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By Dan - 17 Years Ago
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As we progress on the rebuild of out y-block I am really getting interested in maybe using it in our '27 T hot rod. My biggest sticking point right now is what trans to use to make it possible? The frame is 2x4 rectangular steel so may can make just about any mount to make it work. I am reluctant to use a manual as fabricating the linkage and getting the pedals to fit in the tight T would be pretty tough I think. What trans swaps are available that would allow us to run this engine in our project?? thanks-
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By pcmenten - 17 Years Ago
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Dan,
As I recall, you are the instructor for a high school shop class and you have a 292 and a 272 that you and your class are working on.
You might want to go with a stock type transmission like the Ford-o-matic or Cruise-o-matic because you can find bellhousings and transmissions that attach with no fuss. If you go with the Ford-o you can use either a car bellhousing and use the engine side mounts, or you can look for a truck bellhousing and go with the bellhousing mounts.
My theory about the truck bellhousing mounts is that the designers wanted to put the mounts in line with the firewall and use the firewall to help resist the torque of the engine. I wonder if your T-bone has enough of a firewall to make a difference. The other part of my theory is that the truck mounts help stiffen the entire front frame by using the engine as an element in the frame design.
Side mounts my be a lot easier.
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By Dan - 17 Years Ago
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Yep, you are right, so I am guessing that any y-block equipped car or p/u from '54-'62 would have a trans that would mate up? I am brand new to the y-blocks so dont know what swaps are possible etc. I'll research the advise you gave and see what I learn. If I could at all possible use engine side mounts I think that would be the best set up. Our steering is going outside the frame and the front end is suicide style so we should have pleny of room between the frame rails for mounts - you are right about the T firewall, dont think I want to rely on it for any structural support.
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By bird55 - 17 Years Ago
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Yes, if you used any of those ford autos and bellhousings it would be easiest to install. The truck has the ears sticking out for mounting to the frame and the car has the mount on the tailshaft similar to most apps. Seems to me you could locate one of these easily. They are heavier than new stuff of course-but in your app it shouldn't matter. 1955 and some 56 were air cooled and later had lines to the radiator in case you wondered. I have a complete 55 setup in my garage floor, It always shifted great but tended to leak if not driven. Also have a brand new overhaul kit for one that I'll never use.
Just to add this, I would think your engine side mounts would be adequate either way for this app-not using the "front" mount typically found on a y powered car AND using a tailshaft mount per the trans. Jusz my 2 cents.
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By Dan - 17 Years Ago
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so if I'm following you guys I should probably look for '57 & newer (so I can run a trans cooler) Ford-o-matic (so I can run the car bellhousing) and I should be fine building side mounts on the engine with mount under the tailshaft of the trans??
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By bird55 - 17 Years Ago
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Yep. Sounds easiest to me.
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By bird55 - 17 Years Ago
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Only downside to this is having to rebuild an oldstyle trans or get one that is in working order.
Of course that could be something more you learn, right.  Manuals and parts are out there.
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By Dan - 17 Years Ago
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cool, the search begins...
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By carl - 17 Years Ago
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Dan If you find you need a 55 56 bellhousing let me know and i will send you one just for shipping cost Carl Ohio
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By Jerry's Kars - 17 Years Ago
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I have three auto trans. One Ford and one Merc. One I'm not sure what but I think it was in a truck. Still bolted to a y-block. Would not want to ship. Where are you located? henryelectrical@yahoo.com
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By mctim64 - 17 Years Ago
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Dan, How's the engine coming? Did you pick a cam for it yet? what timing set up are you going to use? How about the head, did you decide what to do about the guide? Hope that is not too many questions at once, I would just like to hear how it is progressing.
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By Dan - 17 Years Ago
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For cam we have a stock 292 grind, gonna take the head to the maching shop today and have it looked and have the crank mic'd and polished. I think the crank will not need to be turned but I'm not real savvy with the mic  so gonna have my work double checked. In the meantime we have been painting up the parts, trying to get the valley cover bent back into shape, its alittle twisted. Still need to gather up all the rebuild parts, dont have any of that stuff yet. Timing set I have a stock one we will use if it specs out ok.Do have a couple ford trans in the shed that I need to dig out and i.d., hopefully have something out there that will work. If it turns out I need that bellhousing I would definately be interested in it!
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By mctim64 - 17 Years Ago
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Hey Dan, I have a mild street cam that was replaced by a hotter one for a customer, if I recall correctly it is .428" lift (with 1.43:1 rockers) and 278* adv. dur. with 108* lobe centers. It is a fresh regrind and can be yours if you like. Remember to put 12 pins on the chain between the dots on the sprockets, the Y is not the same as most others. If you want the cam give me you address again so I don't have to look it up.
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By Dan - 17 Years Ago
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Tim - that would be awesome! Dan Chapweske 1604 Main Miles City MT 59301 Thanks for all the help guys! Our search for a trans has netted a couple C4's, no ford-o or cruise-o yet, wouldnt mind using a C4 due to its smaller size but the only adaptors I'm finding are like $800, am I looking in the wrong place or is that the going rate for these??
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By pcmenten - 17 Years Ago
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The original bellhousings for the y-block to C4 are rather rare, especially by now. The aftermarket bells are super expensive. Where I live (Boise, Idaho) it's not that hard to find old Ford-o and Cruise-o-matics in old junkyards.
Jeepers, looking at a map of where Miles City, Montana is, it looks like you are truly in the middle of nowhere. No offense, but I can see why you might not have a lot to pick through.
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By Dan - 17 Years Ago
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no offense, we are pretty isolated, the local yards have all closed so its getting tough to buy parts, generally have to buy a whole vehicle from someone to get the parts you need Would the C4 be any better than the original trans? The car will be a lightweight '27 T with mild 292, street driven, I would imagine with such light weight even with the small engine the car could be kinda quick??
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By mctim64 - 17 Years Ago
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Dan, I hate to say it, but I sold an air cooled Ford-o-matic a couple of years ago for just $100 and then delivered it to the Bay area for another $175. It dose go to show that you can find them cheep enough if you look and then maybe the shipping wouldn't be as bad as paying for an adaptor for the C-4. I'll get that cam off to you as soon as I can. I hope you have new lifters already, if not there are places that reface them cheep enough. You can access Oregon Cams through my site, they do them.
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By Dan - 17 Years Ago
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very coo Tim, thanks!
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By PF Arcand - 17 Years Ago
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Dan: Maybe still to expensive?, but Mummert in CA lists the C-4 adaptor for $460.
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By Dan - 17 Years Ago
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it is a good price compared to others, still out of our league...
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By mctim64 - 17 Years Ago
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pcmenten (12/11/2008)
The original bellhousings for the y-block to C4 are rather rare, especially by now. The aftermarket bells are super expensive. Where I live (Boise, Idaho) it's not that hard to find old Ford-o and Cruise-o-matics in old junkyards.Boise is just down the road from MT , if they are all over the yards there maybe you could find one cheep and have it shipped. Might not be too bad $.
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By pcmenten - 17 Years Ago
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Actually, I've been pulling parts off of a 56. The car had been half submerged in a pond, but I was still considering digging the Ford-o off of the 272. I'm still not sure if it's worth the trouble even if it were free.
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