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03-22-2018, 07:24 PM | #1 |
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Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 1
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56 Ford F100 New Project - Engine Questions
Hi to everyone!
I have just come home with a 56 Ford F100 from California that is in great shape... very little rust. The questions I have are around the Y-block that came with it. It was in some state of rebuild with no information on what was done (and now way of asking). I've torn it back down to the block and heads and this is what I have found: Block - ECG Heads - ECL-A ECZ 9425-B Manifold Older Holley 4 Barrel Carb New water Pump New Fuel Pump The block was cleaned and it appears that new bearings and seals have been installed as well as Pistons and a new Timing Chain and Gears… I can’t tell if the cam is new but I would assume so, but I have no idea on what the specs are or manufacturer. But from what I can see from the bottom side is it appears that the cylinders have been bored and the pistons look new. The heads I see are low compression with the smaller valves... I have not removed the heads to inspect the bore or any work that might have been done to the heads. I'm not looking for a Hot Rod here... just a mild performance Y-block... something that performs well and has some get up and go when you put your foot into it. I’m planning on restoring the truck with a few modern upgrades… not a lowered street rod. My questions are: 1. Should I remove the heads to determine what has been done as far as bore and what pistons have been installed as well as what work has been done to the heads, if any? 2. Is there a way to determine the compression without removing the heads? 3. Are the ECL-A heads even worth keeping? Should I replace them with the larger valve ECZ-G heads? 4. Is there any value to keeping the ECL-A heads? Will they be a large loss of power/performance? Will I even notice?? Thanks, Kevin |
03-22-2018, 11:01 PM | #2 |
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Abq, NM
Posts: 3,607
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Re: 56 Ford F100 New Project - Engine Questions
You may have already found this website / link... but if you haven't here it is.
http://www.ford-y-block.com/technical.htm An ECG block is/was a 272, plus whatever it was bored to. With ECL-A heads the published compression ratio is 7.6:1, with 162 hp. But... *Compression ratios listed are from Ford literature and are theoretic figures that exclude deck volume and head gasket displacement. Most published compression ratios are approximately 9% higher than actual. When engines are rebuilt with composition head gaskets deduct about 12% for actual compression. Do to the thinness of the deck surface of ... Y-Block heads ..... it is recommended that unposted heads not be milled more than .025". * I'm not seeing anything inspiring in that paragraph. An ECZ-B intake manifold is considered the oem 'one to have'. The ECZ-G heads are also, but how much could they actually wake up a 272, and at what cost? They're quite pricey if you can find them and rebuilding them with hardened valve seats will take another big chunk out of your wallet. Lacking an unlimited parts budget... since you want "something that performs well", is an apparently stock 272 the right engine to build from, if you want to have "some get up and go when you put your foot into it" ??? Would you consider a swap to a nearly stock newer larger engine? (302-351) . Last edited by dmsfrr; 03-26-2018 at 11:19 AM. |
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03-30-2018, 01:34 PM | #3 | |
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Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Black Hills, SD
Posts: 577
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Re: 56 Ford F100 New Project - Engine Questions
Quote:
http://yblockguy.com/head_casting_numbers.htm |
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03-28-2018, 07:28 PM | #4 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Sioux City Iowa
Posts: 196
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Re: 56 Ford F100 New Project - Engine Questions
Go to youtube and search mctim and click on videos then scroll to the bottom. Find the video titled '58 Ford F100 burnout, 313cu in Y-block. It's about 24 seconds long, turn up the volume and watch/listen to the end. And then he has another video that is over a minute long of the same burnout, but he gives a walk around tour before he does the burnout. That just might get your juices flowing!!!
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03-28-2018, 08:07 PM | #5 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Kent, WA. Tucson, AZ
Posts: 1,397
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Re: 56 Ford F100 New Project - Engine Questions
Disclaimer: I’m a pretty hardcore y block guy.
