--Did all Y-blocks come equipped with a down draft tube, or did they switch over to PCV systems sometime during the production run?

--I know that Y-blocks became available in passenger cars in 1954, but what was the last year they were available in passenger cars?

Argentina - passenger cars through 1982

Jim - Erie Colorado, 1957 Country Sedan

Australia had the Y-block from 55 to 58 in cars and up to 64 in trucks.


~DJ~ AKA "Bleach"
1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 30K original miles

 59 in Oz, in the last Star models (sedans and utes).


South Australia

As long as the breather cap was still on the oil filler tube(rather than a sealed cap like a modern engine) the engine would likely be somewhat oily and smoky but nothing more.If the engine was sealed up tight with NO form of crankcase vent it would leak from every pore and probably smoke like a mosquito control truck!.

He may have fitted a truck or TBird type downdraft tube, that comes from the rear of the valley pan and runs down over the bellhousing.


South Australia

Two different down draft tube designs were used on the Y engines.  The U.S.A. Ford and Mercury cars and pickups started off with down draft tubes and filter canister located on the driver’s side of the block.  The ’55-’57 Thunderbirds used a much longer and rear mounted down draft tube that came off of the valley cover.  Came about 1958, the down draft tube on the cars also moved to the valley cover.  About 1961 or 1962, the cars and pickups went to a PCV valve system which eliminated the down draft tube.  While some blocks were cast without the hole in the side of the block, those blocks that did have the hole and using a valley cover mounted road draft tube or the later years PCV valve simply had a plate that bolted over the hole in the side of the block.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Many thanks everyone for that helpful information.  Tonight I'm going to double check to see if there's a draft tube coming off the valley cover.  If there isn't, and it appears someone blocked off the draft tube on the side of the block, I have a complete down-draft tube in the garage that I can install on the motor.  Ron...

if you install the old style make sure the center mounted flap with the nut to hold the cover is not bent and if the bolt was over tightened it bends the flap which  then has to litle presure pulling the cover resulting in oil leaks. new filter and gasket is a must. get it sorted out befor instalation,as you can see not much room to make  repairs ,esp. on cars.

I checked tonight and the draft tube is in place coming out of the valley tray behind the carburetor and leading down the bell housing on the passenger side.  I don't know if this rear-mount was original on my '57 Ranch Wagon, but it's doing what it's supposed to do, so I'll leave well enough alone.  The time will come, though, when I'll want to research some more to see what size motor I have here and what year it is and whether it's from a truck, a car, or it's the original 292 that came from the factory in my Ranch Wagon.  Ron...