New to y block engines. need help building Horsepower.


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By Pudster - 15 Years Ago
First let me say this is an awsome website. I,ve never payed much attention to yblock engines until I bought a 64 f-100. I bought it without an engine in it but the guy had the 312 that came out of it and still has it. Anyway I had plans to put a mean smallblock in it until my buddy (a chevy lover)told me it didnt matter what I put in it he would still blow me off the rd with his 50 chevy pickup with a 327. Well I did,nt take that kind of arrogance to well and I told him I could outrun him even with the old yblock that it originally had in it. Well here we go! So now because of my big mouth and a deep hatred for all things chevy, i find myself in ned of some major help. I have taken a better look at these engines and I absolutely love them. They seem to be built to last forever and look super with all the alluminum and things to dress them up. If I cant outrun him I sure can make a better looking engine than his SBC. I know 327,s are mean and this one is pretty mild so if I can come up with a good yblock recipe to at least stay with him it sure would make for some good conversation at our old country store in our community. Any help would be very much appreciated. I would like to get around 300 hp out of it if possible. I have seen aggressive cams and alluminum hads and intakes that look awesome in my google searches and Im wondering how much horses these parts will ad. Anyway im determined to do it and any help I can get from the pros here would be appreciated so Im gonna just hang around and wait. Who knows maybe I will get an intake or heads for ChristmasSmileTongue
By speedpro56 - 15 Years Ago
Starting with a good set of heads that breathe and a cam that really works, a better intake manifold, late model 4V carb a good set of headders should put you in front of him and WHAT A BLAST!!!!!!!!! you're gonna have.

A mild ported set of ECZ-G or 113s heads should do the job on the head end.

A Blue Thunder or Mummert intake manifold.

A cam with at least .238 @ .050 and a rated duration of 268 ( lobe # 6313 ) comp cams.

4V carb 500 to 600 cfms vaccum secondaries.

A decent set of headders that's better than stock.

We want you to do better than just run with him. The advantage with the yblock is its torque! What you're doing here is adding more torque and alot more horsepower. keep in mind this isn't gonna be cheap but what is. Good Luck

By charliemccraney - 15 Years Ago
I'd find out exactly what the story is with the 327. If it's a stock engine that he simply swapped, then it will be easy to build a Y to outrun him.



If I'm not mistaken, 350 top end parts will bolt right onto a 327 and the 350 parts potentially have about 40 more years of development behind them than the Y. As much as I like the Y, there is also no replacement for development. That 327 could be very stout. In all likely hood you will still be able to build it to outrun him, but can you afford it? I have heard from Chevy guys themselves that a 327 block can't handle much more than 400hp. If that's true, then he really doesn't stand a chance against a well built Y.
By Pudster - 15 Years Ago
I was with him when he bought it and the guy told him that it was pretty much stock except the roller rockers. It was on a stand and has'nt even been started yet. I think hes waitin on me to see what I do but hes still farther along with his project than I am. Maybe I should offer to help him set it in and get his going and see how much he has. I was just really unsure about how these old yblocks run and what kind of potential there was with one of them since I am a newbie to them.
By Rono - 15 Years Ago
Pudster;

It also depends on your budget. Go the the John Mummerts website http://www.ford-y-block.com/ and check out the stroker kits, heads, intakes and other speed goodies he has there. Also, You really need to look into your motor a bit more. Ford did not put any 312's into trucks. Only 272's and 292's. Unless this motor was not the original, you more likely have a 272 or 292. I bought one of John's stroker kits which will wind up being a supercharged 331 cu.in motor when it's done. My current ride has a 292 truck block with a 312 crank turned down to fit the 292 mains. I used the longer 292 rods and had to cut about 0.063" off the piston tops to get a zero deck. The resut was a 317 cu.in. motor (bored 0.060 over) that runs really well. All the guys on this site love to share their knowledge about Y-Blocks and will help you along with your project. Good Luck!