I’d pull the heads and measure the bore and also the stroke. Just to make sure it was a 272 to begin with. It was pretty common to punch those out for 292 piston. If you’ve got a good bore, no ridge, maybe even the crosshatch still there, that’s a good sign. Then mike the pad on the heads and see what they’ve been milled, if any. Check how far down the bore the pistons are at TDC. Block might have been surfaced, who knows till you check. If you’ve got the motor out, turn it over and pull the cam. Y blocks are not something you want to change the cam on unless they’re apart. If the cam looks good, I’d do a quick check for lift, or if available locally, run it by a “cam doctor” machine. If you’ve got the ability, space, etc. to do this it’s time not money, and minimal tools. Maybe a buddy who already has a couple micrometers and knows how to use them. Y block, excepting real hp motors, make great torque at lower rpm’s, and with the right cam and reasonable compression move you down the road just fine in a street rig. Even the stock ones were pretty good for their day. Spend a lot of time on the site dmsfrr gave you. Which rocker arms, etc. You might be closer to a decent street motor than you think. It would help if you added your location, and maybe which transmission you’ve got. If all else fails, you can do what I did on my first 292 in my 55 bird. Bolt an old Paxton on it. Didn’t make it a lot faster, but the blower whine made it seem that way. |
03-29-2018, 09:28 AM | #6 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: St. Michael, Minnesota
Posts: 1,713
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Re: 56 Ford F100 New Project - Engine Questions
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Last edited by Ole Don; 03-29-2018 at 09:40 AM. Reason: Spelling. |
04-06-2018, 10:31 AM | #7 |
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Orange Park, Fl
Posts: 406
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Re: 56 Ford F100 New Project - Engine Questions
Absolutely agree on the carb choice. Especially if it is a vacuum secondary. You said it is an older Holley 4V. I assume you have the larger bolt pattern and so any late carb will also fit. I'm sure you know to assure yourself that the distributor is also '57 up to match the vacuum advance requirements of the later carb.
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04-06-2018, 01:58 PM | #8 | |
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Abq, NM
Posts: 3,607
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Re: 56 Ford F100 New Project - Engine Questions
Quote:
The '56 and earlier distributor housings are shallower than the '57 and later. They are also 'vacuum only' for the timing advance and have a flat side on the main shaft to index the rotor. '57 and newer y-block distributors have centrifugal counterweights under the points to advance the timing with engine rpm, and a notch in the open top shaft to index the rotor. Last edited by dmsfrr; 04-07-2018 at 11:44 AM. |
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03-29-2018, 11:54 AM | #9 |
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Abq, NM
Posts: 3,607
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Re: 56 Ford F100 New Project - Engine Questions
Timing chain alignment marks: Both outer marks at 3 o'clock when facing them, and 12 pins of the chain between them. FYI, this is not # 1 TDC
image attached below Valve seats: If hardened seats weren't installed and you're planning on driving the truck a pretty fair amount, a Lead fuel additive could be helpful. Zinc in the motor oil: It's a good thing, see this link... https://www.ctci.org/gilsgarage/EngineOil.php For ease of maint and a more stable spark at higher rpm's an electronic ignition conversion kit that replaces the points is suggested, but may not be overly necessary. IMHO . Last edited by dmsfrr; 04-07-2018 at 11:40 AM. |
04-10-2018, 10:11 AM | #10 |
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Join Date: May 2010
Location: Eastern Iowa
Posts: 350
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Re: 56 Ford F100 New Project - Engine Questions
Just joining in this thread. If I want to put a newer Holley 4 barrel on my '56 F100 Y block and have the older style dizzy. Do I have to replace it with a '57 or newer dizzy for the two to work vacuum wise?
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04-10-2018, 10:20 AM | #11 | |
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: IN A 'GALAXIE' FAR FAR AWAY
Posts: 6,466
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Re: 56 Ford F100 New Project - Engine Questions
Quote:
LOAD-O-MATIC (54*56) requires matching components to allow the engine to run correctly.
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