Once again I am looking for some engine help as it seems I can not make my mind up.  I am trying to decide if I should move to the dark side and install a 302 or have my 272 rebuilt.  My main goal is 300+ HP along with not breaking the bank.  Is it possible to get 300+ hp out of a 56 272?  Fully understand that the engine must first be checked for cylinder wall thickness for boring but is 300hp within reason for a Y? 

Engine is stock, runs great, does not smoke or burn oil and runs 3000 rpm and 60 (3 on the tree).  The  heads should be ECZ with 1.78 but understand they can be worked to 1.92. 

As always any and all input is appreciated!! 

Warsaw, IN

300hp is well within reason for a Y.  Though, for the cost of boring, you may be able to find a 292 block.


Lawrenceville, GA

IMHO, setting up your 272 for 300 HP is going to cost a significant amount of cash.  You not only have the engine cost, but also transmission.  Sure you can do it.  The cam might rattle your brains enough to make you wonder why you did it.  Question is do you really want to.  Lots of guys start out with the same objective, myself included.  I finally decided, after chasing the performance gennie prematurely and with too little knowlege, that what I truly wanted was a good performing, quick, affordable and dependable motor with good mileage, in the 215 HP range using 2V and 250 HP using 4V, and that wasnt cheap.  Power plant is 292 .060 OS.   If I ever do get my 318 finished, which will be close to 300, it sure wont go into another truck.

Mike, located in the Siskiyou mountains, Southern, OR 292 powered 1946 Ford 1/2 ton, '62 Mercury Meteor, '55 Country Squire (parting out), '64 Falcon, '54 Ford 600 tractor.

The rule of thumb for calculating the peak horsepower for a Y with a properly sized cam, a nice blue print, and some decent head and intake porting is the cubic inch multiplied by the compression ratio divided by 10.  There are other variables to take into account for but this will get you a ballpark figure for a  single four equipped street driven Y with some blueprinting and balancing applied to it.

 

Like Mike says, it will be a transmission breaker if using the original three speeds.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)