y block that I know of.
There was also a Lincoln version of the Y, similar but with some detail changes-- 317, 341 and 368 cubic inches.

[dmsfrr]

The pair of ridges on the valve covers at each hold-down bolt are likely one of the easiest ways to identify that engine as a Lincoln Y-block.

Originally Posted by raceron1120

. . . BUT - wasn't there also a 302 cid version of that same basic design engine? . . .

Yes there was.

Originally Posted by ms fowler

. . .
There was also a Lincoln version of the Y, similar but with some detail changes-- 317, 341 and 368 cubic inches.

There are some images, details and a list of engine block casting ID numbers at this link ...

http://www.ford-y-block.com/lincoln-y.htm


.

[raceron1120]

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Originally Posted by dmsfrr

. . .There are some images, details and a list of engine block casting numbers at this link ...
http://www.ford-y-block.com/lincoln-y.htm
.

That link helps a lot. I knew some of the CIDs listed but not all. And yes about the ribbed rocker covers being Lincoln Yblocks, vice the Ford Y's.

Thanks much for the info.

[55blacktie]

Isn't the 332 the smallest FE series engine and first offered in 1958?

[dmsfrr]

Originally Posted by 55blacktie

Isn't the 332 the smallest FE series engine and first offered in 1958?

That seems to be correct. Just not the same engine as a Lincoln 332, except in displacement.
I wouldn't count wikipedia as an authoritative source, but here's what they have to say....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_FE_engine

.

[scicala]

Originally Posted by 55blacktie

Isn't the 332 the smallest FE series engine and first offered in 1958?

There was also a Lincoln Y Block used in heavy trucks that was a 332. Not an FE 332 like used in cars in '58 and '59.
The heavy truck Lincoln Y blocks were 279, 302 and 332.

Wikipedia is based on input from people like us, and not really on their research. In this case I would say Wikepedia missed the bulls eye by about a mile.

Sal

[raceron1120]

Same cubic inch displacement between some of the FORD Y's and the LINCOLN/BIG TRUCK Y's just ads to the confusion, eh?

I don't think there's any major parts between the 2 different engine configurations that are interchangeable.

[55blacktie]

Originally Posted by raceron1120

Same cubic inch displacement between some of the FORD Y's and the LINCOLN/BIG TRUCK Y's just ads to the confusion, eh?

I don't think there's any major parts between the 2 different engine configurations that are interchangeable.

Only the distributor (with the right gear) and the oil pump.

[mercman from oz]

1956 Ford Truck Engines

[mercman from oz]

[scicala]

Originally Posted by mercman from oz

1956 Ford Truck Engines

The 279 LLincoln Y Block (not shown in this '56 ad) was only offered in '52 thru '55.

Sal

[mercman from oz]

1955 Ford Truck V-8 Engines

[mercman from oz]

1955 Ford 279 & 317 CID Cargo King V-8's

[1942deluxe]

Something weird I have in my stash of NOS parts is a FAD-12127-B distributor head. The only reference I could find indicated it fit 54-55 600-700 with a 256 cubic inch engine. That would be a Y block truck engine?

[raceron1120]

Originally Posted by 1942deluxe

Something weird I have in my stash of NOS parts is a FAD-12127-B distributor head. The only reference I could find indicated it fit 54-55 600-700 with a 256 cubic inch engine. That would be a Y block truck engine?

I think the 256's are Merc Yblocks and might've also been used in '54 Ford police cars. Subject to correction, but I don't think they were the Lincoln-style Yblocks, and I don't know if they were used in trucks.

[55blacktie]

Originally Posted by raceron1120

I think the 256's are Merc Yblocks and might've also been used in '54 Ford police cars. Subject to correction, but I don't think they were the Lincoln-style Yblocks, and I don't know if they were used in trucks.

Correct. The 256 is a Mercury Y-block. It's the same as the 239, except it has a larger bore (3.62 vs. 3.50).

[Lamar Wadsworth]

If I remember right, the '54-56 cop cars had Merc engines and the rear end that was used on station wagons, sedan deliveries, and Tbirds.

[miker98038]

I believe that’s correct. Police cars and pick ups got the Dana 44 (or variant, there were at least a couple different bearing/axle combinations). The Ford rear end wouldn’t take the heavier loads. Hence the 9” rear end in 57.

[craig]

The 9" differential came out in '57. The 44 dana was stronger than the '49 thru '56 drop out differentials, but not as strong as the 9" that replaced both of them

[rotorwrench]

The 317 Y-block was a big block Y-design that replaced the old 337 flatheads in 1952. The 317 had hydraulic lifters for smoother and more quiet operation. The Big Job 317 had solid tappets as the 279 did.

The 279 was a big block truck version of the 317 design with the solid tappet cam followers. The 279 and 317 were used in the 1952 through 1955 F7/700 & F8/800 respectively. The later Big Job trucks (F700 & F800) used the 302 and 332 versions respectively and continued that practice for quite a while.

Lincoln cars eventually changed to the 341 in the same design in 1955 with the 368 coming in a year later. Lincoln then went on to the MEL engine design in 1958. Big Jobs kept the big block Lincoln type Y-designs till 1964 when they changed to the truck specific FE engines.