Hello everybody,

This is my first post, and I hope some will be able to help me with some information.  I just bought a 55 Victoria, but it has a Merc motor (not sure why that was done, and a 256 no less)  The motor is nice condition and complete, actually was semi rebuilt.  When I spoke with the guy I bought it from, he said it had a 292...well it isn't.  It is the 54 Merc motor.  I didn't know the codes and all at the time as this is my first Y block.

So I am wondering is there anything I can do with it for a bit more H.P.?  Should I sell it to a person wanting a Merc motor and just get a 292? I had been looking forward to souping up a 292, mostly after reading the posts here.  Kinda stumbled onto the forum and have been having Y-ild ideas about these motors. 

The Victoria also has an auto air cooled transmission ( I see no external cooler), not sure what it is FOM or COM. (the guy said he thought it was a C4, it isn't.  He got the car from his granddad and instantly lost interest, but not before striping paint and leaving it out in the weather. I've got a bit of work to do).  Oh, and the rear end looks very much like a 9" but not sure, bottom drain and fill on pass side housing.

I want quick but not drag fast...as a Grad student I couldn't afford it, but I am expecting to put a fair amount of money, time, sweat into it.  Any help would be great all.

R.J. Whitley

I guess I should ask this question first, if you don't know the codes how do you know its a 256?

Assuming it is: There's a good chance that a 256 can be made a 292. Chances are that the block can be bored form 3.625 to 3.750". You will need an EC crankshaft from a 272 or 292. The rods are the same, EBU. The 256 will accept new cams and later heads, manifolds. It is basically a 272 block with a short stroke crankshaft.

If you are uncomfortable boring it .125" you might find some .060" over 272 pistons and EC crank. This would make about 280 inches.

The alternative is to find a 292 and rebuild it. Good running engines are HTF so there is a good chance you could sell yours. A lot of people don't care about the displacement, they just want their car or truck to run again.

http://ford-y-block.com 

20 miles east of San Diego, 20 miles north of Mexico

I guess I wasn't too clear on my first post John. 

At the time I went and picked up the car, I didn't know the codes on the block, heads, etc.  Kinda just took his word for it, and had no previous experience with these motors.  Then when I got it home, I looked up info on Mercs (it has the valve covers).  Saw that there was a 292 in 1955, so I thought all was ok...I was just getting my first info.  When I looked for the numbers on the block, I checked them with...I think your sight.  Anyway, the EBY by the distributor let me know it is a 256.

I had wanted to take the 292 over, so I'm not too thrilled about maybe getting 292 from this block.  I may just set it aside for the time, and look for a 292. 

What rear axles came on the 1955 Victoria? I've ordered a book but it hasn't arrived.

Thanks for the help, your info is greatly appreciated.

R.J. Whitley

The rear for a 55 with an auto would have been 3.30 but one cannot be sure what has been done to a 55 year old vehicle. Automatics just don't have the pep like a standard. My preference is a 3.89 rear with an overdrive transmission. The proper 4 barrel carb will add a lot if you now have a 2 barrel. Especially a 57 or later carb, but then you must get a distributor to match. My usual recommendation for people who get their first old vehicle is to just drive it a while, learn to tune it properly and then make decisions as to how far you want to go with sinking money into the thing. I have seen so many running cars torn down and never put back together because people lost interest with just looking at a pile of parts.

Kenneth

Fredricksburg, Texas

The 256 indeed has a 2 barrel.  I've decided I will just pull that merc motor and build a 292 as there are around 6 for sale on craigslist alone in Tucson and Phoenix (I'm in AZ).

This will be my 2nd Ford, and 1st Y.  I have had primarily Mopars (form 50s-70s) and used to race Small Block 340s, 360s with 904 autos, before I became a DAV.  Now that I'm out of the Army, I'm working on my Masters/Phd, so funding is limited compared to when I was a soldier and spent most of my income on cars.

I plan to do a complete frame off for the car body, but may not keep the stock setup on the drivetrain.  This will not be a strip car, it will be street.  I am looking forward to the Y build.

On the rear end, it is the housing I am wondering about.  It looks like a 9" but I don't think it is.  Was there a 55 differential that looked like a 9" housing?

Thanks again for the information.

R.J. Whitley

The 55 sedans (not including wagons) had a rear with a pull out center section like an 8 or 9 incher but they were not the same.



It is possible over the years that a 9 inch (or an 8 inch) was put in the car.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

R.J.; the trans being air cooled is likely a 56 or prior Fordomatic. If the engine is good & you say you are a grad student, I'd forget about the frame off. There is no way to do that cheap. Suggest painting the car & driving it for a while until you can afford your plans. A heated up 292 is also going to cost you some because it's not a main stream engine. Anyway,welcome to the site & good luck with the car..

Paul

Luckily I've hit on many options for this car.  I have a body guy coming over on Sat so we can go over the car body work, he has a 312 at his shop.  I also talked to a fella in the Phoenix area last night who has multiple 272 and 292 blocks heads cranks etc.  So this build will be taking off soon.

For what I'm looking at I'd rather build off a 292 block.  I've yet to look at the blocks in Pnx. but was told they range from 61-64 dates and are C1s.  And some ECZ-C heads, but he may have G heads. 

Thank you all so far for input, I will call on the forum again for build ideas once I see exactly what this fella has.  I also thank you for the concern on the finances, and as I hadn't disclosed much info, you were kind to offer those suggestions which would be great advice for a newbie to cars in general.  I am new to Fords, but not to older cars in general.  I realize the cost and time in these restorations, and though this won't be a concourse car, I will do it well. 

I am indeed a Grad student, but also a 37 year old DAV, who has had to choose another vocation.  I have decided to put money into getting the body clean, and only have drivetrain "good", and can upgrade it later if I choose.  And by good, I mean that I have ran 15k engines in the past and I can't do that and have the money for the body.

Thank you all and I am glad for such a community as this.  There seems to be more and more interest in these Ys than I ever knew existed.

R.J. Whitley