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By Johnny Mainline - 13 Years Ago
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Hi everyone,
This is my first post, I've read a ton of other posts and they have been super helpful to me as I've been hunting parts and putting my first Y-block together. Actually, my first two y-blocks. I would like to start by thanking all of you very much for this site, it is fantastic!
I just purchased a 53' Mainline in June and the flathead in it was cracked, so i made up my mind to put a y-block in her. I found a couple of 292s then, I found a couple of sets of Hurst motor mounts, the fm-202 and the a-49s. and another fm 202 and another set that I think is for putting a Y into a 32' or and A.
So far I've spent most of my days cleaning parts and assembling the motors. I'm getting close to having one of them ready to go in the car.
I have the two different rear sump truck oil pans and timing covers, also I picked up a truck bell housing (have a car housing too). I'm hoping to hook it up to the three speed (three on the tree) that came stock in it for now.
I found a 1956 car craft with this engine swap that has been somewhat helpful too; however, they modified the drag link and used a t-bird or pick-up front mount.
I could sure use some tips from anyone that has done this swap and used the Hurst mounts. Did you need the dropped drag link? Were you able to get a car/truck harmonic balancer to work or did you use a t-bird balancer? Will all of the clutch linkage hook back up without having to move anything?
I have a limited garage, so I thought the bolt on Hurst mounts would work well for my situation.
Anyone have pictures of a Y-block in a shoebox or a 52/53?
Thanks again,
-Johnny
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By bird55 - 13 Years Ago
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First Welcome to the Site!
Second, I haven't done this swap but have seen it done before.
In your case you have lots of resources in engine parts, so I would recommend that you simply use a bare block with mounts and pan choices and use it to mock up with a trans body.
This is what I did on my bird when I did a trans swap with an adapter and you can solve unknowns and find options much easier this way.
Good luck, BTW someone on here has undoubtedly had experience with this so you'll will find out more.
So far I like your decision with the Y!
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By Johnny Mainline - 13 Years Ago
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Thank you so much! Since I bought the first Y, I have become somewhat obsessed with learning about them and hunting down parts. My girl friend is starting to get a little annoyed with me...
I went to a local salvage yard to purchase a core to use as a bare block for that purpose. Funny thing, when I got there they had just pulled one out of a 59' truck. It was sitting right in the front of his yard.
The owner said that he was going to keep it because she ran great, except must have had a burnt valve because it popped. I told him about my car and project, then he said he'd make me a one day special offer. He thought it was pretty cool that a younger guy was interested in the Y and he made me a smokin' deal. He even let me keep the ram horns that were on it.
I started tearing it apart/cleaning and found a rebuild tag. It didn't have a date but other than that, I could read everything on it. I pulled the heads and found the bad valve too. There is no ring groove on any of the cylinders, the bottom of the motor is pretty clean. I figured I wouldn't tear it apart any farther. I'm going to try and use just the short block, then I'll put in a new gasket set, get the heads fixed and run that motor for awhile while I hunt down some more performance parts for my other one before I put it in.
I found some instructions for the Hurst mounts online, but they don't mention anything about the drag link, even though I know that Hurst used to make one specifically for the 52s and 53s. I found a pdf of an old catalog for them on another online post. Hopefully someone on here will read this and be able to tell me if it was necessary or not, and possibly give me some other good pointers about how they did it. I went to another salvage yard today and they had a 53' someone must have done a similar swap on, but who ever did it butchered the cross-member and I am hoping to get away from messing with it at all if possible.
-Johnny
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By bird55 - 13 Years Ago
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Now that the Yblock Nationaals ShootOut is winding down you will probably get more answers and help with this.
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By Johnny Mainline - 13 Years Ago
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That would be super cool, I really appreciate any and all suggestions that I can get. I've only done one engine swap before, and this is the first one that I have rebuilt myself; I'm really new to a lot this. I can post some pictures of my project too and see if that helps to generate ideas.
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