Rono

By MoonShadow - 15 Years Ago
There are quite a few 11-12 second door slammers around the tracks. You should be able to build to the 14-15's without too much trouble. The rest is in gears and driving ability. All of which can be addressed on this website. Did you see the record holding dragster on the home page? Sub 8's is impressive for any engine! Chuck in NH
By Pudster - 15 Years Ago
I can tell there are a bunch of good folks on this site  with alot of knowledge and Im feeling better about this undertaking more and more. I will look at the engine a alittle closer and maybe it is a 292. From what ive read they have a steel crank where the 312 doesn't. And on the heads I will just have to learn those #'s and what to search for because with my luck I won't have the ones i need. But this is one adventure that I'm really looking forward to. Im getting the engine hopefully this week  and will get it on the stand and get it tore down and see what I have and then id say the questions will be rolling in.
By 46yblock - 15 Years Ago
If you are serious in trying to outdo your buddy, it may be a good idea to understate some of the planned and future engine mods.
By PF Arcand - 15 Years Ago
Yes,welcome to the site; First the apparent 312. Check it out before you pay top dollar for it. Places to look include; the crank flange, which if a 312 it likely will have a shallow cut out with a low 5/16" diameter dot on it. A smaller dot or dots indicates a 272 or 292. If not sure, the pan should be pulled. The rod caps will be marked ECZ. Or pull a head. The piston diameter will be 3.800" or + that, If 3.625 or 3.750 or close over, its a 272 or 292. A 292 bored and so on can be made to perform fine, although a 272 is too far under on displacement to be a contender for what your looking for.. As mentioned, John Mummert's site is a good place to start on parts & info..
By PF Arcand - 15 Years Ago
P.S.- Forgot to mention that only 1961 & later truck/bus engines had the steel crank & H.D. rods. But don't let that bother you. For any reasonable use the cast cranks are fine.
By Pudster - 15 Years Ago
Well the good thing about him finding out anything Im doing is he has no computer or any knowledge of them. And i think I can keep my shop locked up if he tries to catch me gone and go snoopin. The downside is we use the same machine shop,and It might cost me a steak dinner to keep it quiet on that end of the spectrum.  He knows somethings up though!
By Hoosier Hurricane - 15 Years Ago
Pudster:

These guys have your best interest at heart, for sure.  One thing Paul said was the rod caps are marked ECZ if it's a 312.  Actually it's the main caps.  292 will be marked EBU.  Also, the forged cranks were used in the HD trucks, not pickups.  If your engine is factory original to the truck, it will be a 292 with terrible heads, a cast crank, and the best block.  Just my 2 cents.

By grovedawg - 15 Years Ago
KICK HIS A##! I'd love to see you start a build thread, and I'll throw my two bits in every once in a while!
By Pudster - 15 Years Ago
Oh its comin, and he dont have a clue about any of the aftermarket power adders or anything about these engines. He thinks I'm gonna just try to freshen this thing up a little. He was just like I was until I started researching them. Man is he in for a let down. The thing I worry about with the 327 is they turn up wicked fast. So Im trusting everything you guys say when you say it can be done. I also found a set of the ECZ-G heads today. A guy near home hear has them along with a bunch of blocks and other stuff priced pretty reasonable I thought. I might as well start my stash while I have the chance.  I just have to be careful and not let him see me haulin in parts because he lives just down the rd. Any recommendations on how to hop up these heads? Valves,springs ect.?
By Hoosier Hurricane - 15 Years Ago
If the guy with all the parts has a 312 in his pile, you may want to start with that.  Nothing wrong with an extra 20 cubic inches, and by looking the chevy guy won't know the difference.  The G heads are the ones you want, no matter which engine you have.  Big intake valves and higher compression.
By lowrider - 15 Years Ago
Little Ford Vs Chevy story. Back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, one of the guys had a 58Chev. 283 4v 3sp. I was running a 56 Ford 272 2v Fordo. He would always put a fender length on me no matter where we started. Picked up a 3x2 set-up (it was even an Offy) and after that I would put a fender on him. He didn't like that so he went out and bought a 396 Chevelle. No problem. I put together a 63 Ford 406 8v 4sp. He wouldn't run me. Come to think about it nobody would. Anything I did to that 56 Ford 272 would respond like no other engine I ever had. I don't know what the deal was on that engine but it sure ran good.  I pick up a set of Headman headers from JC Whitney and that seemed to be about the best modification I made for instant response. I used that engine in another 56 and it ran just as good. Sure wish I had it back.
By ejstith - 15 Years Ago
It's all in the psych. You've got months to prep this thing. Just piss & moan about every thing you do. "No good parts, Nothin's goin' right, just have to live with what you've got" etc. When you get it runnin' carry on about no power and all that crap. If he's got a stock 300 hp 327 a well prepped 312 will kill it. A stock '62 FI Corvette was 375 hp so it's not hard to get hp out of that scrub but if you do your BS right the surprise will be worth a car or a car & a half... This could be really fun if you've got lots of $$$$$$$.BigGrin
By Pudster - 15 Years Ago
Well I dont have that much $$$$ but I have enough to build a good hot engine. I have my machine shop guy on board now cause he likes to have fun with this guy too. He's a really good guy. He's just one of those guys that you can have alot of fun with,and in the same breath the kind of guy that would be there anytime for any reason if you needed him. But I have been kinda doing just what you were saying. Kinda whinnin around that I probably overloaded myself. Ive been giving hints that I cant get anything going. And hes been workin away on his.And hes been buying my BS too because hes got his I told you so replys and looks on his face. He dont have a clue I have a cheering section with alot of experience in my corner from all the good folks here. I can hardly sleep at nite thinking and processing all the info and youtube vids. And thinking of my game plan. I need a good yblock engine book to study if anybody knows of any.