...buy a Y fully disassembled to build, or fully assembled and operational but with unknown mileage on its last full overhaul?

Not exactly a technical question but I wasn't sure where to put it.

1954 Crestline Victoria 312 4-bbl, 3-speed overdrive

I would much rather buy a block and disassemble it myself... that way I could find/locate any problems much easier.

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com

Peeeot

You can buy complete engines, if you can hear it run,do some testing, ie-leak down- compresion-pull valve covers (and pan if not in a vehicle). You can get some kind of idea what you are working with and what it is worth. If it is for a project that you would keep for a long time, then the "hot rod reverend's" choice might be the best way to go.

my two cents

Gary Ryan San Antonio.TX.

I would sooner have one together myself but it really depends on what your paying if the engine has g heads or some other parts your after and going cheap its worth a chance.i wouldn't pay big money for a cat in the bag.

Up here we don't have much choice.  I acquired a rebuilt 292 with my car that, as it turned out, hadn't been rebuilt.  So that's another option.



Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

Thanks for your input.  I ask because I have a 1956 292 that was supposedly rebuilt but I have torn it down and while there is evidence of work it is obvious that a lot of things haven't been done (ridges on the cylinder walls, for example).  I tore it down because it was stuck, just like the 312 I have in my other car.  There is a good chance I will end up selling the engine or the car or both together so I wanted to figure out whether getting it running would be worth the time and effort.  I was going to give the engine the same treatment I did my 312, which was to ream the ridges, make some cleanup passes with the hone, re-ring, and put it together.  My 312 runs great and has excellent compression so I figure this would likely work out well as a driver engine too.  Definitely not attempting any hotrodding on this one.

1954 Crestline Victoria 312 4-bbl, 3-speed overdrive

Well that all depends on who you sell the car and engine to.  If the buyer just wants an old car to drive around in and isn't that particular about things then your approach is probably ok; as long as you tell him or her what you did. On the other hand, if he/she is serious about this he/she would probably tear it down and rebuild it anyway.  In which case your time and effort would be wasted.  I know this because it happened to me.  I'm not bitter about it because I know about these things and I didn't pay the rebuilt price, however had I known for sure I wouldn't have wasted time wondering whether or not to tear the engine down.  Just my two bits worth.


Mark

1956 Mercury M100
1955 Ford Fairlane Club Sedan
Delta, British Columbia

On my end and because I’m going to rebuild them anyhow, I’d rather the engines were together.  As long as they turn over, the blocks are typically salvageable assuming they pass a pressure check for cracks.

Tried to add a picture but simply get a pop up window stating "Could not find an instance of the editor!".

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

shortblock 292 is avail in cloverdale 778 574 1940 ctmeckanical..010 crank.040 pistons,bore finished fo rmolley rings new lifters rg cam 6 month waranty

As Ted states it all depends if it is froze up or not, I have salvaged a lot of stuck engines but some of them have been horrors, some of them excellent, then on the other hand I have had some free ones that started up and ran but when tried to use they smoked so much they should have been torn down anyway, and if buying them already torn down, make sure all components are in good shape. It's a gamble when buying a 50 year old engine any way you look at it.

55 Vicky & customline

58 Rack Dump, 55 F350 yard truck, 57 F100

59 & 61 P 400's, 58 F100 custom cab, 69 F100, 79 F150, 82 F600 ramp truck, 90 mustang conv 7 up, 94 Mustang, Should I continue?