Doug's drawing in Y Block Magazine was in issue #17.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

I know the Fairlane is longer than the Falcon in the '60s, but I don't know about wideness. The 351w fits (but only just) with no modification, although the shock towers need a shave to do it. From what that last link posted says, the Y-block and the windsy are the same length (which is plenty short enough, the I6 was a full six inches longer with he fan), and the Y-block is another four inches wider, at 29 inches wide. It's still within my comfort zone of 31 inches--the absolute widest I can make the engine compartment without the wheels sticking out from under the fenders.

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People should not be afraid of their government, a government should be afraid of the people.

--Alan Moore

I own a 1954 Mercury that has the original 256. As for the engine, it is not bad to play around with. I enjoy the little engine, but it is also hooked up to a 3 speed overdrive tranny that to me helps with the fun part.



Even though this engine runs great and get's plenty of oil to the rockers, I am replacing it this winter with a 1957 312 for the horsepower alone. I replaced the old tea pot carb with a 600 cfm Holley Street Avenger. This little engine will move this car fine. My Mercury was formally owned by the city of Bolder Col. and used by the fire chief. The suspension was professionally lowered so that the car would handle better in the mountains. I added power disc brakes from a 1975 Cougar and the spindles dropped the front another inch. The car is now 7 in. in the front and 8 in. in the back.



Now with that said, last Saturday, I had this car running at 100 mph in the hills of southern Ky. I am just saying that a 256 has ample power, but a 312 is a better choice.

Jeff Leydig
Stallions Auto Interiors
Stearns, Ky. USA

The only fold out Bruce Young has ever done in YBM was a dimensioned drawing of the Y block.  I drew it in about '98.  Maybe someone could find it and scan it for you.  I can't find the original or the issue of YBM or a lot of other stuff since I moved.

For a Y in the Falcon chassis the critical point is how you want to do the exhaust because the shock towers are real close to the sides of the heads. It has been done but not by me.  Some others will know for sure but a Fairlane may be a bit wider the towers than the Falcon

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.

Except...I know the engine isn't a perfect rectangle. Does anyone know the difference in width at the bottom and top,and maybe the rough idea of where the change is? Thanks

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People should not be afraid of their government, a government should be afraid of the people.

--Alan Moore

That's just what I needed, thanks.



Oh yeah, the car I'm installing the engine in is a 1963 Ford Fairlane.

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People should not be afraid of their government, a government should be afraid of the people.

--Alan Moore

Is this what you are looking for



http://forums.hybridz.org/showthread.php?t=77074

marv

Thanks for the links, but I am not worried about the internal dimensions. What I need to know is how physically big the engine is, as I am swapping it into a car that doesn't exactly spring to mind when you think of the Y-Block.



And now that you mention it, my friend was the one who found the 256...

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People should not be afraid of their government, a government should be afraid of the people.

--Alan Moore

Many of the ’54 model 239 and 256 engines also had some manufacturing differences thus making these two engines difficult to interchange parts with from the ’55 and later 272, 292, and 312 engines.  Some of these differences include larger sized journals on the camshafts, larger camshaft bores, tanged oil pump, different design oil pump shaft, 13 teeth on the distributor gear instead of 14, and a smaller water pump with a corresponding timing cover.  Seems like the fuel pump also had a different mounting pattern.  The 312 is the obvious choice if the block checks out.

 

But I recently did see a 256 engine with a late model camshaft and the bearings were special.  Extra thick so that the smaller journal camshaft would fit in place which also allowed the use of the later model 14 tooth geared distributor.

Lorena, Texas (South of Waco)

Duhhhhhh ....

Doing Fords for 45 years. '56 Customline Victoria

E.J. in Havana FL